2.9 Transmission Swap

[rusty ol ranger]

A manual trans will really wake up the 2.9. So will lower axle gears

 

[ty.forestcom]

A manual trans will really wake up the 2.9. So will lower axle gears

Great to know, it’s definitely my top priority but as the truck has been sitting for about 4 months now and all the doner trucks I’ve looked at haven’t checked out. I would like to get it running. I imagine by the next year I’ll have her swapped but no telling if it’ll have the 2.9. I’ve never driven a 2.9, just the 4.0. So I’m exited, it’s also a first gen, correct me if I’m wrong, 88. I’ve heard they ride really nice and I’m exited to see what’s that’s all about

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Great to know, it’s definitely my top priority but as the truck has been sitting for about 4 months now and all the doner trucks I’ve looked at haven’t checked out. I would like to get it running. I imagine by the next year I’ll have her swapped but no telling if it’ll have the 2.9. I’ve never driven a 2.9, just the 4.0. So I’m exited, it’s also a first gen, correct me if I’m wrong, 88. I’ve heard they ride really nice and I’m exited to see what’s that’s all about

Im a ride or die 2.9 guy. In all honesty a 4.0 isnt really worth ripping out a healthy good running 2.9 for espicially since they are harder to swap (ive heard, mainly wiring) into a 1st gen.

Unless youre running massive tires i think youll be impressed with the guts a 2.9 has.

 

[ty.forestcom]

A manual trans will really wake up the 2.9. So will lower axle gears

I was thinking 8.8 swap, how did you go about that?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I was thinking 8.8 swap, how did you go about that?

Never done it.

Unless youre doing an explorer 8.8 all youre gaining over your 7.5 is a bigger ring gear. The explorer one has 31 spline shafts.

Honestly if youre gonna wheel it id be way more concerned about the front D28.

 

[ty.forestcom]

Im a ride or die 2.9 guy. In all honesty a 4.0 isnt really worth ripping out a healthy good running 2.9 for espicially since they are harder to swap (ive heard, mainly wiring) into a 1st gen.

Unless youre running massive tires i think youll be impressed with the guts a 2.9 has.

Small wheels and tires, no need for that. I’m definitely exited but won’t be able to shake it’s an automatic . I’ve got some tinkering in mind with the engine no doubt. I think I’ll port the heads to start, anything else you’ve done that had a noticeable difference? I’ve read K&N intakes can get you up 20-25 mpg. Appreciate the info Sir thank you very much.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ok…

So, 88 is the last year of the 1st gens. Yes, a 4.0 swap is a bit of electrical. The best way to deal with that is a complete donor if you go that route.

8.8” rear from a Ranger is a bolt-in swap for the most part. Same with a D-35 front from a Ranger (90-97) or Explorer (91-94). Bigger ring gear for the 8.8 and as mentioned the Explorer got the 31 spline and disk brakes. The D-28 is weak even on a stock vehicle. The 7.5” is an adequate rear, but I have blown them up.

Gasket matching or ideally a gasket match/flow port is supposed to help. Also going to free-floating rockers. Balanced internals and a mild cam is advisable if you’re rebuilding the motor. It will also take a couple psi of boost if you have the later heads. The downside to these upgrades is that it all can be done for about the same money to a 4.0 and you get that much more performance.

I do plan to throw a few mods at the 2.9 when I get back to building my 88 B2. I had intended on running the D-28 and 7.5” in it but I’m leaning hard towards doing a D-35 and 8.8”. It will get a modded A4LD as well. I just need to get some other projects handled before I get back to that.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Small wheels and tires, no need for that. I’m definitely exited but won’t be able to shake it’s an automatic . I’ve got some tinkering in mind with the engine no doubt. I think I’ll port the heads to start, anything else you’ve done that had a noticeable difference? I’ve read K&N intakes can get you up 20-25 mpg. Appreciate the info Sir thank you very much.

Youll probably get close to 20 leaving it stock. I wouldnt put much faith in intakes and things, the factory tube provides more then enough air for 177 cubic inches.

Look up some of petroleumjunkie threads on 2.9performance. He was working miracles

 

[ty.forestcom]

Thank you both.

 

[ty.forestcom]

Yeah, I’d look for a 90-92 4.0 for a donor and use everything.

For that matter, knowing what I do now, I wouldn’t hesitate to run a 4.0 automatic as long as I put a little money and effort into making the transition happy. My 92 was the eye opener… when I had to replace the engine, I decided to try and make the transmission happier in hopes it would last. I had a suspicion the torque converter wasn’t doing what it was supposed to, and I’m not sure now if it actually needed replacing, but I did it because the motor was out anyway. Then I figured that I might as well throw everything at the valve body that I could (shift kit plus recommend mods from over on the Explorer forums), plus adjust the bands, new reverse servo O-rings and gasket (the Aamco Transmission shop guy was really confused when I asked for those but that’s usually where the transmission starts acting up on these), new filter, a second auxiliary trans cooler, new fluid, adjusted the bands, and a new pan with a drain plug.

Took awhile to work all the air out of the system and then she would have spanked my green 00 in a drag race. 3.73 gears with a limited slip rear and 30” tires. Green 00 had 4.10 open and 31” tires then with a 4.0. Probably would give my current green Ranger configuration a run for its money. That 92 would smoke the back tires, both of them, if you nailed the gas too hard from a stop. No joke, if I was running empty and really railed on it, it would sometimes bark second. I’ve become a huge advocate of at least a shift kit, extra trans cooler, adjust the bands and freshen the reverse servo since. I’m currently throwing a stage 2 shift kit at my green Ranger. I’m hoping that it might bark second…

Good Afternoon Sir, hope all is well.

I got rid of my doner truck and walked away with $400 profit, can’t complain. Was a ton of work but pulled everything off and sold it as a 3.0 standard swap kit. Sold the wheels and scrapped the frame. Win win honestly.

Still waiting to find the right truck to do my swap but looking into getting her moving right now.

I’ve got my A4LD fully disassembled and found my problem. The forward drum’s seal was completely thrashed. Burnt up the whole drum. Looks as if it was driven off the lot or shop without the seal correctly placed, most of the seal was actually just melted all over my clutches haha. I’m now studying diagrams to get some names for the parts I’m finding.

I want to install a shift kit, you mentioned before you had done them for the 2.9 I think. What kit options could give me the best preference and reliability here Sir?

Maybe something other than a shift kit you would recommend? Anything helps Sir, thank you.

Right now I’m planning to replace my converter, flywheel, starter, all the gaskets and seals, forward drum assembly. And install the shift kit you or others can recommend.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Good Afternoon Sir, hope all is well.

I got rid of my doner truck and walked away with $400 profit, can’t complain. Was a ton of work but pulled everything off and sold it as a 3.0 standard swap kit. Sold the wheels and scrapped the frame. Win win honestly.

Still waiting to find the right truck to do my swap but looking into getting her moving right now.

I’ve got my A4LD fully disassembled and found my problem. The forward drum’s seal was completely thrashed. Burnt up the whole drum. Looks as if it was driven off the lot or shop without the seal correctly placed, most of the seal was actually just melted all over my clutches haha. I’m now studying diagrams to get some names for the parts I’m finding.

I want to install a shift kit, you mentioned before you had done them for the 2.9 I think. What kit options could give me the best preference and reliability here Sir?

Maybe something other than a shift kit you would recommend? Anything helps Sir, thank you.

Right now I’m planning to replace my converter, flywheel, starter, all the gaskets and seals, forward drum assembly. And install the shift kit you or others can recommend.

So… I did a TransGo kit plus some other mods. Basically everything I could dig up for it. I’ll have to try and find the list. If you’re rebuilding the trans you may want to look at some other things too. A lot of my information came from here…

A4LD - 4R70W - 4R44E - 4R55E Transmission How to Articles

A4LD Rebuild and Internal Upgrades How to: The A4LD Transmission Rebuild Diary Part 1 A4LD Rebuild Diary Part 2 A4LD Rebuild Diary Part 3.0 - Reassembly, Part 1 A4LD Rebuild Diary Part 3.1 - Reassembly, Part 2 A4LD Diary Part 4 - Postscript K80's A4LD Rebuild Diary How To: A4LD Valve Body...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[ty.forestcom]

So… I did a TransGo kit plus some other mods. Basically everything I could dig up for it. I’ll have to try and find the list. If you’re rebuilding the trans you may want to look at some other things too. A lot of my information came from here…

A4LD - 4R70W - 4R44E - 4R55E Transmission How to Articles

A4LD Rebuild and Internal Upgrades How to: The A4LD Transmission Rebuild Diary Part 1 A4LD Rebuild Diary Part 2 A4LD Rebuild Diary Part 3.0 - Reassembly, Part 1 A4LD Rebuild Diary Part 3.1 - Reassembly, Part 2 A4LD Diary Part 4 - Postscript K80's A4LD Rebuild Diary How To: A4LD Valve Body...

www.explorerforum.com

I went with a Sonnax kit.

Got all my seals, o rings gaskets etc. A “delux” kit had everything I needed and I ordered a few more parts on global trans. Assessed everything from the inside out, most all of my clutches ahead of the forward drum are in phenomenal condition. Going from the transmission’s manual Sir. I am now waiting on a ton of parts and hope to be finished in the next 2 weeks.