A4LD leaks bad from front of trans

[Sevensecondsuv]

So I picked up another 1990 ranger yesterday. It is a 2wd reg cab long bed 2.9 auto. Anyways, the A4LD has a horible leak (hence the amazing deal I got). It seams to be coming from between the engine and the trans. However, the transmission works great if it has fluid in it.

Is there a front seal on these things that commonly fails? If so, what's involved in replacing it?

I have a spare A4LD from an '88 Thunderbird TurboCoupe thats in nice shape. If all else fails I'll just swap bellhousings and stick that one in there.

 

[2manyfords]

Yes the seals fail but usually because the front TC bushing is hosed.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

And how hard is it to replace the front TC bushing? Or would it just be easier to put the TurboCoupe trans that I have in there (assuming I swap bellhousings)?

 

[2manyfords]

I've personaly never done one but I do know it all has to be aligned. Something the average person wouldn't have the tools for.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Well I went to the ford dealer today and got a parts diagram of the whole transmission. As far as I and the service guys could tell there isn't any bushing on there, just the seal. The "bushing" is front plate that closes the front of the transmission. I did buy the seal. I'll post carnage pics when I drop the trans tomorrow.

 

[Will]

There's a bushing in there. It will fail the seal again.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Well I went to the ford dealer today and got a parts diagram of the whole transmission. As far as I and the service guys could tell there isn't any bushing on there, just the seal. The "bushing" is front plate that closes the front of the transmission. I did buy the seal. I'll post carnage pics when I drop the trans tomorrow.

You can't buy the bushing separately from Ford. It's part of the bellhousing which is why the parts diagram doesn't show it. It'll be available from a trans shop and you most certainly need the special tools to align the pump half's.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Yeah I was reading up on the bellhousing bushing on explorer forum yesterday. It seems that the only way to replace a bad bushing is to have it machined into the bellhousing at a machine shop. I also saw a couple places online that would rebuild my old bellhousing with a machined in place bushing for about 50 bucks +s/h. I'm going to call a few tranny places around here and see how they handle the issue. I imagine they probably have some remanufactured bellhousings in stock given how popular the A4LD is at transmission rebuilders.

My plan is to drop the trans, remove and inspect the bellhousing. My buddy has a broken A4LD that he took out of his 94 exploder. However, it didn't leak from the front seal, so I know his bellhousing bushing is good. If my bellhousing is bad I'll just swap his bellhousing on with the good bushing in it and then install my new seal and I should be good to go.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I have never ,ever had a bushing machined into a A4LD bellhousing. I pound out the old one with a chisel and press in the new bushing. Check the fit on the converter. Done.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I took both trans' to a tranny shop today. He's going to rebuild the 2.9 bellhousing and install it on whichever trans looks better inside. He quoted me $100-$150. I get to go pick it up tomorrow night.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I got the trans back. The TC bushing was shot and took out the neck on the converter also. The guy installed a new bushing, new front seal, new pump o-ring, and new rear seal (that was bad too) and then installed the turbocoupe TC in the ranger trans. He said the tranny looked awesome inside. The overdrive band looked brand new he said.

I also bought a new flexplate as I figured the old one could be warped from the bad bushing.

I'm thinking this trans should be good to go for a while since it's all sealed up with a new bushing and new flexplate. Hopefully the stall on the turbocoupe converter isn't significantly higher the ranger's.

Got any more suggestions for me before I put it all back together?

 

[Bent Bolt]

If the turbocoupe torque converter bolts to the 2.9 flexplate, it will most likely have a higher stall speed. It might make the trans feel like its "loose".

While you're at it, replace the adapter between the crank and flexplate.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Well it almost worked. I went to put it together only to find out that the turbocoupe TC sticks out of the trans about 3/8" more than the ranger TC, preventing the tranny from going the last 1/4" to the engine.

So I grabbed a torque converter from my buddy's 94 4.0 exploder and it appears to have all the same dimensions as the ranger TC and looks like it will work. I'm going to try putting it together here in a bit.

How do you go about getting the spacer between the crank and flywheel off? It looks like it was part of the crank.