MT Second gear won't engage 93 4.0 4wd

[wtn4x4]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a 93 4.0 4x4 MT to replace my tired 94 2.3 4x4 MT. The truck is in really great shape. It feels pretty new while driving it and seems well taken care of. I bought it at an auction so I couldn't drive it. Come to find out it won't go into second gear. All of the other gears work great. There is no noise in the transmission. It's as though there is something blocking it from shifting into second. I am perplexed as to how that could happen. When I force the gear against second i can feel this vibration like it wants to engage, but its blocked from moving far enough to engage.

Please help... I have no idea what would cause this and I can't afford to buy a 700-900 used transmission not including shipping (no local Alaska transmissions).

 

[swynx]

You have 2 transmissions? The 2.3 m5 has a lower 1-2-3 gear than the 4.0 version. But will bolt up. Have you tried shifting without the clutch. Rev it high and pull it against second with or without the clutch. Assuming it won't go in but you never know. Ill say really worn synchros or a broken part? Shift fork?

 

[4x4junkie]

2.3L and 4.0L transmissions will not interchange (bellhousing is different).

The top shifter cover however I think will swap. Being that the trans works fine in all other gears, good chance the issue is in the top cover/shifting mechanism (though a damaged shift collar is also possible, which would require teardown to fix).

Pull the shifter cover off and see if anything in there is obvious (make sure it's in neutral before you pull it off).

If you plan to keep the truck awhile, get yourself a set of factory service books (they're usually all over Ebay). Waaaayyy better than the Haynes or Chilton junk you buy at local autoparts stores. Or if you have any manuals from your '94, the '93 trans will be the same.

 

[Explorin94]

If it were a fork it would not go into 4th gear either. Sounds like a broken sycro. Can it be put into 2nd gear while the truck is off (not running)? Yes you are right Junky the top shift fork plates will interchange.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Sounds like the shifter bushings are shot, and piece of the plastic bushing may be wedged in the top plate limiting the for travel...or the spring let loose for the keys on the synchro...both are fairly common with the M5OD. The latter requires total disassembly...

You can use your old trans for parts even.