How many versions of FM146 trans are there? I see a difference

[Fairlaniac]

A while ago I had this post http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140556

It took a while but I decided to change the seal today. To back up a bit I purchased the trans in the picture here.

I decided to use this trans to see how the seal comes out and replace it. I did this back in the winter so I knew what I was up against.

So you see the inside of the extension housing for 4x4. Today I take the transfer case out of the Ranger to find this.

Both have a FM-146 tag on the driver side of the trans. I'm baffled seeing what I see. Are there multiple models of the trans and extension housing?

So my issue was oil leaking out between the trans and transfer case. I assume oil is passing through the bearing shown behind the hex nut in the second picture? I guess this is no easy, in the truck fix?

I guess my "beater" truck is now my "POS" truck?

Thanks,

 

[Shran]

Looks to me like the easy solution is to RTV the mating surface between the trans and t-case... done deal.

I don't see a drain channel machined into the extension housing in the 2nd pic so I assume that transmission was designed to have a wet housing like most older manuals and damn near all automatics do. I can't tell you for sure if there are more than one model of FM-146, but it wouldn't surprise me - most of the older TK and FM transmissions I've dealt with from the early Rangers/B2's have had wet extension housings, I was kinda surprised the first time I pulled a t-case off an M5OD and it was dry. Kinda nice not getting a gear lube or ATF shower, lol