Is a manual worth it...

[Dirtman]

I've long realised my automatic trans is gonna be far outlived by the 2.3 engine and basically everything else on the truck. I planned on picking up a junkyard 5r44e and rebuilding it in my basement then just storing it until the time comes. Today I found a 2008 2.3 with a manual in the junkyard and considered picking that up, but I know I need a TON of other parts to do the conversion, most importantly the computer, wiring harness, cluster, and Pat's stuff. So the initial cost and work will be more...

Like go get some opinions. Stick with my original plan for the simplicity.. or go for the manual for a more reliable transmission?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

How long do you want to keep the truck?

Even adding OD I don't know if my swap will ever pay for itself. You have all the stuff you mentioned plus you need all the stuff for the clutch, might as well put seals in it and see what the bearings are like. Shall we do syncros too? My '04 uses the carbon fiber syncros and they are $200+ for the set.

It snowballs very fast... and I had no computer stuff or cluster to deal with.

 

[Ranger850]

Just get a newer/less mileage auto trans. You don't have enough whiskey for that job.

 

[adsm08]

F**K an automatic.

 

[Ranger850]

F**K and automatic.

I don't know what this means. but I'll join in
walk and basketball

 

[adsm08]

I don't know what this means. but I'll join in
walk and basketball

Read the edit.

My laptop tablet thingy loves to correct "an" to "and" if both are grammatically correct.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I wouldn't do it... to much effort and money for minimal gain. I wouldn't even have one sitting done for when the one you have breaks. Kinda like asking it to break.

 

[Dirtman]

Im keeping this truck until one of us explodes in a horrible fire. Hopefully we go out together in the same explosion. This is why im planning ahead for the transmission. If i had any thought of ever selling my truck I wouldn't care. I want life support parts ready, and lets be honest the 5r44e is not great.

At all... but if a throw a rebuilt one in at 100k, will it outlive me? Or go manual...

 

[gw33gp]

There is no way to predict when an automatic is going to go out. Your current automatic could outlive you. I think switching to a manual is not worth it, but it really comes down to what you think about it.

Oh, if you are still wondering about Teflon sticking to the pan, a Teflon primer is used.

 

[Curious Hound]

Sounds expensive either way. I like manuals.

 

[adsm08]

Im keeping this truck until one of us explodes in a horrible fire. Hopefully we go out together in the same explosion. This is why im planning ahead for the transmission. If i had any thought of ever selling my truck I wouldn't care. I want life support parts ready, and lets be honest the 5r44e is not great.

At all... but if a throw a rebuilt one in at 100k, will it outlive me? Or go manual...

Dude, the way you smoke and drink I'll be surprised if my gym socks don't outlive you.

 

[pjtoledo]

biased towards the manuals here. my 2005 2.3 reg cab is about to hit 355,000 miles.
what is your traffic and terrain like? stop and go BS or stop signs on hills would push me over to an automatic.

 

[Dirtman]

Im 99% around town stop and go.

 

[bobbywalter]

depends on preference. depends on how complete the rig you seen is.


if you even think you would like a manual..and can do the work yourself. it can be cheaper to do a manual then rebuild an auto. that is used of course and taking a chance. 2wd ranger swap, if available........ would be a day in the yard and about 200 to 300 bux at the u-pulls where i shop. that is pedals/pcm/harnesses/trans/driveshaft. not common.

at a shelf yard it could go 1000 or more. just the trans for the mazda 2.3 are getting higher...3-700 depending on miles. not common.

where you live it could be totally different.

4r55 reman is 2400 turnkey locally with a stout warranty.... if you can find someone that will do a bench job it goes down to 1100-1400 depending on warranty. reman a manual trans as a bench job generally 2-400 labor plus parts..



i like autos for driving around in traffic/town. but if i had a 4r55.....i would likely go to a manual for light traffic and hiway use or i wanted to tow a boat regularly ect.. heavy traffic, i would leave it auto.

 

[Dirtman]

The truck in the yard is complete (for now) it was in an accident, not a rust bucket like we typically get in the u pull yards. I think im gonna go over and start pulling. If I change my mind im confident I can just resell the parts and recoup my money. Trans is only 125 bucks with my member discount, all the other stuff will probably total out to about 200.

Is there anything im forgetting? Trans, flywheel, master cylinder, linkage, ecu, harnesses, gauge cluster, column cover, pats module, and keys if i can find them (longshot but would make life easier)

Are the driveshaft and crossmember different? (both trucks are same wheelbase)