A4LD to manual tranny swap

[Ford_guy89]

I looked quite a few pages back and didnt see anything relating to this, so I think it should be safe to post a new thread about it, so here goes.
I have an '89 Ranger with a 2.9L and the A4LD Auto tranny. I am experiencing tranny problems right now, and want to convert to 5-speed. I was wondering if anyone here has done this before. Any help is good, but if you an, I'd like to have a rough estimate on time for the swap (I have threee years of school for this, but it was all just high school...), the difficulty (0-5 please), and the model of transmission I should go with. I know there are two different manuals to pick from, the mazda and mitsubishi, but i dont know the difference between them. But like i said, any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. thanks alot.

 

[Jack Flash]

here's a link... http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205793

I would go with the Mazda tranny. since it was offered behind the 4.0, I guess Ford thought it was a stronger tranny. these trannys do not have a removeable bellhousing, so you are looking for one that came behind a 2.9 or 4.0. these will fit with no problems.

the 3.0 has a different bolt pattern and the 2.3 even has the starter on the wrong side, so stay away from these.

finding a complete donor vehicle would be best, since you would have pedals, flywheel, clutch master cylinder, etc. It would be hard to guage the difficulty, not knowing how well someone turns wrenches (or not). But, I'd rate it a 2 on your scale (judging from an old retired schoolteacher's ability)

hope I was some help......jjf

 

[Ford_guy89]

alright, so look for a mazda build tranny. thanks alot. I know a place that has a few complete trucks to lok at. Theres and ID tag on the tranny right?