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My son fried his tranny because it had a slow leak and he ignored me every time I told him to check the fluid level. It siezed up on him. How many different trannys were used in the 93 Ranger 4X4's and how can I tell which one he has? Any good sources for a replacement unit that won't cost an arm and a leg?
more than likely he has the M5OD. these are the easiest to id because the transmission and bell housing are one peice, and it doesnt have a pan/cover on the bottom of the transmission it self.
The M5OD is a very common tranny, it's the standard 5 speed manual tranny on the Rangers.
You'll need the R-1 version, not the R-2 version, which is a little more heavy duty for the F-150.
It's not exactly strong. Before putting it into your vehicle, make sure to remove the three rubber shift rail plugs at the top of the tranny and replace them with brass or comparable ones, they degrade and leak and probably friend your sons tranny.
Best of luck, keep us informed.
Woot, 1000 posts!!!
Last edited by RangerPilot; 11-29-2005 at 07:58 PM.
You'll need the R-1 version, not the R-2 version, which is a little more heavy duty for the F-150.
Out of curiosity, why can't the R-2 be used in place of the R-1? I was under the impression that they're basically the same tranny, both M50D's. I was hoping that I could use the stouter transmission if (when) I need to replace my M5ODR1.
I talked to a guy in CA not long ago who replaced his 3.0 Ranger M5ODR1 HD with an M5ODR2. The only problem they had was the need to also replace the starter because the old one didn't mount the same as the R2 starter. Instead of replacing the starter, they swapped the innards of the R2 into the R1 case. I guess the labor was free...
CJB
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1997 Ranger XLT SuperCab 2.3 5 Speed
1998 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 OHC
2003 E-150 Club Wagon 5.4
So, it would appear that the gearing of the M5ODR2 is actually closer to the M5ODR1 used in the 2.3 and 3.0 than the M5ODR1 or R1HD used for the 4.0. The big difference is in 1st gear. Seems to me that the ratio of the R2 would be really nice on the 2.3.
Lastly, a person with a 2.3 or 3.0 would be better off, ratio wise, with an R2 out of an F150 than an R1HD out of a 4.0.
Having said all that, does anyone know of a reason that the R2 won't bolt up to a 2.3 or either V-6 in the Ranger? Obviously the R2 is built to last longer. I'd rather have an overbuilt transmission than an underbuilt one.
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1997 Ranger XLT SuperCab 2.3 5 Speed
1998 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 OHC
2003 E-150 Club Wagon 5.4
The 4.0L is a 60* bell pattern and the 4.2L is a Windsor SBF 90* pattern.
If the Ranger version of that tranny is an indication, the bells don't swap.
From reading that mag at Wal-Mart (a Ford truck mag), there was a tech article about "freshening" a Ford F150 stickshifter tranny...evidently, they are not "all that" in terms of strength, either.
The 4.0L is a 60* bell pattern and the 4.2L is a Windsor SBF 90* pattern.
If the Ranger version of that tranny is an indication, the bells don't swap.
So the real lessons learned are:
1. Don't mate a R1HD to a 2.3 unless you want to lug the engine all the time.
2. If you want an R2, you gotta swap the innards of one into your R1 case.
I'm assuming the bell housings are molded as part of the tranny case and not swappable, right?
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1997 Ranger XLT SuperCab 2.3 5 Speed
1998 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 OHC
2003 E-150 Club Wagon 5.4
One peice, bell housing is a part of the case. Not swappable.
Stick with the tranny that came with the vehicle, it's designed for the vehicle for that reason. The R2 isn't all that great, but would be much nicer than the R1 in terms of strength. Then again, if you're hurting that tranny you're obviously overworking your Ranger.
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