A4LD questions

Nailzs · Jun 11, 2009

several a4ld questions i have that i couldnt really find definitive answers to in the tech library
1. can you use the 4.0l specs and parts from a 90-94 a4ld to rebuild and strengthen a 86-90 a4ld?
2. is a 90-94 a4ld a simple plug and play swap(as in bolts right in, no wiring necessary, uses the same plugs, the ecm will not know the difference) for a 86-90 a4ld?
3. can you use a 87 a4ld for a 88 vehicle? im leaning toward no on this one as i read that in mid 88 a 3-4 shift solenoid was added
4. how do i tell if an 88 vehicle has the 3-4 shift solenoid?

thx guys

Earl43P · Jun 11, 2009

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146956

Lot of good info in there, I can be of no other assistance.

Fordman · Jun 11, 2009

1.The main differences are a 4.0 has a 4 clutch od, and a heavier low one way sprag clutch. Yes, the internals will interchange with minor things to watch for.
2. A 90 - 94 should plug-n-play on 88 to 90, but very early88 and olderhad the single solenoid.
3.No, unless you swap valvebodies
4.89 positively has 2, 87 positively has 1, but on 88 you need to pull the pan to be sure.

Fordman

Nailzs said:
several a4ld questions i have that i couldnt really find definitive answers to in the tech library
1. can you use the 4.0l specs and parts from a 90-94 a4ld to rebuild and strengthen a 86-90 a4ld?
2. is a 90-94 a4ld a simple plug and play swap(as in bolts right in, no wiring necessary, uses the same plugs, the ecm will not know the difference) for a 86-90 a4ld?
3. can you use a 87 a4ld for a 88 vehicle? im leaning toward no on this one as i read that in mid 88 a 3-4 shift solenoid was added
4. how do i tell if an 88 vehicle has the 3-4 shift solenoid?

thx guys

Jim Oaks · Jun 11, 2009

Fordman,

Is there really a different A4LD for the 4.0, or are all 90 and newer A4LD's built to the same specs to be compatible with the 4.0? I can't imagine Ford building a seperate A4LD just for the 4.0L and not use it on a 2.9L.

Nailzs · Jun 11, 2009

Fordman said:
1.The main differences are a 4.0 has a 4 clutch od, and a heavier low one way sprag clutch. Yes, the internals will interchange with minor things to watch for.
2. A 90 - 94 should plug-n-play on 88 to 90, but very early88 and olderhad the single solenoid.
3.No, unless you swap valvebodies
4.89 positively has 2, 87 positively has 1, but on 88 you need to pull the pan to be sure.

Fordman

fordman, u rock! but i have 2 more questions based upon your answers.
1. as to the internals, can u tell me what will interchange to "upgrade" the older a4ld(or, if easier, what wont interchange)
2. if i pull off the pan of my 88, what do i look for to determine if it has the 3-4 shift solenoid or not? when it comes to automatics, im never sure what im lookin at

thx!

Fordman · Jun 17, 2009

My Ford 92 level tranny specs book shows the 4.0 has the heavier parts, and 3.0, 2.9, and 2.3 are equivilant. Just pulled all 2.3 guts out, and put in a 3.0 tranny, all were the same.

Jim Oaks said:
Fordman,

Is there really a different A4LD for the 4.0, or are all 90 and newer A4LD's built to the same specs to be compatible with the 4.0? I can't imagine Ford building a seperate A4LD just for the 4.0L and not use it on a 2.9L.

Fordman · Jun 17, 2009

(1) only difference on A4LD's 92 and older as far as parts interchange are between 4.0 trannies and the others, and the 1988 running change between 1 or 2 solenoid vb's.
(2) when ya pull the pan, look where the wires run into the cast in front of the shift lever, you will either find 1 or 2 small slot car motor looking steel round thingies, the solenoids. If theres only one, its the convertor solenoid. If there is two, front is convertor, rear is od.

Nailzs said:
fordman, u rock! but i have 2 more questions based upon your answers.
1. as to the internals, can u tell me what will interchange to "upgrade" the older a4ld(or, if easier, what wont interchange)
2. if i pull off the pan of my 88, what do i look for to determine if it has the 3-4 shift solenoid or not? when it comes to automatics, im never sure what im lookin at

thx!

Fordman · Jun 17, 2009

Also, there are two main rebuild kits, 85 to 89 (I believe), and late 89 to 95. The differences were a couple seal changes, and some clutchs were made thicker. If you interchange a clutch drum that took thin clutches, and use thick ones, clearences are wrong and it will fail, and visa versa the clearences will be too great, usually starting as a spinup or flare on shift, then failure. I kinda think the big reason rebuilds often fail, are that a newer kit gets used in an older tranny, or visa versa.

Jim Oaks said:
Fordman,

Is there really a different A4LD for the 4.0, or are all 90 and newer A4LD's built to the same specs to be compatible with the 4.0? I can't imagine Ford building a seperate A4LD just for the 4.0L and not use it on a 2.9L.

HndMeDnBroncoII · Jun 17, 2009

Hey ford man where ya located wann rebuild an a4ld lol!

Fordman · Jun 17, 2009

Cant even get time to do my own...betwingst firefighten and my payin job.

HndMeDnBroncoII said:
Hey ford man where ya located wann rebuild an a4ld lol!

Nailzs · Jun 19, 2009

yay my tranny has the 2 shift solenoids! so fordman, just to confirm, i can use a a4ld out of a 91-94 4.0l and with the exception of swapping over the bellhousing, i can rebuild and swap it in with no problems right? just take the old out and put the new in?

Fordman · Jun 19, 2009

Yep. As for bellhousing, the 4.0 and 2.9 are same bolt pattern. 2.3/2.5 are their own, as is 3.0.

Nailzs said:
yay my tranny has the 2 shift solenoids! so fordman, just to confirm, i can use a a4ld out of a 91-94 4.0l and with the exception of swapping over the bellhousing, i can rebuild and swap it in with no problems right? just take the old out and put the new in?

Fordman · Jun 19, 2009

correction...4.0 has a 4 clutch forward clutch, not the od.

Fordman said:
1.The main differences are a 4.0 has a 4 clutch od, and a heavier low one way sprag clutch. Yes, the internals will interchange with minor things to watch for.
2. A 90 - 94 should plug-n-play on 88 to 90, but very early88 and olderhad the single solenoid.
3.No, unless you swap valvebodies
4.89 positively has 2, 87 positively has 1, but on 88 you need to pull the pan to be sure.

Fordman

Nailzs · Jun 20, 2009

yay!!! dont even have to swap the bellhousing!! fordman is my hero!

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