ranger trans combo

[gmail]

doing a little homework for something in the future possibly...

i know the mazda m50d out of the ranger 2.3 and the 3.0 vulcans will bolt to a SHO motor and the ranger guys and making good power with them...

what is used exactly for this combo? the trans bolts right up but what needs to be done with the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, starter etc ???

 

[Off Road SHO]

Well, you can still use the SHO's flywheel and pressure plate. The disc from the SHO has a different center splined section so you will need the find a disc that matches the input shaft from the Mazda tranny, yet still fits the diameter of the SHO's pressure plate.

Once you have the friction parts matching up, you'll need to make sure that the hydraulic throw-out bearing actuator (slave cylinder) that comes with the M50D tranny will move the fingers of the SHO pressure plate enough (but not too much) for the clutch to disengage the engine from the input shaft.

I'm not sure what size pilot bearing you'll need to fit the Mazda's input shaft to the SHO's crank.

Hope this gets you started.

Tom

 

[gmail]

good to see someone has done their homework... thanks...

 

[firebat45]

I'm pretty sure the Ranger 2.3 is the wrong bellhousing, and the 3.0 is the only one that fits.

Like Tom said, SHO Flywheel and pressure plate works fine.The clutch disk from a 3.4 Lumina is the right size for the SHO and the right splines for the Ranger, I ordered my disk from Clutchnet for $85, it fits perfect.

SHO starter bolts right up, and I expect that the Ranger starter would also work fine.

I believe the Ranger pilot bearing ID is 16mm, I'm not sure what the SHO takes. I might be wrong on the diameter too, going off memory and it's been a few months.

You'll need to do a bit of grinding on the tranny to clear a bolt on the rear main housing.

95+ Trannies are a bit stronger and have a better slave design. Make sure you replace (freeze plugs, or pipe caps), the 3 rubber plugs on the top that face backwards, they tend to leak.

 

[gmail]

thanks a bunch now i know the exact combo... i was planning on making a run to a bone yard tomorrow and if i find one i was probley gonna pull it.
i know the 91 and up models will work but since you say the 95+ is stronger i might try and search for that...

from what i read a 2.3 will work as well i guess its all the same bolt pattern, i like the lower gear ratios on the 2.3 for gears 1-3 but i also hear the 4.0 ones are stronger and will swap right into the 3.0 case... guess ill see what i find first..

which year for the lumina 3.4 clutch if you remember?

thanks again

 

[Off Road SHO]

I'm pretty sure the 2.3 has a different bell housing pattern than the SHO. The 3.0 Vulcan and the 2.5 HSC and the 3.8 Windsor all have the same pattern.

I can measure the Mazda input shaft and SHO crank hole tomorrow and post back if anyone is interested.

If you go the AeroStar bell housing to T-5 route, I'll be making a new run of 5 adaptors in the spring. Though the Mazda tranny is plenty strong enough for most lightweight low torque applications (350-400 pound*feet or less).

Tom

 

[firebat45]

I can measure the Mazda input shaft and SHO crank hole tomorrow and post back if anyone is interested.

Tom

Yes please. I need to get my pilot bearing still, and that'll save me having to pull them apart right away to get that. Good info for everyone else too. Hopefully it's the same as the T5 bushing/bearing.

which year for the lumina 3.4 clutch if you remember?

1991-1994, but good luck finding on in a junkyard, it was only the 5 speed Lumina Z34 that got them, and those are harder to find than SHOs, at least around here.

Keep in mind you're going to have to pull the engine or tranny out to get to it. How much is your time worth? $85 was a no brainer for me to buy one new, especially after scouring junkyards for a few weeks.

 

[gmail]

im not gonna use a junkyard clutch anyways i just wanted to know the year for when i order one from a store

 

[biker889]

2.3 Trans WILL NOT WORK!

 

[Off Road SHO]

Okay, here are the dimensions, verified with both analog and digital calipers.

SHO crank hole: .825"

T-5 out of V-8 powered 94-95 Mustang: .670"

Mazda M50D out of 3.0 V-6 powered Ranger truck: .590"

Ford R DOT Borg Warner (from Late model Mustang with the 4.6 L V-8; might be the T-45): .667" Just in case someone gets the bright idea to adapt this tranny to the SHO's block pattern.


Tom

 

[biker889]

If thats the case with the bearings, one could use the ranger trans And Ranger pilot bearing.

 

[firebat45]

The crank hole on the Vulcan is .825" as well? That would be great.

EDIT:
'
Looks like the bearing from a 3.0 or a 2.3 Ranger will work:

 

[biker889]

Well, the vulcan bearing is listed at .827. But...

 

[Off Road SHO]

Well if that .827 is an actual bearing, it's going to be a tight fit. If it's an oillite bronze bushing, pressing it into the crank will make the inner diameter smaller by quite a bit, if you can make it fit at all. Needing bearings are a better choice in my opinion.

Tom

 

[firebat45]

I had assumed your measurement could be slightly off (a few thou is all it needs), but yeah, if you were dead on and the bearing is .827, you might need to do some modifying to get it to fit. Still, enlarging the crank hole by that much shouldn't harm anything, right?

I updated with a picture isntead of a link, didn't realize it wasn't working.

 

[Off Road SHO]

Yeah, you could probably ScotchBrite away 15 ten thousandths pretty easily. That is a fully caged needle bearing. I like that better than my open cage style. I would still over-pack that sucker with the best grease you can buy.

Tom

 

[mrecoolgar]

These guys know their stuff.
I'm taking their advice for my SHO NUP project.

 

[pjtoledo]

Pilot bearings are press-fit into the crank, they are supposed to be bigger than the hole.

Perry

 

[firebat45]

Pilot bearings are press-fit into the crank, they are supposed to be bigger than the hole.

Perry

That's what I thought, but is 2 thou too much of a press?

 

[Off Road SHO]

Pilot bearings are press-fit into the crank, they are supposed to be bigger than the hole.

Perry

Only if they have an outer shell (race). If they are open caged needle bearings, they should not be forced in.

If a bronze bushing is forced in, the inside diameter is reduced. If you don't allow for that reduction, you will need to line ream the bushing's inside diameter back out to the correct diameter. Bronze (OilLite) bushings need to be a snug fit on the friction surfaces inorder for the friction heat to cause the impregnated oil to release.

Tom