Hello Ranger community, this is my first time posting here seeing as my research on this idea has come to confusion and contradicting ends.

I have a 2001 3.0L RWD, Automatic, Ranger with a transmission holding maybe a month left on it. Bit of a bummer, but at 325xxx and being the original, it doesn't owe me anything.

Now here's where my confusion begins:

• According to my VIN Sticker and this Ford Ranger Automatic Transmission Identification walkthrough, my transmission is a 5R55E; Represented by a 'D'
  Though the table is incomplete and based on my engine, I should have the 5R44E. Both of these transmissions are 5-Speeds.

• Mine is equipped with a 4-Speed (Over Drive transmission).

• I have a 4 series transmission, more likely the 4R44E since the 2000 3.0L Ranger was equipped with one. My guess would be 2001 was a transition period for some manufacturing plants and mine pulled the short stick.

• I'm looking to put a 5-Speed into him as a replacement.

• I'd be looking for a 5R44E with an ECU, though I'm concerned that I was given the entire 3.0/4R44E drive train and they are not interchangeable.

I've read about fifteen posts that say they are not, they are and everything in between. I'm looking for someone who has tried or completed this swap, or simply just has enough experience with the Ranger varieties to provide a supported argument for or against my cause.

Summarizing, my questions are:
(Assuming I have a 4R44E transmission)

Is the 4R44E interchangeable with a 5R44E?

Bolt Pattern? Wiring Harness?

Are the _R44E (2.5/3.0L) transmissions interchangeable with _R55E (4.0L) transmissions?

Bolt Pattern? Wiring Harness?


I've never worked with ECU's so my knowledge is absent here:

Obviously a 5-Speed ECU is required;

is an ECU a plug-and-play thing?

Can they be reprogrammed?
Say if I took it to a ford dealership? Cost?

I assume the 4.0 ECU would account for power differences and not work with my 3.0?
I believe they have different bolt patterns.

Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks guys!

Here's a picture of my one and only sitting on the nails to my transmissions coffin, 31s (they were free). Blue Racing stripes on the hood for an enthusiastic 3.Slow.

 

Welcome to the forum

4R44E and 5R44E are pretty much the same transmission internally.
FYI, XX55E were only used with 4.0l engines

Ford added the 5th gear electronically, when trans needs to shifts out of 1st, OD is engaged, this is the "new" 2nd gear

4R44E has these gears: 2.47 / 1.47 / 1.00 / 0.75

5R44E has these gears: 2.47 / 1.87 / 1.47 / 1.00 / 0.75

You can see the "new" 2nd gear ratio inserted, 1.87
1st and OD engaged at the same time:
2.47(1st) X .75(OD) = 1.85(new 2nd), with mechanical transition it comes out as 1.87

Computer added 2nd gear, since computer already had control to engage and disengage OD, it was just a firmware change, and Ford gets a "new" 5-speed

So yes you do need a different ECU to control the 5R44E

ECUs are specific to engine and transmission, also PATS(Fords Anti-theft system)
So you will need 3.0l/5R44E ECU and you will need the Keys for that ECU and have your ignition and doors re-keyed for those keys.
Or after the install have a mobile locksmith come out and add your PATS keys to the new ECU.
ECU must be installed in the vehicle and all wiring working in order to reprogram it, you can't added keys otherwise, not even Ford can do that.

Automatics(and most manuals now) have integrated Bell Housings, can't be removed and changed without total rebuild.
3.0l has a unique block bolt pattern.
So you can only use a transmission from a 3.0l engine, and in your case a 2WD transmission, 4WD won't work and can't be converted without total rebuild.

Since XX55Es were only used with 4.0l engines they won't bolt to a 3.0l engines

Overall I see no benefit in changing from a 4R44E to a 5R44E you don't get more power, maybe if you are pulling a trailer alot the Faux 2nd gear might be helpful in getting started but all the other gear ratios are the same.

You can call a Ford Dealer and ask them if they can change the firmware, that would be a better option than dealing with the PATS system.
But it has to be done IN the vehicle, so you would have to get the vehicle to them, current ECU should work fine with 5R44E, just no 2nd gear, so would be drive-able to get to the Ford Dealer, IF.........it can be given new firmware, which is a question mark.

Since these two transmissions are identical, drive shaft and trans mounts will be the same


31" tires, when you change the tire diameter you change the axle ratio, if you go larger you get better top speed but lose low end "pep"
On the door label will be an AXLE code, get it and look here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...le_codes.shtml

Get your axle ratio, 3.73 is the most common
Get stock tire size, on that door label as well

Then go here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...ioChange.shtml

Put in new diameter and old, then axle ratio
Calculate
The lower the number the less "pep" you will have
Look at "new" ratio, thats what you would change to to get back to original ratio
If you have a 3.73 and changed to a 4.10 rear axle then you would get the "pep" back and the speedometer would be correct, bonus, lol.

 

this was very helpful! I did not think about the anti-theft system.. with that being in place, I'll just stick to the 4R44E.

As to my 31s, I'm well aware, they add ~7% to my speedo and odo... I don't mind (they were free haha), not too noticeable on my first gear anyways, just hard in second if it shifts down below my power band.

That's the main reason I wanted the faux gear, unless you give some hard throttle, the first to second transition puts you just below the meat of the 3.0 power band.. and with an older transmission that's reluctant to downshift when you meet a hill, forcing it down seems redundant to having an auto, and the amount of throttle needed to downshift sometimes makes me feel guilty... high rpms > high gas input imo

anyways, thanks a lot.. I've got a few leads in my local wreckers I'll be checking out tomorrow.

Would you recommend grabbing a shiny new torque converter since I'll have it apart?

 

Yes, always a new torque converter.

And ALL automatics need a 2nd trans cooler, Rad trans coolers are the bare minimum manufactures can get away with, $60 will add years to an auto transmissions life.

And I think sticking with a 4R44E is a good decision.

 

HELP JUST CHANGED 3.0 FLEX TO 3.0GAS WHEN I PUT ENGINE IN JOIN TO TRANNY TIGHEN BOLTS I CANT TURN ENGINE PLUGS ARE OUT . IM NOT A MECH PLEASE NEED HELP DONT KNOW WHAT I AM DOING WRONG THANKS 2000 XLT 4X4

 

If it is an automatic transmission you may have broken the transmission, if torque converter was not correctly installed ON THE TRANSMISSION first, and you tightened up the bolts then you broke the front pump and trans is toast.

If manual then put trans in Neutral

Video on how you MUST install torque converter: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7klzEV0kng

You can NOT install torque converter on engine, and then slide it into transmission
Big and EXPENSIVE, NO NO

 

Will a 1998 4.0 4x4 manual fit in my 1997 4.0 4x4 manual ?

 

Yes, Both are M5OD-R1 models with 4.0l bolt pattern and both have 4x4 short shaft and housing
You 1997 transfer case will have a speed VSS, 1998 and up transfer case will NOT have that, just FYI

 

I have a 2000 Ranger 3.0L 4x4 automatic - with the 4R44E. I have a hole in the side of my transmission case, so need a new one. My id tag shows I have a "T" code - 4R44E.
I don't want to change my ECU computer and reprogram... so I for sure need 4x4 trans (rear output shaft different):
1. If I go to a 4x4 - 4R55E (found in the 4.0L 95-97 Rangers, and retain my 3.0L bellhousing) will this be my best swap without ECU?
2. 3.0L 4x4 01-08 Ranger had the 5R44E - does this REQUIRE ecu upgrade or work ok with mine? (Yes, no software, will work as 4 spd)
3. Found a local relatively cheap Ford Explorer 4.0L 4x4 98-00 which is a 5R55E work and also upgrade the ECU computer or will it work without?

 

4R and 5R are the same transmissions, 1995 thru 2000 can use either, 2001 thru 2011 can only use 5R
No need to change ECU(PCM) to use either in a 1995-2000 Ranger
They have the same 16 pin plug and same wiring, 5R has an extra sensor, external, thats just not needed/hooked up in 1995-2000

Yes, must be a 4x4 transmission

44E and 55E has to do with the size of the OD drum, nothing to do with how the transmission works, 55E has a larger OD drum
55E only have 4.0l bellhousings
44E can have either 2.3l/2.5l or 3.0l bell housings

You can swap bell housings, no differences between 4R/5R or 44E/55E
But bell housing is the front plate of the pump, so can be tricky to realign the pump without full rebuild, people do it, just make sure its done right or it will leak or not work at all


Ford added software to the ECU(PCM) in 2001 and up, this software turned on OD when still in 1st gear to get a Faux 2nd gear, thats all
So 5R in the 1995-2000 is the same as 4R transmission a 4-speed, they are exactly the same transmissions internally

So find a lower mile 3.0l 4x4 transmission from a 1995 to 2008 Ranger or Mazda B3000, plug and play

If its your first Automatic transmission install be sure to SEAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER in the bell housing prior to mating trans to engine, you WILL ruin a transmission if you do this wrong

 

Ron, what about the explorer 4.0 4x4 and 5R55E? I take it that should work fine then with bellhousing swap?

 

Yes, same transmission

 

I just did a goof-up and bought a 2001 manual 4x2 2.3L transmission for my 1995 manual 4x2 2.3L Ranger. It's a farm truck. Will it fit? I don't mind missing some ecm functionality.

 

Welcome to the forum

You should start your own thread

But yes it will work, but 2001 won't have speedometer hook up on tail shaft, so remove the tail shaft housing from the 1995 trans and you will see the speedometer drive gear its removable
Remove the tail shaft on the 2001 and you will see no speedometer drive gear but there is a place for it, but no hole in the housing
So swap over the gear(and little ballbearing) and put the 1995 housing(with the hole) on the 2001 transmission

These manual transmissions use ATF, yes automatic trans fluid in a manual, Mercon V is spec