R2 slave to '87 master cylinder

[Daniel Black]

I'm putting a 302 in an '87 Ranger that had a TK-5 speed. My first choice was an '80s F150 bellhousing with external slave cylinder and a 4-speed but I can't find one of those bells anywhere for a decent price. I found an M5od-R2 out of a 2wd 2003 F150 with a 4.2 V6. The deminsions look pretty close as far as length and trans mount but the shifter measures to be a little further towards the dash than my TK but I think I can work with it. The big problem is the line hookup to the slave cylinder looks nothing like my TK. Is there a way to hook it up using factory Ford parts or would I need some sort of custom line made?

 

[Ramcharger90]

Is your master on an angle? if so This is what I got a 90 ranger 7/8 bore master from rock auto and line with the 90 f150 slave your shifter will be located 2 inches forward from the R1's position. And the f150 and ranger have the bolt for the shifter on opposite sides so you will need a custom shifter. And you're trans mounts should be the same

 

[adsm08]

You just need a line from an 88 or newer to make the hydraulic connection.

 

[Daniel Black]

Thanks. So I just need a line for a Ranger that came with an m5od-R1.

 

[adsm08]

Thanks. So I just need a line for a Ranger that came with an m5od-R1.

Alll the manual transmissions from 88 up had that same connector style, M5OD and FM146. IIRC there was a change in the diameter of it in the mid 90s though, so you just have to watch that.

 

[Daniel Black]

I found an F150 bell with bracket and clutch fork for $65. Used an '85 F150 slave cylinder and clutch line for an '83 Ranger that came with the same external slave as the F150. Everything plugged in.

 

[Shran]

Just wondering - how stiff is your clutch pedal? Did you have any clearance issues with the F150 slave cylinder?

I'm considering changing to a different slave cylinder in my V8 swapped truck. I have a Speedway slave cylinder now and I believe that it's leaking. My clutch pedal has always been rather stiff too - something to lighten it up would be nice. I used the Speedway part because I had heard that the F150 s/c is quite large and has clearance issues with the transmission tunnel.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I used the clutch hydraulics (master/line/slave) for a '91 Explorer for my R2, the clutch feels like it could have came from Ford that way.

 

[Shran]

Ha! I should have clarified: my question was directed at @Daniel Black since he apparently has the same F series, 4 speed juice clutch bellhousing that I have.

 

[Daniel Black]

Just wondering - how stiff is your clutch pedal? Did you have any clearance issues with the F150 slave cylinder?

I'm considering changing to a different slave cylinder in my V8 swapped truck. I have a Speedway slave cylinder now and I believe that it's leaking. My clutch pedal has always been rather stiff too - something to lighten it up would be nice. I used the Speedway part because I had heard that the F150 s/c is quite large and has clearance issues with the transmission tunnel.

I had to beat the crap out of that lip and some of the tunnel on the drivers side. I don't have the trans in yet so I can't say on how the pedal feels. I'm afraid if I mash it without the trans input shaft in the clutch might move out of line. I imagine it'll be the same as stock. '83 Rangers call for the same part # slave as the F150 and they use the same part # clutch master as my '87 Ranger. Mine was internal and wouldn't hook up so I had to order the '83 clutch hose. I'll report back when I find my shifter linkage rods I'm looking for. The clutch master is my only concern since the stock Ranger is what an 8" clutch and my flywheel is only made for an 11" clutch. I think that's where the real difference will show in the Ranger vs F150 master cylinder.

 

[Ramcharger90]

I had to beat the crap out of that lip and some of the tunnel on the drivers side. I don't have the trans in yet so I can't say on how the pedal feels. I'm afraid if I mash it without the trans input shaft in the clutch might move out of line. I imagine it'll be the same as stock. '83 Rangers call for the same part # slave as the F150 and they use the same part # clutch master as my '87 Ranger. Mine was internal and wouldn't hook up so I had to order the '83 clutch hose. I'll report back when I find my shifter linkage rods I'm looking for. The clutch master is my only concern since the stock Ranger is what an 8" clutch and my flywheel is only made for an 11" clutch. I think that's where the real difference will show in the Ranger vs F150 master cylinder.

Take your shifter lever out of the trans and stick a rag in the hole makes it so easy to get it

 

[Daniel Black]

I have an old style topload 4-speed that I'm missing the shift linkage for. The clutch slave technically fits without a ton of hammering but I wanted some extra room in case I needed to change it or work on it in the future.

 

[Ramcharger90]

I have an old style topload 4-speed that I'm missing the shift linkage for. The clutch slave technically fits without a ton of hammering but I wanted some extra room in case I needed to change it or work on it in the future.

I used a 7/8 90 ranger master, 90 ranger line, f150 slave for the m5odr2 it was the same p/n for both. My clutch releases not that far from the floor it isnt very heavy either if you can use a trans with an external slave for easy repair. Depending on the location of it and the sensor for the back up/nns you may need to modify your floor I had to any way i.e. cut a access hole and then self tapper it shut with gasket maker as a sealant.

 

[Daniel Black]

I have external slave. I hope my mechanical speedo will work in this trans with a gear swap and the back up lights should hook into the shifter mechanism when I find it. Ran into more clearance problems. I need to grind some on the pass. side of my 164T bell for header clearance and couldn't get the top bolts out with it in the truck. I had to set the whole motor back out but it's getting easier to take in and out.

 

[Daniel Black]

Just wondering - how stiff is your clutch pedal? Did you have any clearance issues with the F150 slave cylinder?

I'm considering changing to a different slave cylinder in my V8 swapped truck. I have a Speedway slave cylinder now and I believe that it's leaking. My clutch pedal has always been rather stiff too - something to lighten it up would be nice. I used the Speedway part because I had heard that the F150 s/c is quite large and has clearance issues with the transmission tunnel.

The trans is in now. With the back of the motor up where it should be I didn't need any extra clearance for the bellhousing or slave cylinder. I did notice the slave can't be removed from its bracket now so that could be a problem down the road. The slave is very close 1/4" to a tube on the tri-y headers and it's plastic so that's a problem. I have an 11" clutch set and it's pretty hard to mash the pedal down. It even flexes the master cylinder and firewall. It's much harder to mash than my older Fords with linkage style clutches.