How to find Mazda M50D-R1 4wd

[crankinaway]

What I am looking for in a junkyard? I need the mainshaft and tail housing for a 4wd conversion on my 2008 2.3 2wd 5spd.

Better yet could I find one with a 1354 attached?

 

[metalmacguyver]

Any 90s and later ranger with 4x4 and a manual tranny will have one.


It is quite possible that you will find one with a 1354 attached. Your best bet is to try a U-pull it junkyard.

 

[crankinaway]

Could I purchase either of these parts new? Seeing my tranny is new I would like to keep with the theme even tho it voids my warranty.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Sure.

It might be stupid expensive though.

 

[rboyer]

Why not just buy the right transmission and then sell yours? Or if you're tight for cash but can spare the truck being down for a little then sell yours and buy the right one. The ONLY thing that makes your transmission that you have now worth any more than a used one is the warranty and once you void that you're basically throwing money away.

 

[wvcat]

Just an FYI-Do you realize you need a manual transfer case? If you go with an electric one you will need to change the dash harness and computer. BTW they quit making 4 cylinder 4wd trucks somewhere around 1996-97 so your going to be using an older tranny. By the time you go through the expense of the solid axle swap and 4wd conversion you would be better off buying a 4wd truck

 

[rboyer]

Ok I just realized that you said your truck is a 2008. Why would you want to hack apart a brand new truck to make it 4wd? I'm guessing that your only reason would be that you love Ford Rangers and want the convenience of 4wd along with the fuel efficiency of a 2.3 engine all packed into a truck that is brand new. That is the only reason I can comprehend and in a way it would be pretty cool to have something like that but you might want to give it some thought.

 

[crankinaway]

Bingo! Manual case I have but would like to find one attached to the tailhousing in case splines are different or something unforseen which is always the case. I could pull a tranny too....but I don't want to. I think I will buy the mainshaft and pull the tail housing. Tranny shops here could rebuild the tranny and attach the housing in a single day. All they really have to due is swap in the mainshaft cause the damn thing is new anyways. Gas mileage good, torsion bars bad.

 

[metalmacguyver]

All 4x4 transmissions have the same outputs. All RBV tcases have the same inputs. Any BW1350 or 1354 will bolt up to any 4x4 ranger, bronco, or explorer transmission.

 

[crankinaway]

All 4x4 transmissions have the same outputs. All RBV tcases have the same inputs. Any BW1350 or 1354 will bolt up to any 4x4 ranger, bronco, or explorer transmission.

Perfect then all I need is the shaft and housing. Thanks.

 

[crankinaway]

One more thing....is there a crossmember for 4x4's to support the transfer case?

 

[metalmacguyver]

No. The tcase is supported by the transmission.

 

[crankinaway]

Why not just buy the right transmission and then sell yours? Or if you're tight for cash but can spare the truck being down for a little then sell yours and buy the right one. The ONLY thing that makes your transmission that you have now worth any more than a used one is the warranty and once you void that you're basically throwing money away.

I have opted to try this route as down time will then be very small and less labour intensive, but what year M50D-R1 4wd tranny will bolt in to my 08 2.3L? Are the bellhousing patterns an exact match? Would a 3.0 or 4.0 version bolt in?

 

[metalmacguyver]

No. Niether a 3.0 or 4.0 tranny will bolt up. You need to look for a tranny out of a 97 or earlier truck as they stopped offering the 2.3L 4x4 in 97.

Good luck in your search!


Edit,

Go to car-part.com and search for a 1996/Ford Ranger/Transmission/2.3.L4x4/All areas/ your zip code. I just looked and there are a bunch of transmissions out there for you.

 

[crankinaway]

Well....I might revert back to the original plan because I can buy a new 2.3 mainshaft 4x4 for the tranny cheap and new from Ford, thanks for the good info.