FM146... 2wd Conversion?

[jimbone]

I have a bit of an odd question. I have a FM146 from my 89 Ranger that was ditched in favor of an M5OD when I did a 4.0 swap, and a spare 4.0 sitting around. What I would like to do is drop the 4.0 and FM146 into a 1967 Austin Healy Sprite but the FM146 is a 4wd transmission. I know the FM132 is the 2wd variant of the FM146 but I cant find one anywhere, however I can pick up a fm132 tailhousing on ebay for super cheap. My question is, will the FM132 tailhousing bolt up to the FM146? Or am I an idiot? Thanks!

Edit: I also have a ToyoKogyo TK4 2wd sitting around, but will that bolt up to the 4.0 (OHV)? Or is it just too weak, even though the sprite will weigh around 2000lbs max when its all together?

 

[97RangerXLT]

the 4.0 will probably be the undoing of that FM146... with or without 4wd.

I would search for another M5OD for the Austin Healy project.

AJ

 

[jimbone]

the 4.0 will probably be the undoing of that FM146... with or without 4wd.

I would search for another M5OD for the Austin Healy project.

AJ

I've considered that, the problem is the M5OD is enormous compared to the fm146/132. I stuck the fm146 into the sprite for shits and giggles and it would fit with minimal modification and place the bellhousing almost precisely where I would want it. The M5OD on the other hand would either drag on the ground or have the shifter so high trying to drive the thing would be wacky...

I did run the FM146 behind the 4.0 in the ranger for about a week, before the shift forks popped out of place again (this had happened a few times over the years with the 2.9) and I got lucky and found a M5OD in tip top shape for super cheap so it went in instead. I've read some people on this forum have ran the FM146 behind 4.0's with 4wd in their rangers with no problem, I'm willing to give it a shot since the sprite is so much lighter.

 

[jimbone]

I was just dicking around on the internet and found this:
http://www.advanceadapters.com/prod...ii-ranger-truck-4--5-speed-adapter-plate-kit/

Is this for real? Do people really put TK4 and TK5's behind 5.0's?

 

[JoshT]

How about a T5? That's what the 4.0L Mustangs had, so should be available and have the correct bolt pattern for your motor. It'd also be geared right for a light car so that's another plus.

I have a nice 2.8L in the totaled 84, still sitting in my back yard. I'd like to do a similar project to what you plan with it. Just not sure what to put it into, not many cars like that pop up for sale at a reasonable price around here. If I do find something that T5 is the transmission that I plan to use.

 

[jimbone]

How about a T5? That's what the 4.0L Mustangs had, so should be available and have the correct bolt pattern for your motor. It'd also be geared right for a light car so that's another plus.

I have a nice 2.8L in the totaled 84, still sitting in my back yard. I'd like to do a similar project to what you plan with it. Just not sure what to put it into, not many cars like that pop up for sale at a reasonable price around here. If I do find something that T5 is the transmission that I plan to use.

I do have a 83 S10 2.8 with a rod knock (of course) that has a t5 in it... hmm. What would be required to mate that to a 4.0?

 

[JoshT]

Obviously the bell housing is different, beyond that I don't know. As I said I was thinking about the T5 that comes behind the later model mustang 4.0L, and it already has the right bell housing.

 

[Bronco638]

I used to race a '67 A-H Sprite Mk IV. I gotta see pics, when you're done.

 

[jimbone]

I took apart the TK4 and while the 4.0 bell housing fits, there is no mount for the clutch actuation. So now I'm back to swapping the tailhousing from an FM132 to my FM146 (sorry but the M5OD is just too massive, and my T5 from the S10 would require a similar swap plus bell housing plus clutch actuation blah blah blah). Is this at all possible?