1988 Ranger XLT Lariat A4Ld to C3/C4 Swap...

[aceguitarlefty]

I have here a calamity of monumental proportions.
My nice old 1988 ranger (2wd) has the 2.3L EFI and the
disfunctional A4LD trans... Low gear only 2nd quits at 15/20mph
no 3rd, no 4th... a4ld's are very expensive for salvage rebuild units...

but i have found quite a few C3's and maybe a couple C4's... from
pinto's, bobcats, etc.

My question is this... can I swap out the a4ld and put in a C3? or C4?
what will i have to switch? trans, flexplate,
crank spacer, torque conv, and ??? will I have to switch driveshafts...
to a 1985 or earlier (mine is 2wd)?

also the biggy... question...
if I could get a C3 or C4 to work how do I deal with the ECC nightmare
since I would be backgrading or going back to the future/old trans...
which was just hydrallically controlled (better)... and many of these C3
from the 70's are still good!!! What does that say about the a4ld'S? many
which are now junk like mine...

do I just unhook the ECC plug ?? it will probably cause error codes in the
rest of the setup and mess up the running of the engine or something I imagine....

Please help... Old Time Ford Man...

thanx...

 

[TwoWhels]

It is not that hard to rebuild a A4LD.
What options come on a XLT Lariat?

 

[aceguitarlefty]

options

all of them...

i am not very good with small parts anymore...
i would rather put in something more robust...
like a c4 or c5... or even a AOD...

 

[Earl43P]

Looking for this? http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InterchangingTansmissions.html

 

[tomw]

You can get a kit for the A4LD for ~$200 with most wearing parts. That trans was used behind the 4.0 in Aero*s, and could last. It is not junk, and as a matter of fact, is based on the C3. (which was based generally on the C4)
It has problems with the input shaft splines, the OD basket and the center support. If you get new or good used parts, it can work fine.
I laid all the parts out on paper in the garage in the order they came out. Make SURE of thrust bearing orientation. The only special tool needed is snap ring pliers. The converter hub can be used to align the pump gizzards, applied from the back side.
tom

p.s. the Aerostart was the long version, three seat, and had horses in a trailer... lasted to 180K miles before losing forward gears.

 

[procadman]

The A4LD is a Light Duty Transmission. End of Story.
Ford took a c3, added overdrive and 2 solenoids and gave it a new badge.
An 89 2wd 2.9 Ranger with an A4LD is tow rated at 5000 lbs. This was a mistake from day one.
Many of my friends and I have gone through at least 2 rebuilds on A4LDs after towing less than 3000 lbs.
The factory A4LD will last around 100k miles but the rebuilds will die around 50K.
Even if you had a bumper to bumper warranty on a new '89 your tranny would die shortly after.
Unless you were fanatics like my friends and me, you got rid of your truck long before that milestone.

What makes things worse is the '89 2.9 had an issue with poor head castings. Almost every one failed around 75K miles.

In short, the transmission should have never been put in a vehicle made for towing.

I, like you, are considering a C4 swap; common and not too complicated.
Information I have obtained requires a C5 bell housing, a link mod and a possible C5 tail housing.
Unfortunately many of the forums on this subject have disappeared in the last few years.