Hope I don't come across as lazy or leeching here. :embarrassed:
I noticed in this post http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php/topic,15183.0.html (http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php/topic,15183.0.html)
you showed a picture of where you were going to cut the trans tunnel for the 5 speed.
How'd that work out? Did you have to do anything to the shifter to make it easier to reach, or is it long enough to be comfortable?
Does it ever hit the dash? Seems like it would be pretty close.
What did you use for the crossmember? Were you able to use the stock Pinto one or did you have to modify something.
What driveshaft did you use in that swap?
Do the Pinto engine mounts work with the Ranger 2.3?
Any other hints/tricks would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Russ
the 2.3 pinto mounts will bolt to the ranger motor. The crossmember im sure will atleast need the holes slotted if not a plate welded on to relocate them. The shifter atleast the one in my ranger curves back so it should clear just fine.
Russ the shifter is directly under dash so I ark welded the most usless wrench in the box the 1 and 5/16" . I call that the man shifter :lol: The rear cross is 1/8" gauge 1" X 3" using 5/16" stainless bolts upside down with lock nuts on inside 4 each. The front mounts you need to fab unless its going into 74 on up. Drive shaft used stock 1 with Ranger balancer yoke. On the wheel well is the clutch operation unit using stock cable. Fred :)
Hey, I think I have a couple of those crossmembers laying around. :-)
And the way I tend to lose wrenches you can bet I would somehow lose that one even with it being welded. :-)
Looks like this is going to be one of those "fun" installs.
Thanks,
Russ
Quote from: Bigtimmay on July 06, 2010, 05:03:28 PM
the 2.3 pinto mounts will bolt to the ranger motor. The crossmember im sure will atleast need the holes slotted if not a plate welded on to relocate them. The shifter atleast the one in my ranger curves back so it should clear just fine.
What trans are you running in yours?
I need to remember to pull the mounts off the old engine. Mine is a 79. TGFSF(Thank God For Small Favors)(just invented that)(as far as I know)
I did think about putting a plate on the stock crossmember if needed. Looks like my lack of welding skills is about to change.
Thanks,
Russ
Russ also these parts have been severly tested in 2 wrecks, 1 on the freeway with car going end over end then 2 rolls to the right. The other a Ford Explorer caving in left side and these parts are still good. :hypno: Fred
That type crossmember might be a good way to go if I can figure out how to tie it into the subframe connectors if/when I ever get to those.
Russ
I can see it now.
Fred goes into a Sears store with the shifter wrench.
Fred-I need to replace this. It broke when I was speed shifting from 2nd to 3rd. "
Sales clerk-"What?????"
Fred-"these are warranteed for life, right?"
Sales clerk-"bbbbbbbbut they weren't made to be used as a shifter!"
Fred-"Show me where the warranty excludes that:
Sales clerk(to himself) "I need to get this guy out of here. Just give him the d@#n new wrench"
Sales clerk-"Yes, sir. The customer is always right. Here's your wrench"
Fred-"I'll be back later with my turn signal lever"
Sales clerk-"I won't be here. You'll have to talk to my replacement."
Im using a t5 trans but i forgot your using the m85 or watever its called ranger tranny. that the shifter is about 3 inchs farther forward on.
I didn't realise that it was that much more distance. sigh. But the T5's are just too expensive for me at this point. I imagine I should be able to bend and weld something up that will work.
If the auto trans I have didn't need rebuilt, I would just use it.
Maybe the money thing will get better (HA!) and I will be able to get a different trans before I am ready to install everything.
Thanks,
Russ
If you lived closer you could get a t5 for prolly 50 bucks around here if not cheaper.I have a c3 auto sittin in my garage i pulled out of my bobcat i still dont know whats gunna happen to it since i aint using it and my (Fox Chassis) 83 Ltd Wagon is getting a 351W and c6 auto so i doubt itll go in it either.
Depending on what all happens, I may try to trade or sell the original eng and trans to get a better trans. But I won't do that until I know I have all the little pieces off of them that I will need.
Plus, I don't have 50 cents to spend right now. Keep hoping things will get better, but just seem to keep treading water right now. Oh, well. Such goeth my life.
Russ
I just looked on Craig's list at several cities here in Ohio. The mazda 5speed trans I got with the ranger engine seems to have an asking price from between $150 and over $300. And I only paid $180 for both the engine and trans, and the engine has all the accessories. I am still happy with it. :-)
Only saw a couple of T5 trans for a 2.3. Similar pricing. Most all T5's i am seeing are for V8 engines. And those are again in the same ballpark for prices as the others.
Just thought I would share how prices are in this area. Course, I don't know if anyone is getting those prices.
I imagine I can make a shifter handle that will work. Maybe get a long one from an old truck and mate it with the stock one. Who knows. I won't worry about that until the time comes. :-)
Russ