ok, doing research on my best option for rebuilding/replacing the stock 5 speed. here are some questions I have:

1) where can I find the stock gear ratios for 1st-5th? searched alot

2)used FD trannies are expensive, is there a reason people don't use the Mazda B2600 pickup tranny (and possibly ranger), I noticed it has the same code number. I was thinking maybe just swap the bellhousing? perhaps tail section too?

my 1st-2nd shift, and 2nd-3rd are quite bad, so I'm gong to either figure out a good replacement or tear the whole thing apart (which I'm not really equipped to do) and replace nearly all synchros, and should probably do bearings too. I'm leaning towards that though. let me know what you can, thanks.

 

If you change synchros then definitely replace all the bearings. (Except the needle rollers directly under the gears - they rarely fail).

Used FD trannys are expensive, but rebuilding is too. I'm not sure how much money you think you'd save buy rebuilding, but it's not much compared to a $700 JDM used tranny.

I'm very curious about the possible B2600 cross listing. If the internals match then that could help make rebuilds more affordable.

Dave

 

this link made me say WTF. it is a newer ranger (or courier in NZ) and it lists all the tranny specs. it has the same trans code... now I'm not sure about the gear ratio differences 'cause I can't find an FD list to compare to, but it really makes me wonder what's the deal with that. on the 2wd truck only:

http://www.ford.co.nz/servlet/Conten...Page&c=DFYPage

 

Well I stopped by the auto parts store today, and interestingly the Haynes manual for the Mazda B-Series pickups showed a manual tranny that looked absolutely identical to the FD's except for extension housing and bellhousing.

As well, the ratios on those Ford Ranger/Courier are taller than the stock FD ratios:
(Ford Diesel / Ford Petrol / FD)
1st: 4.25 / 4.415 / 3.483
2nd: 2.356 / 2.636 / 2.015
3rd: 1.428 / 1.597 / 1.391
4th: 1.000 / 1.000 / 1.000
5th: .827 / .875 / .719

As I read the chart, it appears that the Ford Petrol model is not the R15M-D. Only the turbo diesel model has it.

The turbo diesel is rated for 271n-m of torque (200ft-lb) which is close to the FD. It's rear end ratio is also 4.10.

Two things I'm interested in:
1) possibility of using the taller gears from this unit for better acceleration. Unfortunately, the design of the countershaft is one-piece, meaning you can't mix and match from gears 1-4.

2) Cheaper/Better/More available gears, possibly improved design. If these trucks are really used a lot in rally, it's possible that someone might have made a beefier synchromeshed gearset for this gearbox. That's a gaping hole in the FD aftermarket right now - you pretty much have to choose between the stock gearbox as-is, or go to a crashbox.

A couple years ago when I rebuilt my tranny, I researched and couldn't find any instance of the term "R15M-D". Since then it appears it's found a new home.

Dave