Not sure what transmission swap to use?

[ShaneBain]

Hey folks, I got a 1997 Ford ranger XLT with a 3.0 motor the engine code on the VIN is a C and I was originally told that I could only swap the transmission with a another ranger that has the same letter for the motor which would be a C but now I'm finding out that 3.0 motors come with a V or a U in the VIN and I'm trying to do is just a straight swap over from the transmission that I have to another one and I'm not sure what option to go with so if anyone could give me any kind of a tip or heads up on what the difference is between the C the U and the V it would be greatly appreciated especially now that I'm crunched for time trying to get everything packed up and do this move up to Oregon, so please thank you for your help.

 

[franklin2]

Is it 2x4 or 4x4? I looked up a 1997 2x4, and I am not seeing the letter thing as a choice. But what is unusual, I did a nationwide search and no interchange comes up, you have to find a 1997 transmission, apparently no other years will drop in with no modifications.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Whats the trans code on the door?

Any 3.0 (and only 3.0) RWD trans will bolt up...but electronics are the issue.

I dont remember if 97 was still running the A4LD or not.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Is it 2x4 or 4x4? I looked up a 1997 2x4, and I am not seeing the letter thing as a choice. But what is unusual, I did a nationwide search and no interchange comes up, you have to find a 1997 transmission, apparently no other years will drop in with no modifications.

A 2x4 is a piece of wood…

Whats the trans code on the door?

Any 3.0 (and only 3.0) RWD trans will bolt up...but electronics are the issue.

I dont remember if 97 was still running the A4LD or not.

97 would have a 4R44 or a 4R55 most likely, the changeover was something like 95/96 I think

 

[19Walt93]

Hey folks, I got a 1997 Ford ranger XLT with a 3.0 motor the engine code on the VIN is a C and I was originally told that I could only swap the transmission with a another ranger that has the same letter for the motor which would be a C but now I'm finding out that 3.0 motors come with a V or a U in the VIN and I'm trying to do is just a straight swap over from the transmission that I have to another one and I'm not sure what option to go with so if anyone could give me any kind of a tip or heads up on what the difference is between the C the U and the V it would be greatly appreciated especially now that I'm crunched for time trying to get everything packed up and do this move up to Oregon, so please thank you for your help.

I've never seen a 3.0 with other than V or U as the 8th digit of the VIN. Where did you find the C?

 

[ShaneBain]

Is it 2x4 or 4x4? I looked up a 1997 2x4, and I am not seeing the letter thing as a choice. But what is unusual, I did a nationwide search and no interchange comes up, you have to find a 1997 transmission, apparently no other years will drop in with no modifications.

It's a 2x4.

 

[ShaneBain]

I've never seen a 3.0 with other than V or U as the 8th digit of the VIN. Where did you find the C?

The 8th letter on the CIN

 

[ShaneBain]

The 8th letter on the CIN

VIN

 

[franklin2]

I checked, 1996, 1997, and 1998 all have a VIN U 3.0 engine. Not sure where the C is coming from. Are you looking on the actual truck behind the windshield and on the door jamb? Or the paperwork.

Wait a minute. During those years, VIN C was the 2.5 4 cylinder engine. So you may have something going on there with a swap of some kind.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I checked, 1996, 1997, and 1998 all have a VIN U 3.0 engine. Not sure where the C is coming from. Are you looking on the actual truck behind the windshield and on the door jamb? Or the paperwork.

Wait a minute. During those years, VIN C was the 2.5 4 cylinder engine. So you may have something going on there with a swap of some kind.

The 2.5 wasnt used in 97

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So… @ShaneBain, can you post a pic of your motor? Maybe post up the VIN too so we can try to decipher what is going on?

 

[franklin2]

The 2.5 wasnt used in 97

Yep, started in 1998. Thanks for the correction. 1997 was a 2.3 with VIN "A"

 

[sgtsandman]

Like Rusty said, any 3.0 transmission will bolt up to a 3.0 engine. Getting the thing to talk properly to the electrical system might be a different story.