Heres the deal... I have 2 vehicles that are in varying states of disrepair.

1. 1994 Ford Ranger 4.0L, automatic 4x2
- Transmission was rebuilt. About the only thing good in it.
- Truck was T-boned. Cab and part of bed side are now caved in ~6 inches. Cab leaks water, windows don't work, etc.
- Motor started ticking/leaking like hell after fuel plate cracked and filled oil jacket with gas ~50k miles ago (repaired then)

2. 1995 Ford Ranger 4.0L, 5 speed manual 4x4
- picked it up for ~500 because trans is stuck between 1st and 3rd.
- Clean paint / interior, minimal rust. better options
- Motor has half the miles mine does and runs much better.

So... the question. What all would be involved in the process of swapping the automatic into the 1995? I have a complete donor truck, as far as the drivetrain and wiring.

Will the Automatic physically fit after changing the flywheel/bell housing etc and getting the right spacer plate and output shaft in place of the current nose?

What needs to be changed electronically to make this work, and is it possible?

Edit: I also have a access to fully tooled shop with lifts daily. I understand this may take multiple days, Which is why i ask before i rip my only transportation apart.

 

I don't know what would be involved all together but wiring harnesses, pcm, etc. Would be a lot easier to simply put in another manual. Not to mention that the donor automatic is a 2wd going into a 4x4 truck. Not recommended. I would put a newer manual trans as the newer trans has the bolt holes in the bell housing for the newer and older engines as well as the same gear ratio's I believe. Win-win in my book.

 

No, you can't do the swap, well not with out alot of wiring changes
1994 is an A4LD automatic with 2 solenoids the EEC-IV computer controls
1995 uses EEC-V computer that expects to have 4 solenoids to control, an 4R55E trans, and since its a manual computer won't even have those controls.
Also 2WD trans can't be modified for 4x4 without complete rebuild and change of main shafts and tail shaft housing.

Ford used the OBD1 EEC-IV 60-wire computer thru 1994 in Rangers
In 1995 Ford switch to the OBD2 EEC-V 104-wire computers, and they are still used today in all Fords
So big wiring changes between 1994 and 1995, extra 44 wires for computer

If the A4LD is rebuilt then it is worth some money, so sell it and buy a 4.0l 4x4 manual trans for the 1995.
1990 to 1997 M5R1(M5OD-R1) from 4.0l 4x4 will be plug and play
Has to be from 4.0l because of one piece bell housing, and 4x4 so tail shaft and drive shaft will match up

M5OD-R1 was a very good transmission, yours could just have a problem with shift rails at the top.
Look here: TRS Magazine - Shifter Bushing Replacement

Remove the shifter and have a look inside
You should see 3 shift rails with 3 slots, in last picture you can see 2 of the slots
Those 3 slots need to be lined up in the center to be in Neutral

See if you can use a screw driver to realign them, it reads like 2 shift rails have been moved at the same time and that locks them up.
Some times if to much pressure is used to shift into a gear a roll pin holding the a "slot" to a shift rod can shear off so you can't get it "out of gear"

The top plate of this transmission can be pulled off without removing trans from the vehicle, if shift mechanism is the problem.

If you want an automatic then I would still fix the 1995 manual trans 4x4 and then sell it to get a 2wd automatic