I've got a 1996 Mazda B2300. I am pretty sure the original transmission is a 4r44e. My girlfriends dad is giving me the truck and bought a transmission from a friend who told him it would work but I am not sure about it. They both look the same but I think the new one is a 4r55e the tag on the transmission from wherever it was bought from to begin with says 2002 3.0, it looks almost the same except for the connector on the side with I think its the shifter linkage has more pins than the original. Can I swap the connector out and it work or is this more of a the pcm needs programmed for it to work I am hoping it is a 4r44e but I dont know how to tell the difference I do not see a metal tag with the number. Also the new tranny has the different style of speed sensor the old one was a worm gear in the tailshaft but this one looks to be in the transmission casing instead. It is fine if I cant get the speedo to work but im wondering if this transmission will work with the truck electronically I already swapped the bellhousings but I am looking for a defnite answer before I go through the pain of putting it on the truck.

 

Welcome to the forum

Rangers and Mazda B-series used same drive trains by year

Rangers/B-series had a few engine options, 2.3l(two kinds), 3.0l and 4.0l, all used different bell housings, so transmission from one engine size will not fit on another engine size

Automatic transmissions have detachable bell housings, but.............transmission should be pulled apart(full rebuild) to change them since rear of bell housing is front case for main pump inside transmission

4R44E is a model of transmission, doesn't denote bell housing pattern, just the model
(4R55E or 5R55E were only used on 4.0l Rangers/B4000, just FYI, larger OD Drum)

4R44E 4-speed were used on 4cyl and 3.0l V6 Rangers, 1995 thru 2000
5R44E 5-speed were used from 2001 and up, but 2.3l in those years were the 2.3l Duratec engine so won't match your 2.3l Lima engine

3.0l(or 4.0l) transmission from any year won't fit your 1996 2.3l Lima, wrong bolt pattern, same for 2001 and up 2.3l Duratec
1995 thru 2000 from a 2.3l or 2.5l Lima will fit, and 2WD if yours is 2WD, 4x4 trans won't work

And yes, 1995 to 1997 will have speedometer on tail shaft, 1998 to 2000 will not, but you can change tail shaft housing without to much trouble

Repinning the wiring could work but...................it simply will not bolt to the engine
And 2001 and up speedometer would also not work with 1996 system

Sell the 2002 transmission and use money towards correct match, or rebuild yours, best choice, used automatics are a big roll of the dice.

 

Thanks RonD for the above answer. It is very helpful.
This is very similar to my issue.
I have a 1995 Ranger XLT with 3.0 automatic 2wd that needs a transmission rebuild or swap.
From the above post, only an automatic from a 1995-2000 3.0 2wd will fit without mods? 2.3 or 4.0 will not fit? Also, 4wd won't fit?
Would the transmissions from the Mazda trucks from the same year range fit?

 

Yes, B3000 Mazda would use same transmission as Ranger in same model years
Mazda used 3000 to denote 3.0l engine, 2300 was 2.3l, 4000 was 4.0l

 

Thanks again for the info. One thing I am still not clear on, Does the transmission from a 4 wheel drive without the transfer case fit on a rear wheel drive?

 

No
The transmission is the same internally by model, but with 4WD there is a shorter tail shaft and a housing that transfer case can bolt to
2WD has longer tail or main shaft and housing

On manual transmissions you can often do a partial tear down and change tail shaft and housing to match your need
On automatics you have to do a full rebuild to change main shaft if you want to do conversion to or from 4WD/2WD, so you might as well rebuild what you have

 

Thanks, that helps me know what to look for.

 

One other thing you need for the 1995 Ranger 2WD, a speedometer hook up on the transmission's tail shaft
These were removed in 1998 to 2000 4R44E 2WD transmissions
So you are best off with 1995-1997 2WD 4R44E

You "may" be able to swap your tail shaft housing over to a 1998-2000 4R44E 2WD and the tail shaft's worm gear, but never read about that swap being done
Can't see Ford changing the main shaft just for those 3 years, because they added speedo hookup back to tail shaft housing in 2001 with the 5R44E 2WD