88 2.3 trans vs 2003 2.3 trans

[littlered351]

I know that both of them are supposed to be M5OD transmissions. Do the bell housings bolt up? are they the same?

I'm looking at buying an 88 parts truck that has a trans in it. Thinking about chaning the output and rear housing to be used in a 4wd conversion on an 03 ranger. Just checking to see if the old transmission will bolt up to the newer motor.

 

[MAKG]

Umm, "changing the output and rear housing" is generally a sign that you don't know what that means.

If you are going to tear down a transmission and replace it's most critical component, you might as well get the right transmission to begin with.

There is nothing insurmountable with an entire parts truck handy. But a 2WD trans is a DIFFERENT BEAST than a 4WD trans. Changing a mainshaft is MAJOR surgery. And a 2003 mainshaft is not likely to be the same as a 1988 mainshaft. That the cases might bolt up is not enough.

 

[littlered351]

you might as well get the right transmission to begin with.
.

Ford doesn't offer a M5OD 4wd version behind a 2.3 in the later years, so I can't simply "get the right transmission to begin with".

 

[MAKG]

But they did behind a 2.5L in 2000. That's a LOT closer than 1988.

It's a bit strange to put 4WD on a small 4banger.... though that DID exist in 1988.

If you have never torn down a transmission and don't know how to inspect parts, swapping a mainshaft is a nice way to make a noisy and/or failure prone transmission. IF you can assemble it correctly. The first time you do this, you should use as many original parts as you can.

 

[Simple_serf]

It might not fit up anyways. There was a question a little while back about the Lima and Duratec possibly having a different bolt pattern. Just something to be sure about.

88 is a lima....Ford stopped putting this in the ranger in 2001.

03 is a duratec....Current production 4 cyl.

Also, I thought they stopped putting a 4 cyl 4wd earlier...in mid 90's.