A4LD to FM145 swap

Chevelle Kid · Jun 25, 2009

Ok, I'm swapping my A4LD for an FM145. I want to know what exactly I need to do to complete this swap. I was reading the tech articles and came across this...

Replacing an A4LD Automatic with a 2.8 Manual Transmission:

A transmission that came off a 2.8L will work on a 2.9L. The 2.9L flywheel and starter will bolt up and work perfectly. The 2.8L clutch disc and pressure plate bolt perfectly to the 2.9L flywheel. This means that the 2.8L, 2.9L, and 4.0L all use the same clutch internals.

The only downside to swapping in an early Mitsubishi for an A4LD is that you need the tranny cross member that bolts INSIDE the frame. On the Mitsubishi's there is no t-case adapter as it is built into the tranny. This causes the tranny cross member to be moved 2.5" toward the motor and you need to lengthen the rear driveshaft and shorten the front one.

Is this true? I have the shafts out of both vehicles and both seemed to be the same length, I held them alongside each other.

So, any help is apprecieated...lol

Ben

kunar · Jun 25, 2009

absolutely correct. when replacing n a4ld with an fm145, you will need to move the transmission cross member. there should be holes in the frame to put the cross member where it needs to go. you'll also have to use the shorter front shaft and the longer rear shaft.

i've done this swap btw. it only lasted like 10k miles before i swapped out the junk mitsu trans for a mazda trans. the mazda trans is the same length as the automatic though, so you need the drive shafts from the auto if you switch to a mazda trans.

Chevelle Kid · Jun 25, 2009

kunar said:
absolutely correct. when replacing n a4ld with an fm145, you will need to move the transmission cross member. there should be holes in the frame to put the cross member where it needs to go. you'll also have to use the shorter front shaft and the longer rear shaft.

i've done this swap btw. it only lasted like 10k miles before i swapped out the junk mitsu trans for a mazda trans. the mazda trans is the same length as the automatic though, so you need the drive shafts from the auto if you switch to a mazda trans.

Well I have this trans now...lol I'll probabally pick up a M50D within the next year or so...lol

I also plan on doing the 4.0 clutch swap too

Ben

cocoasranger · Jun 26, 2009

Chevelle Kid said:
Well I have this trans now...lol I'll probabally pick up a M50D within the next year or so...lol

I also plan on doing the 4.0 clutch swap too

Ben

+1 You won't be sorry you did either of these upgrades. I'd go directly to the Mazda trans now if funds allowed. :icon_thumby:

kunar · Jun 27, 2009

Chevelle Kid said:
Well I have this trans now...lol I'll probabally pick up a M50D within the next year or so...lol

I also plan on doing the 4.0 clutch swap too

Ben

make sure you hang on to your old drive shafts. you'll need them when you switch to a mazda trans. sounds like youre gonna do exactly what i did.

Chevelle Kid · Jun 27, 2009

Probably...lol I have the 4.0 clutch stuff now, I just need to get the trans and pedal assy. from the other truck. I have it 99.9999999% out except for the damn clutch pedal. How do I get the freaking clip off of the pedal from the rod that goes into the slave cylinder on the firewall?????

Ben

kunar · Jun 27, 2009

Chevelle Kid said:
Probably...lol I have the 4.0 clutch stuff now, I just need to get the trans and pedal assy. from the other truck. I have it 99.9999999% out except for the damn clutch pedal. How do I get the freaking clip off of the pedal from the rod that goes into the slave cylinder on the firewall?????

Ben

very very carefully... and you'll still probably break it like i did. i've broken every one i've touched. last i knew they were still available from ford though, like $6-8 iirc. oh and even if you break one or 2 barbs off of it, it will still probably work. i've used them like that before. :dunno:

A4LD to FM145 swap

Chevelle Kid

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kunar

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Chevelle Kid

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cocoasranger

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Chevelle Kid

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