Replacing transmission, can I use any year?

[fordfreak93]

I have a 1993 3.0L 4x2 manual transmission Ranger. The tranny has seen better days and I'm shopping for a replacement. I know that the replacement transmission needs to come from another 3.0L, but will any year work? I've found newer ones (98-08) for a lot cheaper than older ones (91-97). Are they all the same? I can handle swapping tail shaft housings, but I don't want any major suprises. Any help would be appreciated...

 

[PlumCrazy]

Any 3.0 M50d will work. And just so you know swapping tail shafts involves completely disassembling the tranny since all the gears and syncros are on that shaft, and you have to slip everything off the counter shaft to get at the bearing and to allow enough room to remove the shaft. The output shaft is the second thing put in and the second to last to come out.

-plumcrazy

 

[fordfreak93]

So I have to swap the shaft if I use a newer tranny? Sounds like a pain. I thought you could just swap housings.

 

[Earl43P]

You need a trans that has the speedometer gear drive. Your speedo is cable driven with an additional electrical speed sensor that tells the PCM you are moving. The newer trannys may not have that speedometer gear drive that you need. I "believe" you can go as high as 97 and it'll still have the drive gear. That is the root of your problem with 98+. The VSS does appear to be located on the tailshaft housing though.

You may not care to have speedo/odo, but your PCM is definately going to want the speed signal that 98+ trannys don't have. I don't know of any work-arounds that will let you install a 98+, but someone else may.

 

[PlumCrazy]

You could get a 98+ tranny and swap the tail housings so you would have a hole for the VSS. Swapping housings isnt a big deal, but swapping shafts takes some time.

-plumcrazy

 

[fordfreak93]

Thanks for your help. I've heard something about the shifters being different on the 98+, do I need to get a new shifter if I go with a 98+ tranny?

 

[PlumCrazy]

Im pretty sure its just the length of the shifter itself. They bolt on the same way. I will compare them when I get home.

-plumcrazy

 

[AllanD]

All the 2wd tailshafts have PROVISIONs for the speedo drive worm gear
(the hole for the locating ball and the circlip groove)

IT's the later 2wd tailshaft housings that lack the machining necissary to
install the speedo DRIVEN gear and VSS assembly.

So with a 14mm socket and a pair of outside circlip pliers it's 30min
tops to "convert" a later 2wd trans to fit and function in a truck with
a mechanical speedometer.

And most of that time is cleaning the sealing surface to glue the tailcone onto the trans so it doesn't leak.

AD

 

[dorman68]

I got a hold of my buddy at a salvage yard and he said the following will fit according to his salvage interchange index.


MAZDA B-3000 1994 M.T.; 3.0L 4x2
RANGER 1991-94 M.T.; 4x2, (3.0L)

 

[AllanD]

I got a hold of my buddy at a salvage yard and he said the following will fit according to his salvage interchange index.


MAZDA B-3000 1994 M.T.; 3.0L 4x2
RANGER 1991-94 M.T.; 4x2, (3.0L)

Direct fit that list is absolutely correct.

"Adaptable" is a far broader selection.

Yes the later trans can be adapted to the earlier truck as I have indicated above.

It takes less than half an hour to do it...

Interchanges used by most junkyards are limited by space
from looking too deep into interchanges.

Like the Hollander would probably show that a 1994 4.0 engine
is different from a 1993 (if you want the engine FOR the 1993),
yet by swapping off the upper intake, the drivers side exhaust
manifold and the on-engine wiring harness it's identical to the
1993 engine.

Hollander only recognizes "different" and usually doesn't
distinguish if a difference is actually relevant... or correctable...

Like the old problem where they'd list a TK-5 trans for a 2.3 as different
from a 2.9 when a simple bellhousing swap would make it interchangeable.


AD