Hey all

Well, I am going to be getting a engine and tranny either next week or the week after next. Well, the tranny is a 5 spd manual, but my truck has an auto tranny in it.

I am gettting everythign for 1000 bucks, engine, tranny, and all the stuff to swap in the manual tranny.

What I want to know, is how difficult its gonna be to do it. And I also what to know if the connector for the clutch interlock switch is already on the wiring harness in my truck, or if Im going to have to splice one in.

The biggest part of the job is the work you have to do under the dash. Not much room to remove the pedal assembly you have now and replace it. Make sure you get the clutch master cylinder and fluid line to the slave cylinder too. I don't think the firewall is drilled for locating this, but there may be a grommet over the opening if there is, or at least a puch area that can be removed. The connector should be there for the interlock switch, but you don't really need it anyway. On 4x4's, I usally remove them so I can use the engine to pull me out of some places where I don't want to try to heel and toe it. The transmission cross member may be different too, wouldn't hurt to see if you can get it if you need it. You may need the driveshaft from the donor truck as well, some are a little longer for a manual than they are for an automatic. Final advice, swap them in as a unit. It's usually easier than trying to line everything up while the engines installed, and you don't have to worry about supporting the rear of the engine at the right height while you're trying to lift the trans in place. And unless you know the clutch, throw out bearing and pressure plate are in good shape, replace them while the trans is out.

Ok, cool. I have the interior taken completely apart right now. Both seats are loose, and the carpet is up, and all the interior panels are loose. So getting up under the dash wont be quiet as difficutl as it would be if the seats were still in place. As far as the parts, Im pretty much getting everything that is connected to the tranny in the donor truck.

Good deal Adam. I've made the swap a couple times, it's never been really hard, just tedious. The worst was swapping a 394 Olds engine into a 49 Ford pickup. Had to have the driveshaft remade like 3 times to get it right.

Well, I hope that the driveshaft wont be needed, cause that is one of the things that im not getting. I was planning on doing the engine and tranny swap on the 15th, cause I get payed the day before yesterday, but I didnt get enough to pay for everything that I needed, and still have money for gas and other stuuf for the next 2 weeks, so Im going to wait until the 22nd to do it, cause that when I gat payed again. But that will only give me about 2 weeks to shake my truck down before leaving for the nats.

Adam...whatcha doing with the auto???I've got WY-T(rash) back(not home,but back)and it needs a tranny.I want an auto to go back in there.Its from an 88+ 2.9 correct...thats what I'm looking for..I could help you with some manual parts too!Thanks.

Adam I just remembered something else. The T5's are cable shift transmissions, not hydraulic. Make sure you get all the mounts for this. The M5 that was used in Rangers uses the hydraulic clutch.

MAzda, Im not doing the T-5 quiet yet. Im getting my Ranger back up and running, and then later on, when I finally get to start doing my mods, then I will do the T-5, but not until then.

Ted, I dont have any plans for the tranny. I think that its in desperate need of a rebuild job. I had it rebuilt a couple years ago, but the people that did it must have been standing around w/ their thumbs up their butts, cause it hasnt ever run right since I got it back, and in fact, it ran worse right before the engine died, than it did when I got it back, which says something about the rebuild in my mind. If your interested in the tranny, Im sure we can work something out. Arent you coming to the Mini Nats? If you are, I can just toss the tranny into the bed of my truck, and haul it along w/ me to the nats, and save us both the hassel and cost of shipping the thing.


Originally posted by MazdaSOHC
Adam I just remembered something else. The T5's are cable shift transmissions, not hydraulic. Make sure you get all the mounts for this. The M5 that was used in Rangers uses the hydraulic clutch.