Ford Ranger Transmission Rebuild - It's Easier to Get into Fort Knox - Part 1

My 1986 Ford Ranger has some troubling transmission noises. Let's crack the Mitsubishi FM145 open and fix it, if we can figure out how...

Sorry I could not post the video in one piece with my donkey powered internet.

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[killcarnbike]

That's an awful lot of work for something that looks like it's one damp day away from turning into a brown puddle. I admire your dedication on this one.

[Jcrumth]

As my father, a design engineer, always said "it's designed to go together, not come apart."

[MoraFermi]

I don't think I've seen a clearer example of structural dirt than this car...

Awesome work on the transmission, frankly I'm surprised that you didn't end the video by sweeping the parts off the table right into a trash bin.

[dougwilson]

I was a Ford mechanic back in those days. Those transmissions were a freaking nightmare and no doubt contributed to my decision to move on to a different career... ( well, those transmissions, and changing out 7.3 liter diesel head gaskets in econoline vans....)

[MW-rknl]

Wes this whole Saturday morning release for me really brings me back to being a kid and watching horsepower hour on like speed for sharing your world with us really enjoy the content you put out

[colmart]

The rust on that underside is unreal, I’m amazed it even held in the transmission, that was some serious disassembly!👍🇮🇪

[TheBigdog]

I worked in a Ford dealer when those trucks were still in Warranty. This video brought back nightmares of working on these transmissions. Thank god the ford service manual was written well for disassembly. We had a full service kit of tools to disassemble that trans but it was still a chore.

[franksaxton]

Wow! I am completely in awe of your abilities Wes. I am a life-long shade tree mechanic although my degree is in electrical engineering. As you were taking this thing apart and the pile of parts kept growing my thought was that the chances of a successful reassembly (with no left over parts) was pretty much zero. I would love to have the skills and confidence to overcome the various challenges you faced and to be able to find that one bad bearing. I really get a lot out of your videos so please keep it up!

[HamiltonvilleFarm]

I just appreciate you using a crescent wrench to make it work! 😁

[assessor]

Good for you for sticking at it. I’m an engineering prof and I always teach my students to consider assembly AND disassembly when designing equipment. I guess I am a bit of an outlier in that.

[davidcolesr.]

Right On Time, Certainly Appreciate You Having us Along. Catch You On The Next One & Keep It Safe Out There

[jessemeyer]

I miss those small pickup trucks. Full size bed for hauling, small enough to easily maneuver on a job site, and decent enough gas mileage for the day.

They really were the pickup trucks made for independent tradesmen.

[DaftOldMan]

Wes, you can buy a puller that has legs that fit into the ball bearing grooves. Push in and twist after removing part of the cage. These "blind" bearings have been common on lots of gearboxes I have worked on over the years. Obviously you destroy the bearing when you remove it.

[krp-xehw]

It never ceases to amaze me how cars just disintegrate up in the northern states! I drove a 1990's S10 in high school that was almost 25 years old when I sold it. It had a few areas of surface rust on the frame but that was it. Hats off to you guys who regularly work on vehicles where every fastener has become one with the car.

[kenpecora]

I admire your attitude to tackle anything. I'd have been looking for a used trans.

[jimr]

I did a master rebuild on a Ranger transmissions in my driveway back in the early 90s. The hardest part was putting the transmission back in without a proper jack or lift of any kind. The Hanes manual had a procedure to do R&R in 17 easy steps (rolls eyes).
That vehicle is still on the road.

[terryrogers]

You have the patience of just short of a saint, if it had been me, it probably hit the trash can and headed for a junk yard to find its replacement. Thanks for taking us along Wes, it has to be, shall we say tense, to get into something like this. I admire your “ I’m this far I’m going to find out what’s really wrong here” attitude sir. Thanks, looking forward to the assembly.

[nathanstrickland]

I now know why transmission repairs cost so much. Would love to have the knowledge you possess sir. It's a privilege watching you work.

[chrisw]

watching this gave me severe anxiety, so many parts! It took you 3 hours, it would take me 3 days and probably not be able to get it to work again. Great vid, looking forward to the reassembly Wes!

[nimas.]

Thanks for taking the time to film, I could hear the frustration at the end.