i know this is for the 6bt but its the closest to the 4bt i can find. my question is what tranny do i need to use to put a 4bt in a 4wd ranger. any help would be much appriciated guys

 

You'll need to select the transmission based on what you can find that fits the available bell housing patterns for the 4BT. Almost any transmission that works behind the 4BT will move the Ranger, as it is a light platform, and the stock transmission is not a heavy duty piece by any stretch of the imagination.

A bigger factor will be finding that right combo that bolts to the 4BT and also has the 25 spline output shaft that ties into the 1350 or 1354 transfer case. That may limit you to available Ranger/Explorer transmissions, and a bell housing adaptor of some sort.

You may want to check this out if you are in the market for an auto:

Jefe's 700R4 swap - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

 

i have a rolled 98 dodge 2500 for parts and i was wondering how hard you guys think it would be to take the drivetrain out of it and use the 4bt. does the 4bt bolt up to the same tranny as a 6bt? really dont know much about it but dont want to put a 6bt in it.

 

It depends on what bell adapter you use. They made a small ford pattern used in bread trucks, so a 5spd out of a f150 would work in the ranger. The back of the 4bt block is the same as the 6bt, so the dodge 2500 stuff will bolt up to the 4bt (same basic motor with 2 less cyl)

 

The 6BT transmission parts would be much heavier duty than the Ford stuff, but you will also run into some weight and clearance issues that you might want to consider. Also, length of the transmission and where the shifter will poke through the floor boards (if you go manual). Transfer case if 4X4 is also something to think of. Have to match everything up on paper before you go to wrenching.

Then, there is the computer issue. Any of the Dodge transmissions after 95 or so are going to need a stand-alone PCM to run. You'll have to use an earlier mechanical version for the swap. Same goes if you swap the other way around. You either go old school before computers or figure out how to get the right PCM signal for shifting to the newer model transmissions (for autos). Manual transmissions, of course, will bolt in and not care about the PCM.

I'm going through some of these issues myself right now on my Ranger truggy build, where I'm running a C-4 behind a late model 4.0 w/PCM.

 

thats awsome guys. i think i might just use the dodge parts