Is the M5OD-R1HD a direct swap for the M5OD-R1?

[sd_iconoclast]

I have a '91 EB 4x4 5speed and mt transmission is starting to go.
I am looking for rebuilt transmissions and I am finding that I can get the M5OD-R1HD (From 2001+ Ranger) for about half of what I would pay for a direct replacement for the M50D-R1 that came stock in my '91 EB.
Is the M5OD-R1HD a direct swap for the M5OD-R1?
I have seen it posted on this forum that the gear ratios are the same, and they seem to look alike, but are there any differences that would make a swap difficult?

 

[Rick]

Check this thread:

How to: - M50D-R1 to M5OD-R1HD Swap

Hey guys, A little less than a year ago I converted the 1991 Ex to Manual, ditching the old A4LD. The U join-t had spit a cap doing about 70 mph, and the jolt of the trunnion hitting the driveshaft cracked the back of the A4LD case/ 4x4 housing exstension. At this point I swapped in an M5OD...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[Josh P]

It can be swapped, will need the shifter too.

 

[sd_iconoclast]

That is a very helpful article. I was thinking the same as Josh P: Make sure to get the shifter with the new (HD) trans so as to avoid the problems with the shifter nub being keyed differently.
But this leaves me with a few questions:
1] The author mentions that the HD extension housing does not have the bosses for the manual transfer case linkage. I assume that this is not a problem for me as 1st gen explorers dont use manual transfer case linkage. Transfer case linkage is electronic. Right?

2] Can problem [1] be solved by swapping extension housings?

3] The author mentions that the new (HD) transmission does not have a hole for the Neutral safety switch. What did he do about it?

Does anyone know?

 

[RangerX]

Here’s another link, basically saying all the same things, but with notes at the end showing a fabbed plate for the manual tcase linkage, if anyone needs it. How to replace a M5OD-R1 with a M5OD-R1HD