4 cyl 4wd transmission help

[homegrownranger]

Ok well the transmission in my 92 4x4 ranger blew the other day. I heard rebuilding them was hard and this one i think is toast. I cant find another tranny for a 4cyl 4x4 5 speed. What other trannys will work? I can get a 2.9 4x4 5 speed tranny but im not sure if the bell housings will swap? Any help would be great. Thanks Mike.

 

[John Smith]

you might try this

i understand you may be able to utilize a 2wd version of your trans and swap some parts on back end.....I'm in the process of doing that now..the 2wd 5spds are a little more plentiful....

i think a 92 m50 has a one piece case including bell and of course a 4cyl is specific to 4 cyl only...

good luck

 

[ElleShooTiger]

Ok well the transmission in my 92 4x4 ranger blew the other day. I heard rebuilding them was hard and this one i think is toast. I cant find another tranny for a 4cyl 4x4 5 speed. What other trannys will work? I can get a 2.9 4x4 5 speed tranny but im not sure if the bell housings will swap? Any help would be great. Thanks Mike.

Rebuilding them isnt that hard, manual transmissions are rather simple inside.

You can buy the 2.9 4x4 tranny and just swap in ALL of the guts into your trans, make sure you buy new seals and maybe replace the easier bearings along the way. Or you can buy a 4cyl 2wd trans and swap in its guts, but you will have to disassemble the mainshaft (where all the gears are) since you have to replace the 2wd output shaft with your 4wd output shaft.

 

[AllanD]

IF your "Dead" trans has a NON-REMOVEABLE bellhousing you can use any 1988-up 4cyl/3.0 transmission as an organ donor to rebuild it.

If not you will need a 4x4 Mazda trans from a 4cyl or 3.0 and a loose 2.9
Mazda transmission case to swap the parts into because on the mazda trans the bellhousing is not removeable.

OR you could use a complete 4.0 4x4 transmission. and just swap it in.

I personally recommend against swapping internals into or out of 4.0 cases as there are subtle differences beyond the obvious gearing differences that make proper assembly difficult to do (and more difficult to explain to the inexperienced)

If you can get a 2.3 or 3.0 Mazda 4x4 trans PM me I can sell you a bare 2.9 MAZDA transmission case, while I'll often scrap 2.3/2.0 or even 4.0 Mazda transmssion cases I've never once scrapped a 2.9 Mazda case they are just too damned rare to let them be melted down to makes parts for a damned subaru.

AD

 

[exbass94]

IF your "Dead" trans has a NON-REMOVEABLE bellhousing you can use any 1988-up 4cyl/3.0 transmission as an organ donor to rebuild it.

If not you will need a 4x4 Mazda trans from a 4cyl or 3.0 and a loose 2.9
Mazda transmission case to swap the parts into because on the mazda trans the bellhousing is not removeable.

OR you could use a complete 4.0 4x4 transmission. and just swap it in.

I personally recommend against swapping internals into or out of 4.0 cases as there are subtle differences beyond the obvious gearing differences that make proper assembly difficult to do (and more difficult to explain to the inexperienced)

If you can get a 2.3 or 3.0 Mazda 4x4 trans PM me I can sell you a bare 2.9 MAZDA transmission case, while I'll often scrap 2.3/2.0 or even 4.0 Mazda transmssion cases I've never once scrapped a 2.9 Mazda case they are just too damned rare to let them be melted down to makes parts for a damned subaru.

AD

Why are you telling him to use a 2.9 case? He has a 4 cylinder. A 2.9, or a 4.0 trans like you also suggested, will not bolt up.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yep, 2.9 no workie.
Best thing to do if you can't find a 4WD 4cyl M5OD is to get a 2WD one and then swap the output shaft and extension housing from yours onto it.

 

[homegrownranger]

Thanks for all the info guys. So the removable bell housing from my 4cyl wont bolt onto the 2.9 transmission?

 

[John Smith]

I you have a removable bell...

you may have a newer than 92 trans?..perhaps...
or someone has install an older pre-88 trans?....i shouldn't have an opinion here cuz I've only read of a possible new gen m50 w removable bell..and don't ever work on those...just the thru 92 solid cased trannies...

look in the tech library...and it does seem to refer to a removable BELL VERSION OF m50D-R4?

maybe a pic of what you have may clear up the mystery for everyone trying to help...excuse my ignorance of those later trannies..I'm sure some here will know what you really have...

 

[homegrownranger]

Yea I forgot to mention that I did a complete body swap onto an 86 4x4 frame. That would have helped sorry. All the drivetrain is and 86 besides the motor. Its an 89 but got a 2.3 turbo I want to throw in soon.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah, that makes a HUUUUUUGGGE difference.

'86 I think is the FM145 trans on that, in which case you can just swap the bells.

 

[homegrownranger]

Yea. so will the 2.9 work

 

[homegrownranger]

Thats good to hear. Now I just have to find one. I checked 5 junk yards and nothing but 2wd or 4.0s. Thanks for all your help, Mike.

 

[John Smith]

actually for that

"short FM145"..even an 83-87 fm 145 or TK4, or 5 would work i think....

good luck...