AOD Swap

!1995Splash! · Feb 22, 2019

Last weekend I purchased a 1995 Ranger Splash for $100. It has a 4.0l with a 5 speed. The motor is seized and I have a 302 with AOD out of a 1983 crown vic. I want to swap them into the truck. I was wondering if a AOD will fit in the truck and what would be the best option as far as getting a new steering column with a shifter on it or get a floor shifter for it. I am new here and if there is a thread about this already, I am sorry, I didnt see it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Denisefwd93 · Feb 22, 2019

!1995Splash! said:
Last weekend I purchased a 1995 Ranger Splash for $100. It has a 4.0l with a 5 speed. The motor is seized and I have a 302 with AOD out of a 1983 crown vic. I want to swap them into the truck. I was wondering if a AOD will fit in the truck and what would be the best option as far as getting a new steering column with a shifter on it or get a floor shifter for it. I am new here and if there is a thread about this already, I am sorry, I didnt see it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Welcome to TRS

That is a very labor intensive idea you have there. :icon_welder:

Whys not just stay with the manual trans?

!1995Splash! · Feb 22, 2019

I was reading that the M5OD-r2 wont hold up to the power of the 302.

Shran · Feb 22, 2019

I imagine you could use a factory automatic shifter steering column and make it work with the AOD. The column has a cable shifter assembly so you wouldn't have to make linkage or anything... possibly just a bracket on the trans. Probably could use a floor shifter too. I think there was one made for an AOD that looks like a manual trans shifter, saw one in an F100 a while back. Pretty cool.

Denisefwd93 · Feb 22, 2019

But they do it, for a daily driver it's probably ok. finding a m5 r2 would be easier also, But to go over to the dark side (automatic) is a monster job!

Bird76Mojo · Feb 22, 2019

I've got a Lokar AOD floor shifter for sale in the classifieds. It ain't cheap, but the quality is top notch. I just went to a T5Z.

https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178071

I've also got an AOD dipstick for sale: https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178070

GB

adsm08 · Feb 22, 2019

!1995Splash! said:
I was reading that the M5OD-r2 wont hold up to the power of the 302.

Considering that the R2 was used behind the 302, and the 4.6L which makes more power stock for stock, what you read was

RonD · Feb 22, 2019

Yes, AOD will fit

Column shifter doesn't have indicator on the column its in the lower instrument cluster which can also be swapped in, 93/94 cluster would also have mechanical speedometer for AOD use, although you can use speed sensor on the AOD for the 1995 cluster

Floor cable shifter may be better option

Big thing with AOD and carb setup is the TV/kick down cable, it must be adjusted correctly or you will burn out the trans.

Denisefwd93 · Feb 22, 2019

Hmm the r-1 was the stock manual transmission and Rangers wasn't it?

I just can't wrap my mind around changing a manual truck over to automatic, I mean it's bad enough changing an automatic over, which is why I sold my other one and got a truck that already has manual in it.

RonD · Feb 22, 2019

R2 is the heaver duty manual and was used in the F-150's with V8s up to 2008

The 1997-2003 F-150 with 4.2l V6 also used the same M5OD-R2, AND.........the 4.2l V6 has exactly the same bell housing pattern as the 302

Also the shifter placement in these years is only 1" difference from the R1, so fits nicely in a Ranger

The R2 from the 4.2l does need the bellhousing bolt holes reemed out, about 1/16", because it used Metric shaft bolts, 302 used SAE bolts

But there is a down side, speedometer interface

Shran · Feb 22, 2019

Denisefwd93 said:
I just can't wrap my mind around changing a manual truck over to automatic

My '94 Explorer came with a 5 speed and I have replaced it with a C5 auto.

It all comes down to what you want - in this particular case I was going to use it for offroad racing... and sure you can use a manual, lots of guys do. But just driving is a lot of work, physically and mentally, with the auto you have instant power when you push the gas pedal. I think it's an advantage. And I had everything to do the swap for free.

I'd have no problem replacing a manual with an auto as long as it's not an A4LD!

!1995Splash! · Feb 22, 2019

My bad apperently the transmission in the truck is a M5OD-R1HD. would that still hold up? The trans has 256,000 on it

alwaysFlOoReD · Feb 22, 2019

The 4.0 and the 5.0 don't have the same bellhousing bolt pattern, and the m5od doesn't have a removable bellhousing. A 97 to [I think] 03 f-150 came with a m5od-r2 that will bolt to the 5.0. You need to find the 4.2l or 5.0 engine option in the f150 that the trans will come out of.

Denisefwd93 · Feb 22, 2019

waaaa l wanna R2! [emoji56][emoji32][emoji3525][emoji848]

!1995Splash! · Feb 23, 2019

My bad, I went back and looked and according to what I found it's a M5OD-R1HD. It said that's what was put behind the 4.0l. The engine isn't staying stock either though. We are planning to build the motor a bit.

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