3.0 3.0 Vulcan to conventional trans. C5 C5 or AOD

[Aerostar65]

I just read the article on the Ranger Station about the 3.8 V-6 swap. I have a rather interesting situation, and was wondering if you could help me out. I have a 90 Aerostar with the Vulcan 3.0 V-6. It seems to me from what I can deduce, it looks like the C4, C5 or V-8 AOD should bolt up to my RWD 3.0 motor.

My deductions;

If 3.8 FWD is the same as the 3.0, then

the 85 3.8 bolts to the C5 trans... same as C4, but with lock-up convertor, then

if the 3.8 bell is the same as 5.0 V-8, then

any C4, C5 or AOD V-8 bell trans should bolt to the 3.0 Vulcan V-6?

Please let me know if this works, as I have the dreaded A4LD trans in the van now, burnt up and in need of a replacement. This is the pre-electronic version, and the other transmissions mentioned will be easier to find and install. My van is the 2WD version, and I'm not afraid to bash and "modify" as necessary to get it back on the road. I've read volumes on the general crappiness of the A4LD and would like to get something a little tougher and more reliable in it's place. Hopefully the torque converter will not end up being a problem, but I am prepared to drill new holes in the flex plate if I have to... I am not too worried about the OD feature either really. Any help you might be able to give would be outstanding!

All the Best! and have a great holiday!

Mike

 

[locovaca]

The flaw in your logic is that the 3.8 FWD and 3.8 RWD are different patterns. The only other 3.0 RWD tranny that exists is a Mazda manual, and that's your only realistic option. You could try a newer Ranger tranny but you'd have to swap computer systems over and that would be pretty hellish I'd think, if even possible.

 

[Aerostar65]

Yes, you are right... I found there are 2 different ones... nice.

I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of the thing instead of pouring more money in it. The best local price I can find for a used one is more than I paid for the van to begin with. Besides, what are the chances of finding anything from, what, 84 to 94, that already doesn't have a zillion miles on it in the junkyard? Unless I find something close to home [south central Pennsylvania] I'm likely going to junk it. The motor seems o.k. with 150k on it... too bad.

No one replied to my post a few down in the row of posts here... Seems to me the torque converter let go.