Manual 5spd from a car, will it work?

[fordbsg]

Hello all, its been a long time.

quick question, I have a 96 Ranger 4.o pushrod, M50D manual 5 speed with the 3.55 limited slip rear end, 2 WD and the stock 15 inch wheels. when I am doing the normal 65 on the freeway I am tacking 2500. Looking on the spec chart the 5th gear ratio 0.79 for the M5od, I was looking at the specs on a 1995 5.0 mustang and noticed the 5th gear ratio at .68 and It tac's about 1800 with the 5.0L and 3.0 gears stock 15 inch tires.

My question, could I swap out the manual trans from the truck to a car one, with the higher ratio, if so what would fit relativity easy? What years would fit and would there be any noticeable gain in gas mileage or computer issues?

PLease advise and thanks all.

 

[colintrax]

Not sure about swapping in the mustang trans, but what size tires do you have? Rangers have come with several different sizes. However 2,500 isn't terribly high, it's up there but I'm not shocked. My explorer with 30" tires auto trans, and 3:73 rear end is spinning 2,400ish at 70. No idea what my ranger is spinning, it aint got a tach.

Remember, your ranger isn't aerodynamic nor does it have a powerful motor. It's gonna rev going down the freeway, at 65mph anything less than 2,000 rpms is gonna kill it. You'll be downshifting for ever other hill

If it makes you feel better, my mom's old civic spun 3,000+ at 70mph. Still got 40+mpg though

 

[deweyville65]

I believe I would be questioning the accuracy of the tach. MY 96 Ex 4.0 ohv, auto, Control Track, 3.73 gears, 235/75 /15 tires shows 2150 to 2200 at 65. The tach is factory, so who really knows how accurate they are? I am more concerned about the gas mileage and how it pulls the hills. Which I have no complaints about either.

 

[FIND]

That transmission uses a different bellhousing from your 4.0. Pull a rear end off a ranger or explorer with a 3.27 rear end. You'll still have plenty of power for normal driving, and you'll drop your RPMs at interstate speeds by a couple hundred. Easier swap than a tranny anyway. Change speedo gears to have your speedo read right.

 

[tgibbonsfordluv]

The most recent gen mustang uses the 4.0 in the 6 cylinder model. For all I know, the gear sets in the trans are identical. The trans for the 302 is a different bell housing like FIND says. Swapping to a smaller rear end gear would probably be an easier swap. If you wanted to get real crazy, you could change the OD gear in your gear box.

 

[RangerX]

Go up a size or two in tires. Use a gear chart to figure out what would be best for you. Then correct the speedo gear to match the new size.