trying to swap 2.9l 5-speed trans for 4.0 5-speed trans

[cqb1876]

Hey guys I blew my crappy 2.9l trans on my '90 ranger (4x4) I can score a trans from a '99 4x4 ranger (4.o) will this be a direct bolt in? I think the tech page on this says yes but i want to make sure im reading this right before i spend some MORE cash on this heap. Thanx guys anything is helpful.

 

[spdcrazy]

it is def not a bolt in. but it can be done fairly easy. there will be driveshaft problems (most likely) tranny crossmemeber needs to be moved. clutch line might need to be spliced together. hole in the floor board will need to be enlarged. etc.

and i'd use the 4.0 clutch, flywheel and starter as well. one of the best things i did to my truck was the the m50d. the worst was not getting the flywheel, clutch, and starter

 

[AllanD]

on a 1990?

No, none of that applies to an '88-up RBV.

Because from 1988-on ALL Manual transmissions in RBV's are the same overall length.

(automatics? there's some flakey shit with the late gen3-on 3.0 auto trans trucks)

The only issues you should encounter are shifter placement, on a 1990
Ranger with a 2.9 you probably had the FM146 trans and that uses a different shifter position shift boot assembly and floor plate (held in with four bolts)

And the proper parts for a mazda trans will require some carpet trimming.

The later trans will LACK provisions for the neutral sense switch (Functionally you can ignore this issue, I'm just telling you so you'll know you'll have a connector with nothing to plug it into)

And you'll need to use your current type (aluminum) clutch slave cylinder
because the one that'll be in the 1999 trans isn't compatible with your
clutch line OR your clutch master cylinder.

But the 1988-92 style slave bolts right in to the late trans.

It's a lot more painless than this post might make it seem.

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[spdcrazy]

hmm. learn something new everyday. i swore it was they had the same issues. thanks for clearing it up

 

[cqb1876]

kool , thanx guys i heard that in the newer models (98-? the 4.0 flywheel is an 8 bolt as opposed to the 6 bolt in there now, is this true? will it fit? i know that the 10" clutch in the 4.0 is way better than the crap one in there now so id like to use it, any advice? thanx again

 

[CJREX]

The flywheel would only be an issue concerning the engine, not the trans.

Flywheels are the same size but Ford used an 8 bolt crankshaft on later models.

 

[AllanD]

Ford switched to the 8-bolt flywheel bolt pattern sometime in mid-97,
so yeah a '98 will have an 8-bolt crank and flywheel, that only means you'll need to get your flywheel from a different donor.

but be aware that if you go with the 4.0 clutch on your 2.9 that you'll also need
to get the starter off of the 5sp 4x4.

the starters are different between manual trans 4.0's and auto trans 4.0's and only the manual trans 4.0 starter will work with the 4.0 manual flywheel...

But you don't need to mess with the tranny crossmember (though I'd recommend using the "explorer" type crossmember instead of the one with the rubber bushings
Switching to that style crossmember only requires removing the mounting brackets for the rubber bushed crossmember.

And understanding that the drivers side crossmember mounts ON TOP of the lower flange of the C-channel frame



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