adsm08
Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
- Messages
- 34,623
- City
- Dillsburg PA
- Vehicle Year
- 1987
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Tire Size
- 31X10.50X15
I have my 1987 Ranger (still mostly stock for now
), but the transmission is starting to go out. Since i have big plans for this truck I figured that it might be best to start the parts swaps now so I can keep driving it instead of spending the money twice. Anyway, on to the question:
I currently have an FM145 4x4 behind a 2.9L V6. I know most of the differences between the 145 and M5OD, but my big question is, if I replace the mitsu with the newer Mazda trans, what if any shifter hole clearance issues am I going to run into?
I know that the transfer case and shafts are going to need to be changed out too, but for now I am more worried about whether or not I'm gonna put this thing up in there and find that i either can't put the shifter in b/c the attaching point is now under the floor, rather than the hole, or that I can put the shifter in but not be able to use a set of gears (1,3,5/2,4,R)

I currently have an FM145 4x4 behind a 2.9L V6. I know most of the differences between the 145 and M5OD, but my big question is, if I replace the mitsu with the newer Mazda trans, what if any shifter hole clearance issues am I going to run into?
I know that the transfer case and shafts are going to need to be changed out too, but for now I am more worried about whether or not I'm gonna put this thing up in there and find that i either can't put the shifter in b/c the attaching point is now under the floor, rather than the hole, or that I can put the shifter in but not be able to use a set of gears (1,3,5/2,4,R)