M5OD or M5OD-R1

[hat_man]

I was just looking at some Ford transmission gear ratios and saw that the M5OD-R1 (which I think is in my 2.3L Ranger) has gears that go something like this M5OD-R1 3.72 2.20 1.50 1.00 0.79. The gears listed for a 5.0L Mustang are M5OD 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.68. (These are from Ford Motor Company Transmission Gear Ratio's Man). Can these be swapped? I mean can the 5th gear from the M5OD go into the M5OD-R1? I don't think the 2.3L engine would bolt up to a trans. for a 5.0L, but hey, what do I know. 0.68 would be a great highway gear. I think it's in that Honda CRX range isn't it? How about swapping the 0.79 for the 1.00 in the R-1 and adding the 0.68 in its place. Overdrive in 4th (which I don't use anyhow) and in 5th. Hey I can dream can't I?

Is there really any way to mash these two trans. together and find some high MPG combination or am i going to wake up from my dream of swimming in all the gas I am saving only to find a hole in my waterbed?

[bhazard]

5.0 Mustangs use the T-5, not the M5OD. No compatibility.

You can put a T-5 in a Ranger, but its a pretty involved swap I think.

[Zerohour]

T-5 where used in Mustangs, Cougars, and T-birds as well. (Also S-10's but those are different splines IIRC)

I'm not sure if they would still match up with the 97 Ranger. What year did they switch to the 2.3L Duratec in the Ranger? I would be surprised if a T5 would mate to that engine.

Back to the M5OD...those transmissions have been in Ford light duty trucks for a while. I'm sure the gear ratios are different depending on model/year/engine. Some quick digging on google and those babies have the bellhousing cast into the transmission case. So if the backside of your motor doesn't match, it pretty much will NEVER fit. But you'll have to look up more details on the motor you looking to use and the transmission you're looking to use.

Also don't suspect that you can just swap the gear either. The internals from year to year, especially with a ratio variation, may not be interchangeable. You would probably be better off having the entire trans swapped.

[EdKiefer]

Yup, even with same model type there could be differences from a even swap . I had a XR4Ti which I swapped out a mustang T5 in there, I didn't like 5th being so low so put in a 5th gear from the SVO turbo T5 model . It was not a even swap as the 4 cylinder model gear is thinner and not as strong (not problem for me as its 4 cylinder too).
It needed a spacer made to take up the thickness, then it worked fine and better spaced gears for a 4 cylinder .