Last week I wrote about how I broke the KM132 transmission in my truck. Luckily for me, I am an auto parts hoarder, so I had a couple spare KM132 transmissions “just in case.” My life isn’t as easy as pulling the old transmission out and slapping a spare one in though because the one in my truck was fairly heavily customized. Not only that, but the spare KM132’s I had were intended for a wide block…. You know what, let’s back up the train a bit.
The Narrow-Block and the Wide-Block Bolt Pattern
Back in the 1980s Mitsubishi… ahem… I mean Dodge was putting 2.0 L and 2.6 L in many of their rear-wheel drive vehicles. Both engines were backed by either an automatic or a “KM132” 5-speed manual transmission. The 2.0L KM132’s were known as the “narrow-block” bolt pattern because the bell housing bolts were closer together than that of the 2.6L “wide-block” bolt pattern. Simple enough, right? Well, this is where is gets crazy…
My truck originally came with a 2.6 L and a wide-block KM132. I then ripped out the blown up 2.6 L engine, and swapped a 1991 Eclipse 4G63 2.0 L engine into it (which is a narrow block). This meant that I needed to use the “narrow-block” KM132 in my truck. I grabbed one from a junkyard, heavy modified it, and about 11 years later (last week), I broke it. Oopsy!
Noticing Different Sized Transmission Gears
Now, I made the assumption that the spare 2.6 L KM132 transmission had the same internal components as my narrow-block KM132 that I broke. That way I could swap the internals and be back on the road in short order. I was sort of right. The bearings are the same sizes (except for 1), but different styles. The clutch and driveshaft splines are the same too. Then I discovered the really interesting thing that has been rumored for years. The wide-block KM132’s has wider gears than the narrow block did. This basically told me that once I swapped the wider internals into my busted transmission, I would actually end up with a stronger transmission! Nice!
Well, that is assuming that it works when I’m done. The other night, I took a couple pictures for comparison porpoises (like a dolphin). One picture came out ok, and the other appears to be lit up by 10 billion candlepower flood lights. I have no idea why this happened because I didn’t change the camera settings, and the photos were taken just minutes apart in the same exact spot. See? Cameras really do hate me. Any who, in each picture, notice the width of the gears on the right (wider) vs. the gears on the left (narrower). Cool stuff, right?
Learn How to Fix Your Car or Truck
1A Auto’s how-to videos have step-by-step instructions from professionals to help you do your own repairs on tons of makes and models.
Other Content
- Rough Idle? Weak Acceleration? How to Diagnose and Clean a Throttle Body
- Spongy or Soft Brake Pedal? How to Diagnose and Fix a Brake Pedal that Goes to the Floor
- Rough Idle at Cold Start? How to Diagnose Codes P050D and P219A
- Engine Misfire When Cold? How to Decarbonize Your Engine
I have a 1989 Mitsubishi Mighty Max with a 2.0. 5 speed transmission. Will a 1990 5- speed transmission out of a Mitsubishi Mighty Max work. It was 2.4. The drive shaft I see all the same.
Just wondering, what other automatic transmissions bolt up to dodge ram 50 2.6L , nobody in my area will touch that aisin warner transmission. Don’t mind if I have to reman a mount, rework drive shaft etc…
Hey, I’m marrying a KM132 narrow to a G54b narrow block, but I don’t think the throw out bearing is coming in contact with the diaphragm springs.
Do you have any ideas why?
I apologize for the delayed response. Make sure the throw-out bearing is locked in to the clutch fork properly with the clips, and not accidentally twisted vertically. Also – Sometimes it is necessary to shim the pivot ball under the clutch fork. Moving the pivot ball out can make a big difference in the TOB throw. Lastly, if you use the wrong flywheel, you could most definitely have a problem like this. Oh, 1 more thing – I don’t recall, but should the flywheel have a spacer behind it? That would also put the clutch a bit closer to the TOB.
Good luck and let me know what you find!
-Jeremy