302 tranny problem

[doc holley]

does anyone know if a ZF S5-42 transmission will fit under an 88 ranger obviously i have a 302 motor that i just put in it the truck has a 4 inch suspension lift and 3 inch body lift on it i was also wondering if a mustang radiator would work since the radiator for the 2.9 that was in it will obviously be too small the f series and full sized broncos are all too wide but a mustang is closer to the width of the ranger and obviously came with a 5.0 thanks

 

[zukirider21]

id say the chances of the ZF fitting without MAJOR firewall massaging are low. them suckers are beefy as balls.

however, the 3" body lift should definatley help...

 

[zukirider21]

oh and i cant see why a mustang rad wouldnt work... just out of curiosity,are you gonna run an electric fan? that makes things alot easier...

 

[baddad457]

Might work with a 3" body lift. The radiator will require surgery to the radiator support.

 

[doc holley]

yeah i have 2 electric fans that were on the radiator for the 2.9 the wires are already run so im just going to hook them back up thanks for the info on the zf i can modify the fire wall shouldnt be any problem my ranger has a m50d r1 transmission in it already but the bolt pattern is off to fit the 302 but my mom has a 95 f250 and it has the zf tranny i looked and the bolt pattern looks right to fit my 302 not surprising considering her truck has a 5.0 in it just wanted a second opinion thanks alot

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I believe mine is from a 94 mustang,as baddad said took a lot of cutting on the core to make it fit.

 

[baddad457]

All 302's use the same transmission bellhousing pattern. I'd leave it as is with the M5ODR2 though.

 

[baddad457]

And that 95 F250 has more likely got a 351W in there. I don't think the 302 was an option in the 3/4 tons. If it is a 351W, it'll be a roller cammed motor.

 

[V8 Level II]

302's were available in F250's in 1995 but not with the ZF. They got the Mazda M5ODR2 instead.

 

[doc holley]

yeah but my ranger has the m50dr1 not the r2 the r1 has a different bolt pattern so what you guys are saying is i should just switch it out for the r2

 

[baddad457]

So, how did you bolt up the R1 to a 302 in the first place ? The R2 would be a better choice, as I'm sure the ZF, due to it's size, is sure to be a power robbing SOB behind a 302.

 

[doc holley]

i never bolted up the r1 i was gonna try it and see but the bolt pattern is off got to get a r2

 

[doc holley]

and they do make the m50dr2 in 4 wheel drive right

 

[V8 Level II]

Yes. There are 2 versions of the M5ODR2 that have the correct bolt pattern for a 302/351W. Both were made in 2WD and 4WD:

96-back 4.9/5.0 F-series or Bronco
97-03 4.2 F-150

The 4.2 trans puts the shifter a few inches farther back which may be a better fit in a Ranger cab. The bolt pattern is right but the holes need to be drilled out about 1/64" to convert from the 4.2 metric to the 7/16" Windsor. A 2 minute job. The 4x4 4.2 version is also about 1.5" shorter in length than the 4.9/5.0 4x4 trans.

 

[88302Camotruck]

I will have to agree on the radiator change.... A bunch of cutting and "engineering" I have a James Duff 4 core brass radiator that I might be interested in selling if your looking to go that route.
Steve