4.0 transmission compatibility

[5 speed forever]

I have a 2001 ranger with the 4.0 sohc with the manual 5 speed M5OD transmission, 4x4. The transmission has developed some bearing noise and someone is selling a trans out of a 1997 Ranger with the 4.0 ohv 4x4. Will this be a plug and play swap? What are the compatible years for my transmission? Thank you, and glad to be on therangerstation!

 

[Josh B]

Hey man, welcome to TRS. I'm fairly certain it will but you better get a second opinion before tearing it apart (someone will sooner or later come along) Good luck with it

 

[5 speed forever]

Thanks man! I’ve heard the bolt patterns are the same except for one hole? I’m not 100% sure and don’t feel like spending $250 on a trans that won’t work lol.

Hey man, welcome to TRS. I'm fairly certain it will but you better get a second opinion before tearing it apart (someone will sooner or later come along) Good luck with it

 

[Josh B]

I've read something about drilling that hole in one thread, and something about using less bolts in another(little as two was a well informed member, but was all in speculations and such) I'm just not the expert to know all the details of all the engines, transmissions, etc, that some others here are) It is kind of late now so it might late as tomorrow evening before you'll see some of them back in, or one could happen along anytime, never can tell

 

[Snoranger]

The older trans will bolt up to the SOHC, the pass side top bolt won’t line up.

 

[5 speed forever]

The older trans will bolt up to the SOHC, the pass side top bolt won’t line up.

gotcha. Is there any issue with the vehicle speed sensor compatibility? Assuming that’s in the trans..?

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

some ohv speed sensors are gear driven. im not sure if in 1997 they are or not. also, the flywheels will have different bolt patters to the main on the engine. as long as the flywheels are the same dimensions, then your original one from the sohc will be what you stick with.

 

[5 speed forever]

Well I’m picking up the ohv trans tomorrow, I’m 99% sure the only difference is one bolt hole that got moved for the timing cover. Anyone else have any 2 cents?

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

NOPE. as far as bell housings go they are the same.

 

[Snoranger]

I can tell you I bolted a 5r44e with the OHV bell housing up to a SOHC. It was only 1 bolt hole off. (Actually I bolted 3 different ones up to that motor... i wasn’t very nice to my Explorer after the SOHC swap.)
The flywheel should be fine... the SOHC and the OHV use the same starter. So, same ring gear tooth count and outer diameter.
Clutch... Same spline count.

Vehicle speed sensor... Ford changed that around a few times. It could be using the rear ABS sensor, the transfer case, etc. I don’t know the exact years they changed, so I’m not going to give you wrong info.

 

[turbo91xlt]

I dont know about '01 but for sure in 2002+ they have the OSS (output speed sensor) in the tail housing which a '97 trans wont have and will require swapping the main shaft & tail housing from a newer trans over to retain that. Other then that the transmission will physically bolt in.

 

[Josh B]

I have a 2001 ranger with the 4.0 sohc with the manual 5 speed M5OD transmission, 4x4. The transmission has developed some bearing noise and someone is selling a trans out of a 1997 Ranger with the 4.0 ohv 4x4. Will this be a plug and play swap? What are the compatible years for my transmission? Thank you, and glad to be on therangerstation!

Have you actually even accurately identified the source of your bearing noise?
Do you hear it with clutch pedal fully depressed or when it's up?

 

[RonD]

You will need to swap tail shaft and housing to get OSS sensor back, so I would wait for a 2001-2011 4.0l manual 4x4 trans to come up