I have probably totally messed up, but at least got a great price
My 93 Ranger M50D tranny must have a bad bearing but it is my only vehicle so I'm kind of in a bind to keep it going. The clutch master cylinder went out while I was in the process of getting all needed parts to replace the slave cylinder, and a friend towed me home, then I replaced the entire clutch system, clutch, slave cylinder/clutch release bearing, and pressure plate. The tranny still made noise so I figured it would need replaced completely. A rebuilt was going to be 1100 total, and a new one around 1400 plus shipping. Then by accident I found one like it in a salvage yard 94 B series mazda for 200. From what I could tell it was a decently cared for truck and felt the tranny would be good. Both door codes showed an "M" transmission, both are 4.0 engines but the Mazda is 2WD and mine is 4WD. I tried measurements of the extention housings but wasn't sure they were good ones, and the housings are the main difference from what I could find.
Years ago I bought a Ford CD online that is branded by Ford, and covers most 93-94 Ford trucks in great detail. As far as I know the CD was used in Ford shops by their techs/mechanics for repair of those models. In all Ranger models in transmission assembly diagrams it shows each transmission in detail and an insert in each diagram shows the extention housing for the 4WD and states "4x4, same as 4x2 except as shown" leaving me to believe the housing was their only difference. Then I got on the forum and began to see statements of their output shafts being different lengths.
Will I have to gut them both, moving the internals from the one I just got into mine? I felt it was a good one when I got it, although it had 180,000 miles, but mine had 230 when I bought it 12 years ago, and I've added another 100 to that, so 180 didn't seem like so much. I believe theirs had also been rebuilt as it has a "Dyna Tested" sticker on top the bell housing.
Any not too terribly crushing remarks would be kindly appreciated