transmission question

[92ranger18]

This is probably the wrong place for this, but I am planning a project that involves a 3.0 out of a 1992 ranger. I want to build a mid to rear engine rock crawler/bouncer. That being said I'm gonna weld the diff in the front wheel drive transmission and mount it all sideways and the transmission act like a transfer case. Just always 4 wheel drive. I know it works I've seen it on a buggy before. Anyways what I would like to know is will the trans out of a 1992 probe Taurus etc work with my rangers computer, it's an automatic also. I hope you can understand my rambling thoughts.

 

[Transman304]

I think I know what you are asking as far as using the transaxle as a transfer case. You will not get your electronics to work with a transaxle. What is the pupose of installing sideways?

 

[92ranger18]

Mounting it sideways so that one axle points forward and the other backwards. If that makes any sense

 

[Captain Ledd]

I think I know what you are asking as far as using the transaxle as a transfer case. You will not get your electronics to work with a transaxle. What is the pupose of installing sideways?

It's installed sideways so that the axle shafts that would normally go to the front wheels are now the front and rear driveshafts. This yields a very narrow package for a nice, skinny body to more easily navigate obstacles and maximum room for flex/turning.

Ultimately, you're using the final drive ratio of the transaxle as the transfercase reduction gear. Weld the spider gears up, and it's like any other 4-low transfercase.


I have limited experience with automatics (I assume this is an auto in question), but I'd tend to lean toward Transman304's conclusion, that it's not easily going to work. Normally all that stuff is sourced from one donor vehicle.

BUT, I think that engine did make it into some cars (90's Taurus's?), but I really don't know which ones. Hopefully someone with a little more concrete information will chime in.

Sounds like a fun project!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

This is probably the wrong place for this, but I am planning a project that involves a 3.0 out of a 1992 ranger. I want to build a mid to rear engine rock crawler/bouncer. That being said I'm gonna weld the diff in the front wheel drive transmission and mount it all sideways and the transmission act like a transfer case. Just always 4 wheel drive. I know it works I've seen it on a buggy before. Anyways what I would like to know is will the trans out of a 1992 probe Taurus etc work with my rangers computer, it's an automatic also. I hope you can understand my rambling thoughts.

A good site, and maybe for your question too;

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/index.php

 

[Captain Ledd]

Wow did I miss some important things when I read this the last time... (auto and Taurus)

If you still need to source the donor transmission, I'd get the whole engine computer harness too. Or (probably better) get a dead engine/trans combo as a whole and basically swap in the good Ranger engine. As long as they're both older 3.0's.