Trying to 91 5 speed swap my 83 ranger

[832.3ranger]

this is my 1983 ranger I bought for 500$ at 16 years old and put a bronco 2 wiring harness in and a 88 2.3 in with the help of my uncle. I want to 5 speed swap it for better fuel mileage and because it’d nicer to drive. So I’m wondering if I can use the 1986 bronco 2 pedals I have in it right now on a 1991 ranger 5 speed 2wd transmission master and slave cylinder. Or do I need 88-91 pedals?

 

[scotts90ranger]

The pedals you have should be fine and I think the '91 master should mount to the firewall reasonably so I think you should be good to go with your plan as long as you got the driveline to go with the transmission as it's a different length and you'll probably have to move your transmission crossmember a bit but there might be holes in the frame.

 

[JoshT]

No offense, but are you real poster, or a spammer? Not, that I'd expect an honest answer from a spammer. You joined today, yet claim to be an event participant, which is pretty common move for them. That combined with the poor wording...


Now you say that you want to 5 speed swap it, but you don't say what you have now. If it's currently a manual, then the pedal assembly you have will work fine with the 1991 clutch master. I want to say that all of the manual transmission pedal assemblies up through atleast 1992 were practically the same, possibly even later that.

 

[832.3ranger]

No offense, but are you real poster, or a spammer? Not, that I'd expect an honest answer from a spammer. You joined today, yet claim to be an event participant, which is pretty common move for them. That combined with the poor wording...


Now you say that you want to 5 speed swap it, but you don't say what you have now. If it's currently a manual, then the pedal assembly you have will work fine with the 1991 clutch master. I want to say that all of the manual transmission pedal assemblies up through atleast 1992 were practically the same, possibly even later that.

I’m not a spammer. Which is probably what you expect a spammer to say. I was just wondering what I’d have to do to swap from 4 speed to 5 speed. I’m 17 so I’m not really knowledgeable about this stuff that’s why my uncle helped me build it. Just was asking a question before I went and over complicated everything to do a swap.

 

[RobbieD]

I agree with @scotts90ranger; I *think* that you'll be OK with the pedal assembly in the truck, and that you're likely looking at sourcing or having a driveshaft made.

Nothing wrong with being 17, and trying to get your ducks lined up before tearing into something. You'll learn as you go; that's a good thing. Good luck!

 

[832.3ranger]

I agree with @scotts90ranger; I *think* that you'll be OK with the pedal assembly in the truck, and that you're likely looking at sourcing or having a driveshaft made.

Nothing wrong with being 17, and trying to get your ducks lined up before tearing into something. You'll learn as you go; that's a good thing. Good luck!

Thank you. I plan on doing it after I get my 88 f150 on the road in the summer. I got 2 5 speed 2wd transmissions with my truck for 500$ the truck included and the extra efi engine it was a super good deal it was just all torn apart because it was a project that was going to be restored but the guy passed away and then his son was to busy. But it’s come a long way from what it used to look like.

 

[JoshT]

You're engaging, not just posting and disappearing which helps with the not a spammer claim.

If you don;t mind my asking, which event did you make it to? You're doing better than me, I've been here for 20+ years and still haven't made one.

4 to 5 speed is almost just remove one transmissionand bolt the other one in. You're going the right route using the 1991 clutch master, and it should bolt right in place of the 1983 master.

As they noted above, you're likely going to have to get a different driveshaft. If you've got a 4 speed it has to be the TK4. 1991 5 speed should be an M5OD. At a minimum they probably have different output yokes. You may be able to get the driveshaft from a 1991 2.3L Ranger and bolt in, it'll need to be one with the same wheel base (AKA same cab and same bed length) as yours. It would be the right length and output yoke, and we could probably get you pointed to the right axle flange yoke if it is different.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Good on you bud! Not many 17 year olds will tackle this kinda thing anymore... I was very green when I started here a whole bunch of years ago at 18 and now a bunch of stuff doesn't phase me...

The only real things I know of right off hand are what I posted going to an M5OD but if you run into anything post up and I'll try my best, I have a long bed '92 sitting around I could look at...

 

[832.3ranger]

You're engaging, not just posting and disappearing which helps with the not a spammer claim.

If you don;t mind my asking, which event did you make it to? You're doing better than me, I've been here for 20+ years and still haven't made one.

4 to 5 speed is almost just remove one transmissionand bolt the other one in. You're going the right route using the 1991 clutch master, and it should bolt right in place of the 1983 master.

As they noted above, you're likely going to have to get a different driveshaft. If you've got a 4 speed it has to be the TK4. 1991 5 speed should be an M5OD. At a minimum they probably have different output yokes. You may be able to get the driveshaft from a 1991 2.3L Ranger and bolt in, it'll need to be one with the same wheel base (AKA same cab and same bed length) as yours. It would be the right length and output yoke, and we could probably get you pointed to the right axle flange yoke if it is different.

I went to the one in Kentucky last year didn’t have the truck but I was on vacation and figured I could go anyway. I think the yoke is the same spline count and everything so if I can get the driveshaft cut and the extended there’s a place like 20 or 30 minutes away that can extend it for me. I’m glad I gdont have to swap the pedals though my uncle thought I did it’s an easy task just a pain I got the pedals out of an 88 parts truck but I noticed that the clutch safety switch was different than the 86 one I have in my 83 so I wasn’t sure if I needed that too. But I think I can get away with a different style master cylinder to keep the 86 clutch safety switch

 

[scotts90ranger]

Use the switch that matches the wiring, they just sit on the linkage...

You'll likely be able to make something work driveline wise, the flange on the axle changed in '90 so you can either have the older end of the driveline used or swap the flange on the axle to the right one, your choice depending on what parts you have...

 

[RobbieD]

You're on the right track, and you'll figure it out.

I've done an auto to manual swap on a 1990 (in a Bronco II from a Ranger), and also have an '84 truck, so somewhat familiar with what you're looking to do.

Just post up any thing you run into, or questions that you may have. There's a lot people here with experience and that can give you advice.

Looking at your pics, you've done real good so far.


Damn it; I wish that I was 17 again.

 

[JoshT]

I think the yoke is the same spline count and everything so if I can get the driveshaft cut and the extended

Check it and verify. I mean actually try to put the two together. From what I recall, I'm pretty certain that the output shaft on the M5OD is different size than on the Toyo Kogo transmissions.

If I'm right you're going to want to get the shaft that matches tour transmission and truck. It'll bolt in with the possible exception of the rear axle flange which can be changed much easier than shortening one.

I can tell you that the driveshaft shop and your wallet would like getting a shaft shortened better than extended. To extend it right they are cutting the ends off and replacing the entire tube. To shorten they are just taking a section out of the existing tube.

 

[Brain75]

Not to dissuade you from asking questions, but if I can throw out a piece of advice... You got lots of questions, some you might feel foolish to ask... Check to see if the local library has a Haynes or Chiltons (I checked out both from my library and the Chilton electrical sucks). If you plan on keeping the truck long / doing a LOT of work / doing everything yourself consider picking up a copy somewhere. The real real deep in the weeds & engine swap guys go the full route of the factory service manual SET - 3 or 4 books as big as the Haynes.

 

[832.3ranger]

Good on you bud! Not many 17 year olds will tackle this kinda thing anymore... I was very green when I started here a whole bunch of years ago at 18 and now a bunch of stuff doesn't phase me...

The only real things I know of right off hand are what I posted going to an M5OD but if you run into anything post up and I'll try my best, I have a long bed '92 sitting around I could look at...

Thank you. I’m going to get the measurements from back of engine to where the drive shaft bolts on the differential and then subtract the 5 speeds length from it and get a drive shaft built for it. The 5 speeds length has a seal on the end that sticks out more than the 4 speeds seal so I’m not 100% sure on if that is included in the length or not. Thank you for the help again.

 

[832.3ranger]

Not to dissuade you from asking questions, but if I can throw out a piece of advice... You got lots of questions, some you might feel foolish to ask... Check to see if the local library has a Haynes or Chiltons (I checked out both from my library and the Chilton electrical sucks). If you plan on keeping the truck long / doing a LOT of work / doing everything yourself consider picking up a copy somewhere. The real real deep in the weeds & engine swap guys go the full route of the factory service manual SET - 3 or 4 books as big as the Haynes.

I have the older Haynes manual and a newer one. I used that for figuring out the crossmember situation for it but I wasn’t sure for the pedals because i couldn’t find it in the book. Thank you for the advice.