Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and aeidian
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2010
- Messages
- 127
- Vehicle Year
- 1989
- Transmission
- Manual
Bought an 89 Ford Ranger 2.9 off a guy that had transmission problems.
4th gear won't stay in, grinds unless you hold it, and by hold it I mean both hands almost bend the stick hold it. It has the FM146 in it, and from what reading I've done, it seems this transmission was the joke of the series. Everyone seems to suggest going to a M5OD. I have a couple questions about that.
I was planning to just get a rebuild kit with bearings and synchros and all that, along with the Factory Service Manual I have coming in the mail, and tear it apart. Looking at the synchros, one between 3rd and 4th is sheared smooth on two sides, at least I think it is, I don't think it's supposed to be missing teeth on both sides like that. Now that I've done some reading everyone says swap swap swap. What's all the hubbub about using a 4.0 starter, 4.0 clutch, and all that? The motor is a 2.9, do I need to change out all this stuff, or can I just get a M5OD from a salvage yard and bolt it in? What issues am I looking at with the transfer case that's on it? I don't know which transfer case is on there, but I assume it's whatever is stock for that year and motor, pretty sure it's the 1350 manual, it's got a shifter lever, and the hubs are manual locking. I'll go find the numbers tomorrow if that's an issue. I know about the floor plate thing and I'm not really concerned, I'll get one to replace it.
My main concerns were rebuilding this FM146 and putting it back in and it just shearing the new synchro off. Since the cheapest rebuild kit I've found is about 200 bucks, I'm wondering if I should just find that M5OD and put it in and call it a day. I've already got the transmission pulled, so it's waiting for a rebuilt or a replace. Also what's the deal with the differences in the M5OD and M5ODHD and M5OD R1 or whatever? Are they all the same and people have just shortened the names? I don't plan to put a 4.0 in here, just replace the transmission and go with it, so I need to know if I'm wasting time and money trying to rebuild this FM146. Thanks.
Also, I see there's 2.9 and 4.0 versions of this M5OD, if I can't find a 2.9 version and get a 4.0 version, can I still bolt it up to my 2.9 motor and use it as is?
4th gear won't stay in, grinds unless you hold it, and by hold it I mean both hands almost bend the stick hold it. It has the FM146 in it, and from what reading I've done, it seems this transmission was the joke of the series. Everyone seems to suggest going to a M5OD. I have a couple questions about that.
I was planning to just get a rebuild kit with bearings and synchros and all that, along with the Factory Service Manual I have coming in the mail, and tear it apart. Looking at the synchros, one between 3rd and 4th is sheared smooth on two sides, at least I think it is, I don't think it's supposed to be missing teeth on both sides like that. Now that I've done some reading everyone says swap swap swap. What's all the hubbub about using a 4.0 starter, 4.0 clutch, and all that? The motor is a 2.9, do I need to change out all this stuff, or can I just get a M5OD from a salvage yard and bolt it in? What issues am I looking at with the transfer case that's on it? I don't know which transfer case is on there, but I assume it's whatever is stock for that year and motor, pretty sure it's the 1350 manual, it's got a shifter lever, and the hubs are manual locking. I'll go find the numbers tomorrow if that's an issue. I know about the floor plate thing and I'm not really concerned, I'll get one to replace it.
My main concerns were rebuilding this FM146 and putting it back in and it just shearing the new synchro off. Since the cheapest rebuild kit I've found is about 200 bucks, I'm wondering if I should just find that M5OD and put it in and call it a day. I've already got the transmission pulled, so it's waiting for a rebuilt or a replace. Also what's the deal with the differences in the M5OD and M5ODHD and M5OD R1 or whatever? Are they all the same and people have just shortened the names? I don't plan to put a 4.0 in here, just replace the transmission and go with it, so I need to know if I'm wasting time and money trying to rebuild this FM146. Thanks.
Also, I see there's 2.9 and 4.0 versions of this M5OD, if I can't find a 2.9 version and get a 4.0 version, can I still bolt it up to my 2.9 motor and use it as is?
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