Difference between FM145 and FM 146?

[Andres629]

I've got a parts 1987 Ranger 2.9 with a manual BW1350 and a 5 speed, can't open the driver door but by my research it is an FM145. So, I'm planning on doing a 5 spd swap into my 92 2.9 with the A4LD and BW1354 electronic. Just wondering a couple things here I guess. A) what is the difference between the FM145 and 146, would I be better off to try and find a 146 from the JY, and then just swap over the hydro clutch components from my parts 87? Or is there not enough difference to warrant picking up a 146?
B) Would I be smarter to keep my electronic 1354 for the time being, and then grab a manual 1354 from the JY, or just run the 1350? Sorry for the kind of noobish questions, just weighing my options here.

 

[AllanD]

well, for starters the FM145 is 2" shorter than the FM146.

that would require relocating your tranny crossmember forward.

every FM145 made is a ticking time bomb.

I've seen several fail with NO warning whatsoever.

I had one crate transmission (NOS, not a reman) grenade itself
in less than 2000 miles.



AD

 

[Andres629]

Oh, brutal. Well, thanks for the heads up, Allan.

 

[4bangerranger]

My 87 Ranger was originally 2.9V6 and FM145/BW1350. I think the 145 is a good tranny. Reason being is that when I bought my Ranger the PO had literally torn the tranny off the bellhousing!
The truck has a lift and it had 32x11.50-15 Mud Kings on it, two of which were bald. He hauled a big water tank in the bed and a wagon behind the truck all the time. He beat this truck daily!
Anyway, I put helicoils in the tranny to re-attach the bell, replaced the Slave cylinder and clutch. Then I got 3 years of daily driving out of it before it locked in 3rd gear. It was well over 200,000 miles too!
All I hear is everyone knocking these trannies, but I disagree.
I swapped in a FM146, which required me to grind frame rivets off and move my crossmember brackets back. Cool thing was that the holes were already there!
FYI The Slave Cylinders are different on the FM145 and 146 as well! Which you will find means you also have to change Master Cylinders and/or lines as well. Shifters are also different!
I still have the V6 FM146 complete with bell and slave cylinder. I am now swapping in a Turbo 4 and to go behind it I got a FM145 WITH external slave cylinder! The 146 shifts really tight BUT 5th is gone, which I ve read is common. The only bitch I have is that you cant "rebuild" the shifters perse. That is you cant buy anything but a complete replacement shifter. BTW, I just bought a brand new shifter at my local Ford Dealer for my FM145. Cost was $114 and consisted of Lever and tower assy but now Knob. Very good price!
Good Luck

 

[BAMAJiPS]

Ive got a low mileage, great shape 1989 B2 2wd w the fm145 in it. Shifts great!

My a4ld is going out (overdrive slipping) on my 94 ranger 4x4.

Since I cant get a title to my B2, i was thinking about cannibalizing it and putting it behind my 4.0 ohv. Think it would/could hold up at least until I get some funds together to do (or even find) a proper M5OD R1 down the road?

Will the BW 1354 bolt on to it or would I need to find a 1350?
What about flywheel? :-/ I'm ignorant here. Sorry to resurrect a dead link but it seems fairly relevant to what I'm doing.

Bonus:
A- I HATE the a4ld grenade
B- I love banging my own gears
C- This particular FM145 shifts beautifully behind my 2.9

 

[adsm08]

Your 89 has a 146. 87 was the last year for the 145.

It will hold up for a while, but he 4.0 has the power to do real damage to the input bearings.

 

[BAMAJiPS]

Thank you for the response. I've read conflicting reports now saying what you just said and also sayig that the 2wd bronco 2s all had the fm145

I have a 2wd B2 (and yet they ALL use the 4wd trans w a dummy case), so maybe I jeed to crawl around and do some digging to verify...?

If it lasts 6 months thatll work for me. You just CANT find any 4wd trannys here locally so that would hold me over until I can either save up and order one or find a boneyard/craigslist deal

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, some guys have successfully run the 146 behind a 4.0 for years. They are a bit stronger than the 145, but share one of the more fatal flaws.

The FM series used ball bearings for the mains, instead of rollers. That means all the force is on the tip of the ball, and so one good snap at the throttle has the potential to fracture a ball.

 

[gthorsen]

well, for starters the FM145 is 2" shorter than the FM146.

that would require relocating your tranny crossmember forward.

every FM145 made is a ticking time bomb.

I've seen several fail with NO warning whatsoever.

I had one crate transmission (NOS, not a reman) grenade itself
in less than 2000 miles.



AD

Why would you say an FM145 is a ticking time bomb? Because of the round bearings? I have a problem with mine that is related to the shifter getting out of alignment. I had to replace the shift assembly but it only goes into 2nd, 5th and reverse.

 

[Shran]

Why would you say an FM145 is a ticking time bomb? Because of the round bearings? I have a problem with mine that is related to the shifter getting out of alignment. I had to replace the shift assembly but it only goes into 2nd, 5th and reverse.

AllanD has unfortunately not been online since 2021 so you will not get an answer from him.

I will disagree with him in any case. They are a light duty small truck transmission so used within reason, maintained, and not abused, they are really not bad. There was a known issue with one of the bearings that would cause the transmission to lock up and destroy itself, and the shifters are terrible, but besides that they are no worse than any other comparable transmission.

Several people have ragged on these because the input shaft uses a ball bearing...that is not a weak point. Many other larger, heavy duty transmission (IE the NP435, T18, T19, etc) that were used in half ton and bigger trucks have the same exact setup and aren't known for failures there.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ll also add that what is considered the ”best choice” manual transmission is the M5OD, preferably out of a 4.0 Ranger if you have a 2.9 or 4.0 and for the older auto crowd it’s the A4LD from a Ranger or Explorer with the 4.0 since those were the strongest.

That said, an FM-146 still lives behind the 4.0 I have in my Choptop. It will probably get a M5OD when it dies, but it’s survived my abuse and outlasted a few 4.0 motors and a 7.5” rear that grenaded.