Im new to the idea of the 5.0 swap into my 84 Ranger. I need help bellhousing help

[MadMax_636]

So, Ive pretty much found all the parts I need to order to do all the conversion besides the bell housing. That is the only part I cant seem to find.

I found online and YouTube of people using different bell housing and its recommended (Which from what I believe means there are other options) the 87 F-150 manual bell housing but I cant find one for the life of me.

If anyone could sell me one or tell/give me a link or somewhere to get an alternative.

 

[19Walt93]

I've seen the bellhousing from a 4.2 v6 97-04 F150 recommended here but I think you'll need the later Mazda transmission to go with it. I would prefer to use a T5 and a fox Mustang bell, flywheel, and clutch setup but that would require more fabrication. I never liked the way the Mazda transmission shifted and, at least in NH, a 2wd F150 is rare and a 2wd, V6 F150 is almost unheard of.

 

[MadMax_636]

I've seen the bellhousing from a 4.2 v6 97-94 F150 recommended here but I think you'll need the later Mazda transmission to go with it. I would prefer to use a T5 and a fox Mustang bell, flywheel, and clutch setup but that would require more fabrication. I never liked the way the Mazda transmission shifted and, at least in NH, a 2wd F150 is rare and a 2wd, V6 F150 is almost unheard of.

Ive heard that too (About the 94-97 F150s. I might look at junk yards but like you said, its probably hard to find a 2wd manual v6.
Id love to do the cable clutch system but id rather not have to chop up or fab anything if I really dont have to.

My ranger has the toyo 5 speed not the mazda. If that matters. Apparently there is a adapter kit but some people try to make it sound as if the 5.0 will instantly blow up the toyo. Im sure it would if I started towing, racing and stuff of that sort but the most my truck has ever hauled was a motorcycle and maybe soon a 87 toyota celica.

Im probably gonna hold off on the 5.0 swap (Lets keep this thread going) and rebuild the 2.8 I have and run it until Ive gotten the money and parts saved up since I wanna do a stroker kit to the 302w Ive got. Since ill be doing the wholel 9 yards! T5, shaft, clutch, rear end/dif, and so on.

 

[RonD]

The 1997-2003 4.2l V6 uses the same small block windsor pattern as the 302/5.0l

It was an M5OD-R2 5-speed manual trans on these, so bellhousing was not detachable

You can look here for what engines used the same pattern: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ford_bellhousing_patterns

The main benefit of the 1997-2003 M5R2 from the 4.2l V6 was that its shifter matched Rangers M5R1 shifter location

Other manuals will have shifter farther forward, under dash, or farther back at front of the seats, you can use custom shift arm to use these
These older transmission can be cable operated or can be made to be cable operated, obviously you would have to modify clutch pedal setup to do this

 

[MadMax_636]

The main benefit of the 1997-2003 M5R2 from the 4.2l V6 was that its shifter matched Rangers M5R1 shifter location

Like this one? https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=9910700&cc=1385366&jsn=781

 

[RonD]

No, that's not the same as an M5R2(M5OD-R2)

Its a RMTM5R2F8

 

[MadMax_636]

No, that's not the same as an M5R2(M5OD-R2)

Its a RMTM5R2F8

M5OD-R2 M5R2 Transmission For Sale, M5OD-R2 Rebuild

Performance Built M5R2 Transmission sale. M5OD-R2 Rebuild for Ford F150, F250 and Bronco's.

smartpartsauto.com

I found a place where I can get a fully rebuilt one. Since I found it on Rockauto but its out of stock.

 

[RonD]

As said, it has integrated bellhousing so must be ordered to match the 4.2l V6/5.0l V8 block pattern
You also want the tail shaft housing with the speedometer cable hook up, has a hole with plasic plug in it and next to it is a thread hole for a bolt

Should have Drive gear installed on output shaft, if not you will need to remove the tail shaft housing and add the Drive Gear for speedometer

 

[MadMax_636]

As said, it has integrated bellhousing so must be ordered to match the 4.2l V6/5.0l V8 block pattern
You also want the tail shaft housing with the speedometer cable hook up, has a hole with plasic plug in it and next to it is a thread hole for a bolt

Should have Drive gear installed on output shaft, if not you will need to remove the tail shaft housing and add the Drive Gear for speedometer

Alright, When mentioned a speedo... The 302 ill be installing is carbed. I wont be dealing with any EFI crap. So does the speedo thing matter then? I thought it was hooked up the wheels (wheel sensors) and not the tranny.

 

[RonD]

What year Ranger is it going in?

1983 to 1994 used speedometer cable to dash, mechanical speedometer

1995-1997 used same speedo cable setup but without the cable, used a VSS in its place and electric speedometer

Only the 1998-2000 Rangers used the rear axle ABS sensor and GEM module for electric speedometer

2001 and up used OSS sensor on output shaft of transmission connected to computer then computer sent out speed signal to the electric speedometer

 

[MadMax_636]

What year Ranger is it going in?

1983 to 1994 used speedometer cable to dash, mechanical speedometer

1995-1997 used same speedo cable setup but without the cable, used a VSS in its place and electric speedometer

Only the 1998-2000 Rangers used the rear axle ABS sensor and GEM module for electric speedometer

2001 and up used OSS sensor on output shaft of transmission connected to computer then computer sent out speed signal to the electric speedometer

Its the 1984 that I have.

 

[RonD]

So you need speedo cable hook up on transmission

 

[MadMax_636]

After doing some research on that trans I posted a link to 'M5OD' and I keep finding info that states it will only fit in the 88 - 89 Ford Ranger. Just wanting conformation that it can/will fit in the early 80s trucks.

 

[RonD]

The M5OD(-R1) uses an integrated bellhousing, so each M5OD is made to fit a specific engine bolt pattern

2.8l, 2.9l and 4.0l engines used the same bolt pattern
So an M5OD from a 4.0l would fit on a 2.8l or 2.9l
An M5OD from a 2.9l would fit on a 2.8l or 4.0l

An M5OD from a 2.3l would fit on another 2.3l(1983-1997) but not a 2.8l, 2.9l or 4.0l

An M5OD from a 3.0l would only fit on another 3.0l, nothing else

So M5OD is engine specific, not year specific

Same for the M5OD-R2's for V8s and later model V6s, they are engine specific as well, not year, the later model 4.2l V6 just used the same bolt pattern as the earlier 302(5.0l) engines so M5OD-R2 can be used for either

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ranger/Explorer used the M5OD-R1
F-150 used the M5OD-R2

Bellhousings are part of the case, you get what you get... no mixy matchy.

97-04 F-150 has the best shifter location for a RBV... but speedometer issues for 2wd. You may be able to swap parts with an older one to get a VSS location to drive your speedometer.

The shift forks are different between 96 and older and 97 and newer so you can't just the top covers. They went from thinner steel to thicker aluminum.

The 4.2 bellhousing bolt pattern is the same pattern as a small block Ford but the holes are slightly smaller. Like 12mm to 1/2"... so they need a tickle with a drill to fit a SBF. You will also need the engine separator plate from from a 5.0 M5OD truck, the 4.2 plate has a smaller hole for the starter because it uses a smaller clutch/flywheel.

SBF Engine Seperator Plates

The whole thing came about when I tried to reuse the 4.2 seperator plate I got with my M5ODR2 with a '96 302 starter. The starter hole was just barely too small. The plate from my C5 was identical but didn't have a neat little foam seal around the crank. Faced with the rather terrifying...

www.therangerstation.com