Hi, new ro the forums. I recently was given a 98 ranger 2.5 auto 2wd. It had a bad transmission. Story was that the trans was taken to be replaced and front pump was broken. So i pulled another transmission and replaced it. Seated converter to back of housing and when mounting the trans i had to pull back converter to flexplate roughly an inch. Starter also did not mount correctly and was dragging flexplate constantly. I installed starter shims to test and starter no longer gragged but converter did nothing. Pulled trans cooler lines and no fluid pumping either. Is there something im missing to make things line up internally. Trans was pulled from 96 2.3 rwd ranger.

 

Welcome to the forum

The 1995 to 2001, 2.3l and 2.5l Rangers used the same transmissions, 4R44E model, so those years will direct swap

But no way the torque converter should pull out of bell housing that far to bolt up to flexplate
You obviously know that torque converter must be seated into the bellhousing to line up input shaft and front pump splines, or pump would be damged
Usually you only pull it out 1/2" or so to bolt it up

Same flexplate has been used since 1983, 135 teeth 11.3" diameter

There should be the block plate between engine and bellhousing, that aligns starter motor, and shims it

 

Understood, ive had it in and out 3 times now to no avail. When mounted before pulling forward the converter studs are flush with the mounting holes in the flywheel. Is there anything in 98 to bring the flywheel farther into the bellhousing like the crankspacer in the 4.0? Sorry if dumb questions, im completely new to rangers