I'm new:)

[herb101]

Greetings
Reason for my membership is because I'm in search for another Ranger. When I graduated HS I had a 1989 long bed 2wd 2.3l Ranger and I sold it back in 99 and I miss the hec out of it. Only this time I'm going to do it right, I want a 4wd ranger D35, 2.3L, long bed or ext cab short bed, and the Mazda 5 spd. I also want it in the years of 89-92.


I know that's a tough configuration to find but, if you guys have any thoughts let me know because I'm getting the Ranger fever again.
Thanks in advance.

 

[countryboy]

good luck findin a 4wd 2.3 in that model especially in e-cab. and welcome to the site

 

[herb101]

Does anyone know if a 3.0 and a 2.3 use the same bell housing? If they do than this shouldn't be too difficult to clone a truck.

 

[BBreidhaupt]

yeah, the 2.3l, 2.9l, and 3.0l all used the same bellhousing. The only exception is the 4.0l i believe. i think the 4.0l has an extra bolt in the bellhousing...?

 

[Bryan22]

yeah, the 2.3l, 2.9l, and 3.0l all used the same bellhousing. The only exception is the 4.0l i believe. i think the 4.0l has an extra bolt in the bellhousing...?

wrong. i think the 2.9 and 4.0(pre 98) are the only engines that share a bellhousing. all others are not interchangeable.

 

[herb101]

If I remember the Mazda trans does not have a removeable bell housing, you have to get the entire transmission case. I also think if the Mazda trans (I think it's also refered as MR1) is a 2wd one it can be converted into a 4wd one by getting a output shaft and a tranfercase adaptor. Further, the floor plate is a little different on the MR1 the 4wd shifter sits a little back from the gear shifter.

The reason for my madness is because I favor the Mazda over the Misubishi and I know that the 2.3 and 3.0 use the same trans, just wasn't sure about the bellhousings. I did find some 2.3s that were 4x4 I just wasn't sure what tranny they came with between 89-92.
Any suggestions thanks in advance.

 

[scotts90ranger]

the 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 use the same bell pattern, the 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 are the same, 3.0 is it's own bellhousing pattern.

the mazda M5ODR1 tranny is behind every 2.3 from sometime in '87 until the demise of the 2.5 in mid '01, there's a couple small differences between those years, biggest is the absense of the speedo gear hole in the '96 and newer trannies...

 

[herb101]

the 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 use the same bell pattern, the 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 are the same, 3.0 is it's own bellhousing pattern.

the mazda M5ODR1 tranny is behind every 2.3 from sometime in '87 until the demise of the 2.5 in mid '01, there's a couple small differences between those years, biggest is the absense of the speedo gear hole in the '96 and newer trannies...

Thank you for that info. By the sound of things it looks like I'm going to have to build/clone my truck because of the available options. What did you do for your tranny on the 90 model?

 

[scotts90ranger]

it's completely stock with I would guess 220K miles on the thing... the synchro's are getting a bit worn but it seems to be holding up to the turbo punishment fairly well

 

[herb101]

I found a 1992 Ranger 4x4, 2.3L, D35, 5spd, with working A/C. The only problem with it is the guy put a 2wd trans and removed the transfercase with the driveshaft. Later I will deal with the transmission/tranfercase issue. Any ideas on where I can by a 4x4 outputshaft and transfercase adapter?

Another plus for me it has no rust anywhere and it's all stock with 120K on it.

 

[herb101]

Got it today! Things are not always what they are on pictures but overall I like it an I know it's going to make me happy. I guess one of my biggest issue is it smells like an ashtray. I drove 350 miles and the guy had it trashed inside. You would think that he would have cleaned it before hand since he had a days notice but, no. Anyhow, I officially have a Ranger again!

 

[countryboy]

congrats on the ranger!!!! and as far as the tranny parts contact alland he has a lot of stuff for trannies and might be able to help u out