A4LD swap advise

[noahkenny]

Hi guys, looking for a little advise on swapping a M50D-R1 out for a A4LD. Just an idea now but born out of necessity. I just had my left knee replaced about six weeks ago and it just doesnt like the clutch at all. Ive been told by my doctor that it wont get any better than what it is. After looking in the tech library I see tha th A4LD has been through several changes. My question is which A4LD year model would be the best for my swap. My ranger is a 1989 2.3L XLT standard cab long wheel base. I dont pull anything and I just use the truck as general transportation. I done a search on a A4LD swap but it didnt tell me what I really wanted to know. I did read a couple of post that said the A4LD was the worst auto tranny in history. That worries me somewhat. I would be getting one from the salvage yard but I will be completly over hauling it. I am a professional technician so I have the skills and tools to rebuild and modify anything if need be. At least I was, I may be relegated to be a desk jockey now once I go back to work. I really like my ranger. Have spent quiet bit of money on it in the last year freshing up the engine and completly re doing the interior. Havent got around to the body work. May not, afraid it will take away from its character. But Im having a hard enough time just getting into my truck much less shifting it. Any insight on a model year, modification or just any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated. This may be more headache than I want to go though with but I would like to know before I bought a transmission.

 

[CJREX]

All years of the A4LD are pretty much junk.

The later ones are less junky but still junk.

If you don't actually NEED the O/D, I would look into the C4/C5 trans which is as good as you can get in a Ranger.

Not sure about mating it to the 4 cylinder though as I believe the 4 cyl came with the C3.

 

[97fordrunner]

Are you running a lifted or stock truck? A A4LD that is fresh and new torque converter should hold up just fine behind a 4cyl. They have a terrible reputation but regular maintenance goes along way

 

[noahkenny]

Yea, Its a daily driver, never been touched. No lift kit or any mods what so ever. Say a C3 will work?? Will have to research on it. I have seen many posts saying the A4LD were garbage. This isnt a project I really want to do but I may have to in order to keep my truck which I do prefer to do. Tired of a manual transmission anyway honestly. My work truck is or was, wont go back to field service, a 6 speed allison so shifting really does get old. Where is the auto shifter at in a ranger? Column or floor?? Honestly the ones Ived owed were all manuals and I have never even looked in a auto ranger..

 

[Twister]

I think starting in 89 all the autos went to column shifter.

 

[adsm08]

The A4LD is not in and of itself a terrible trans. It is, like so many other things in our profession, a victim of the engineers being what I can only describe as "poo-flinging, leg-humping, a$$-for-hat-wearing, morons".

If you build it to 4.0 specs, put in a valve body from your year, and make darn sure that the front pump seal is in right it should be ok. If you slap a big fluid cooler in there on top of the rest of that, you should be golden.

 

[exbass94]

I happen to like the A4LD, so to all you haters. I have 162k trouble-free miles on mine. Just make sure you keep it cool, CHANGE THE FLUID REGULARLY, and it will last a long time.

 

[noahkenny]

Being a heavy equipment tech I am guilty of over kill. I build everything as HD as possible and do every possible update there is. Ive built many auto transmissions over the years for myself and others and never had one to fail. From just what little reseach I have done I see where there are several aftermarket updates that can be applied to make the A4LD better. And as with ALL auto trannies good fluid and really good cooling goes along way. Think I read somewhere that 90% of auto tranny failures were due to heat. Dont know if that is exactly the right number but probably close. AND changing the fluid at recommended intervals also goes along way. Next time I go to pull a part I will see if they have one. Im in no hurry though.