A4LD swap

[Logan2893]

Going to be swapping the transmission in my 88 2.9 ranger. I'm more mechanically inclined than the average person, but i've never changed a transmission before. I'm fairly confident I can do it armed with the Chilton and the Haynes manual. (I hope) lol

Any tips you pros could give me would be more than welcome.

 

[bahndrvr]

Yeah, take your time, what tranny are you coming from to go to the A4ld?

 

[Logan2893]

goin from a broken A4LD to a workin one =)

 

[kevinsranger]

goin from a broken A4LD to a workin one =)

be sure to have a good 1/2 drive 1/2 6 point socket so you have leverage and dont round the bolts off from trans to engine. ask me how i know lol

if the exhaust is really rusted, loosen the passenger side of the cab mount bolts and jack the side of the cab up so you can get the bellhousing to clear the exhaust.

if the upper bellhousing bolts are too hard to get to from underneath/or from on top of engine, take your carpet out, and remove the plate on the trans tunnel and get them from there "thats how i did mine"

make sure to put the torque converter on the new trans first and fully seated into the bellhousing "three clicks" and make sure it stays there when fighting the trans towards the engine.

if you cant push the trans against the engine without using the bolts to "suck" the trans into the engine, then your converter isnt seated properly and you need to reseat it or damage to the trans pump will be definite

 

[jhammel85]

be sure to have a good 1/2 drive 1/2 6 point socket so you have leverage and dont round the bolts off from trans to engine. ask me how i know lol

if the exhaust is really rusted, loosen the passenger side of the cab mount bolts and jack the side of the cab up so you can get the bellhousing to clear the exhaust.

if the upper bellhousing bolts are too hard to get to from underneath/or from on top of engine, take your carpet out, and remove the plate on the trans tunnel and get them from there "thats how i did mine"

make sure to put the torque converter on the new trans first and fully seated into the bellhousing "three clicks" and make sure it stays there when fighting the trans towards the engine.

if you cant push the trans against the engine without using the bolts to "suck" the trans into the engine, then your converter isnt seated properly and you need to reseat it or damage to the trans pump will be definite

You pretty much hit on everything I was going to say! Except for loosening up the cab bolts I don't want to mess with that Y pipe if my trans ever goes out on me..

I've gotta remember that one.

Only other thing I would add would be to have a buddy, plenty of time and put the truck on jackstands as high as you can. It makes everything so much better.

 

[kevinsranger]

You pretty much hit on everything I was going to say! Except for loosening up the cab bolts I don't want to mess with that Y pipe if my trans ever goes out on me..

I've gotta remember that one.

Only other thing I would add would be to have a buddy, plenty of time and put the truck on jackstands as high as you can. It makes everything so much better.

good point, i did mine by myself, with the truck stock height, i had to jack it up to pull the trans under the frame rails lol.

one more thing to add is the transfercase is suprisingly heavy for the size of it, so if your 4x4 be ready for a heavy surprise one you pull the case off the trans extension housing

 

[kevinsranger]

oh one more really important thing to mention! make sure you mark your driveshafts and yokes on the trans or transfercase too so you can re'align them in their original spot when putting it all back together