Removing engine and transmission...?

[5.0]

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1997 reg cab/short bed with a 2.3 and 5 speed manual.

Can I pull the engine and transmission together?

How does the shifter come off?

If I need to remove the transmission, do I just unbolt it from the block and pull it off? Nothing needs done with the clutch?


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[scotts90ranger]

it's a pain to get just the engine out (well, in is harder) by itself sometimes, I wouldn't want to attempt it with a tranny attached...

it's all of 8 bellhousing bolts to get the transmission free from the engine, you don't have to do anything with the tranny, I'd support the front with a ratchet strap though since it's only mount is in the back, it'll help for mating the two togther again too. unless the truck has air conditioning, the bolts aren't too hard to get at, the top couple on the passenger side are best accessed from the top, top drivers side bolt can be gotten from the top, the rest are easier from the bottom, just wiggle your arm up and you should be able to feel them, they should all have 13mm heads.

 

[schmoo]

they do them together at the factory,
it is a tossup which is easier on 4x2.
the shifter has a stud towards the
bottom, take the nut off one side
and put it on the other and tighten it.
i think it helps to put the rear wheels on
ramps. you get a better angle to get
the tranny in and out.
if you have done this before, you can
have e&t out in little more than an hour.

 

[5.0]

Thanks.

I'm taking out the 2.3/5 speed and dropping in a 5.0/AOD.

I'm going to go out now and try to disconnect the shifter and clutch line.

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[RangerFabWorks]

i always pull my motors with my trannys, just easier in my mind, ive done it both ways. if you get the right angle one the engine and trans when pulling it out. you can have the engine out with the trans in an hour.

 

[5.0]

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Ok, I tried it with the trans still on the engine and all went well. I couldn't get the bolts out of the transmission cross member because they were rusted in the sleeves, but I managed to get it pulled even with the cross member still in place.

Here are a few pics of today's work and 1 pic of the replacement engine...

 

[kwatson72]

It CAN be done!

Thanks so much for posting this thread. I need to remove the engine and trans from my Ranger (4cyl / 5 speed 2WD) and have been looking for pictures of someone who has done it before I attempted it. I was worried that the core support had to come off.

 

[STPL]

Thanks so much for posting this thread. I need to remove the engine and trans from my Ranger (4cyl / 5 speed 2WD) and have been looking for pictures of someone who has done it before I attempted it. I was worried that the core support had to come off.

Check out my build log, there are pictures of us pulling the engine about 1/3 of the way through the whole process. The bell-housing bolts were rusted solid with no way to get any decent leverage on them. I would recommend pulling the engine and trans as one, I imagine its a nightmare to line up the motor with the transmission if you leave the transmission in there.
https://imgur.com/a/OBly2

 

[ccaissie]

Thanks for this. I debated pulling just the head to replace a head gasket, but that means timing belt and maybe at 178k the bores are not great?

Pulling entire 2.3 /5speed makes sense in that I have another with 141k that runs great.

Looks like less labor and a better job overall to pull the whole units.