A4LD questions

[Nailzs]

several a4ld questions i have that i couldnt really find definitive answers to in the tech library
1. can you use the 4.0l specs and parts from a 90-94 a4ld to rebuild and strengthen a 86-90 a4ld?
2. is a 90-94 a4ld a simple plug and play swap(as in bolts right in, no wiring necessary, uses the same plugs, the ecm will not know the difference) for a 86-90 a4ld?
3. can you use a 87 a4ld for a 88 vehicle? im leaning toward no on this one as i read that in mid 88 a 3-4 shift solenoid was added
4. how do i tell if an 88 vehicle has the 3-4 shift solenoid?


thx guys

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146956

Lot of good info in there, I can be of no other assistance.

 

[Fordman]

1.The main differences are a 4.0 has a 4 clutch od, and a heavier low one way sprag clutch. Yes, the internals will interchange with minor things to watch for.
2. A 90 - 94 should plug-n-play on 88 to 90, but very early88 and olderhad the single solenoid.
3.No, unless you swap valvebodies
4.89 positively has 2, 87 positively has 1, but on 88 you need to pull the pan to be sure.

Fordman

several a4ld questions i have that i couldnt really find definitive answers to in the tech library
1. can you use the 4.0l specs and parts from a 90-94 a4ld to rebuild and strengthen a 86-90 a4ld?
2. is a 90-94 a4ld a simple plug and play swap(as in bolts right in, no wiring necessary, uses the same plugs, the ecm will not know the difference) for a 86-90 a4ld?
3. can you use a 87 a4ld for a 88 vehicle? im leaning toward no on this one as i read that in mid 88 a 3-4 shift solenoid was added
4. how do i tell if an 88 vehicle has the 3-4 shift solenoid?


thx guys

 

[Jim Oaks]

Fordman,

Is there really a different A4LD for the 4.0, or are all 90 and newer A4LD's built to the same specs to be compatible with the 4.0? I can't imagine Ford building a seperate A4LD just for the 4.0L and not use it on a 2.9L.

 

[Nailzs]

1.The main differences are a 4.0 has a 4 clutch od, and a heavier low one way sprag clutch. Yes, the internals will interchange with minor things to watch for.
2. A 90 - 94 should plug-n-play on 88 to 90, but very early88 and olderhad the single solenoid.
3.No, unless you swap valvebodies
4.89 positively has 2, 87 positively has 1, but on 88 you need to pull the pan to be sure.

Fordman

fordman, u rock! but i have 2 more questions based upon your answers.
1. as to the internals, can u tell me what will interchange to "upgrade" the older a4ld(or, if easier, what wont interchange)
2. if i pull off the pan of my 88, what do i look for to determine if it has the 3-4 shift solenoid or not? when it comes to automatics, im never sure what im lookin at

thx!

 

[Fordman]

My Ford 92 level tranny specs book shows the 4.0 has the heavier parts, and 3.0, 2.9, and 2.3 are equivilant. Just pulled all 2.3 guts out, and put in a 3.0 tranny, all were the same.

Fordman,

Is there really a different A4LD for the 4.0, or are all 90 and newer A4LD's built to the same specs to be compatible with the 4.0? I can't imagine Ford building a seperate A4LD just for the 4.0L and not use it on a 2.9L.

 

[Fordman]

(1) only difference on A4LD's 92 and older as far as parts interchange are between 4.0 trannies and the others, and the 1988 running change between 1 or 2 solenoid vb's.
(2) when ya pull the pan, look where the wires run into the cast in front of the shift lever, you will either find 1 or 2 small slot car motor looking steel round thingies, the solenoids. If theres only one, its the convertor solenoid. If there is two, front is convertor, rear is od.

fordman, u rock! but i have 2 more questions based upon your answers.
1. as to the internals, can u tell me what will interchange to "upgrade" the older a4ld(or, if easier, what wont interchange)
2. if i pull off the pan of my 88, what do i look for to determine if it has the 3-4 shift solenoid or not? when it comes to automatics, im never sure what im lookin at

thx!

 

[Fordman]

Also, there are two main rebuild kits, 85 to 89 (I believe), and late 89 to 95. The differences were a couple seal changes, and some clutchs were made thicker. If you interchange a clutch drum that took thin clutches, and use thick ones, clearences are wrong and it will fail, and visa versa the clearences will be too great, usually starting as a spinup or flare on shift, then failure. I kinda think the big reason rebuilds often fail, are that a newer kit gets used in an older tranny, or visa versa.

Fordman,

Is there really a different A4LD for the 4.0, or are all 90 and newer A4LD's built to the same specs to be compatible with the 4.0? I can't imagine Ford building a seperate A4LD just for the 4.0L and not use it on a 2.9L.

 

[HndMeDnBroncoII]

Hey ford man where ya located wann rebuild an a4ld lol!

 

[Fordman]

Cant even get time to do my own...betwingst firefighten and my payin job.

Hey ford man where ya located wann rebuild an a4ld lol!

 

[Nailzs]

yay my tranny has the 2 shift solenoids! so fordman, just to confirm, i can use a a4ld out of a 91-94 4.0l and with the exception of swapping over the bellhousing, i can rebuild and swap it in with no problems right? just take the old out and put the new in?

 

[Fordman]

Yep. As for bellhousing, the 4.0 and 2.9 are same bolt pattern. 2.3/2.5 are their own, as is 3.0.

yay my tranny has the 2 shift solenoids! so fordman, just to confirm, i can use a a4ld out of a 91-94 4.0l and with the exception of swapping over the bellhousing, i can rebuild and swap it in with no problems right? just take the old out and put the new in?

 

[Fordman]

correction...4.0 has a 4 clutch forward clutch, not the od.

1.The main differences are a 4.0 has a 4 clutch od, and a heavier low one way sprag clutch. Yes, the internals will interchange with minor things to watch for.
2. A 90 - 94 should plug-n-play on 88 to 90, but very early88 and olderhad the single solenoid.
3.No, unless you swap valvebodies
4.89 positively has 2, 87 positively has 1, but on 88 you need to pull the pan to be sure.

Fordman

 

[Nailzs]

yay!!! dont even have to swap the bellhousing!! fordman is my hero!