transmission swap roadblock 1990 5 speed

[aemiller]

My 1990 Ranger had a Mitsubishi FM132 5 speed transmission. It would not stay in 4th gear. I picked up a used Mazda M5OD R1. When my clutch disassembled about a month ago, I started the swap. My roadblock - the output shaft on the Mazda does not match my drive shaft. Can I just replace the end of the driveshaft that goes into the transmission? Where would I begin looking? If I go to the junk yard, what do I need to know? Any suggestions on how to resolve the issue would be appreciated.

 

[Shran]

You should be able to replace just the yoke. I would look for anything newer than 1992 or so with the same engine you have - a lot of the 4 cylinder trucks had a big balancer deal on the yoke but V6 trucks did not. All of the M5OD transmissions have the same output spline count.

 

[NakedDucks]

All of the M5OD transmissions have the same output spline count.

Actually, there is a difference in spline count AND shaft size between to 2 and 4wd versions.

My 1990 Ranger had a Mitsubishi FM132 5 speed transmission. It would not stay in 4th gear. I picked up a used Mazda M5OD R1. When my clutch disassembled about a month ago, I started the swap. My roadblock - the output shaft on the Mazda does not match my drive shaft. Can I just replace the end of the driveshaft that goes into the transmission? Where would I begin looking? If I go to the junk yard, what do I need to know? Any suggestions on how to resolve the issue would be appreciated.

Shran is correct.... sort of. I know I'm splitting hairs here, but it is important to properly address you trouble.

*IF* the u-joints are the same size between your current driveshaft and a yoke from and M5OD (very possible), then yes, simply swap the yoke onto your current driveshaft. If not, find a driveshaft for your truck body (I.E. Ext cab, reg cab, 2wd, 4wd) that had the M5OD, and use that driveshaft instead. I would recommend replacing both ( or all 3 if ext cab) joints at the current time since you are this deep into the swap anyhow.

 

[Shran]

Actually, there is a difference in spline count AND shaft size between to 2 and 4wd versions.



Shran is correct.... sort of. I know I'm splitting hairs here, but it is important to properly address you trouble.

*IF* the u-joints are the same size between your current driveshaft and a yoke from and M5OD (very possible), then yes, simply swap the yoke onto your current driveshaft. If not, find a driveshaft for your truck body (I.E. Ext cab, reg cab, 2wd, 4wd) that had the M5OD, and use that driveshaft instead. I would recommend replacing both ( or all 3 if ext cab) joints at the current time since you are this deep into the swap anyhow.

I should have specified that all of the 2wd M5OD's have the same output spline count.

U-joints should not be a problem, IIRC they were all 1310 series from 90 on. Spicer 5-135x or equivalent... it gets weird with 89 and older that have 1210 style u-joints but I'm not sure 2wd even had those. Even if they did it wouldn't be a useful part in this case. I could be wrong but I don't recall seeing any 90 up rear shaft with anything other than 1310 series.

Technically if you're swapping yokes you should have the shaft balanced as well.

 

[bobbywalter]

there are 1330s too in there somewhere and the guibo. i think I had a 1330 guibo combo somewhere which was not even listed at the store but there was the number on the shaft. 2wd.

at one point the spline count goes to 25 iirc from 28....or maybe it's the other way? probably the issue here

 

[bobbywalter]

i mention that because on a leter v8 swap I was doing I was setup to use the OEM shaft as I had done dozens of times the 20 years before and it had a smaller spline whereas the others were normally the goods ol 28 spline. i did not pull the power train on it so maybe it was a different trans to begin with....but it was said to be a 4cyl 2wd auto originally.