Need info on newly purchased Ranger

[mhtwin987]

I'm new to the Ranger world so any info will help. I recently bought an '86 Ford Ranger 4x4.
It has a 2.9 L engine of course and from all the info that I've found on here in the tech section, it appears to have a 4R44E trans. The history on it stated that the engine had been swapped. I haven't been able to figure the exact year of the engine yet.
I have a ton of questions but I'll start with these for now.

So my questions are this:
Did the 4R44E trans come in the 86 4x4 or is this possibly a swap? Is it better than the A4LD? What do I need to look out for if it is a 4R44E?

Where do I look on the engine to see exactly what year it is? I'd really love to have one of the later 2.9's with the updated heads.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Stock for '86 is a4ld. I can't help on the other ?'s.

Richard

 

[Snoranger]

The 4r44e is a computer controlled trans. The 2.9l computer wont control it.

 

[Heavyfire14]

I'm new to the Ranger world so any info will help. I recently bought an '86 Ford Ranger 4x4.
It has a 2.9 L engine of course and from all the info that I've found on here in the tech section, it appears to have a 4R44E trans. The history on it stated that the engine had been swapped. I haven't been able to figure the exact year of the engine yet.
I have a ton of questions but I'll start with these for now.

So my questions are this:
Did the 4R44E trans come in the 86 4x4 or is this possibly a swap? Is it better than the A4LD? What do I need to look out for if it is a 4R44E?

Where do I look on the engine to see exactly what year it is? I'd really love to have one of the later 2.9's with the updated heads.

Thanks in advance for any info.

is it automatic? cause thoes are auto trannys. the 4r44e is way better then the a4ld and the 5r55e is the best of the ranger automatics. but anyways...

 

[Snoranger]

Oh yeah. The 4r44e wont bolt up to a 2.9l without swapping a 4r55e bellhousing on. The 4r44e only came behind the 4cyl and the 3.0l. The 4r55e came behind the 4.0l (same bellhousing as the 2.9l) in 95-96.

 

[mhtwin987]

It is automatic. Upon comparing the A4LD and 4R44E as far as pics on the tech library, it definitely looks like the 4R. The complete rear/tail of the trans, is not long like the A4 but blunt with bolt holes like the 4R. I'm not trans expert so that's the best way to describe it. Plus the trans fluid pan is definitely the same one on the 4R pic.

I'm thinking that maybe when the engine was swapped that the trans and whatever needed elec components may have been swapped as well. I've only had the truck a week so I'm still learning a lot about it. What are some more tell tale signs of which trans it is?

The main reason I'm asking about the trans and engine is that the trans seems to be slipping a bit and I plan to fix it. Just trying to find out which one I have so I can either buy another one or rebuild this one. I've worked on many parts of cars, trucks and bikes but never the transmission. I'm going to learn how to fix them. I may have to pull it and post pics on here so you experts can guide me further. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Strieg]

I'd say find the trans tag

 

[mhtwin987]

Thanks for the info.

Which leads to my next question. Where is the id tag on the:
A4LD, 4R44E?

I looked for the better part of 30 minutes yesterday with a flashlight and mirror and didn't find one. It may have been covered by dirt or something.
Thanks in advance for any info

 

[exbass94]

It is automatic. Upon comparing the A4LD and 4R44E as far as pics on the tech library, it definitely looks like the 4R. The complete rear/tail of the trans, is not long like the A4 but blunt with bolt holes like the 4R.

That's because the picture is of a 2wd transmission. If it was a picture of a 4wd A4LD, it would have the "blunt" tail like yours.

Plus the trans fluid pan is definitely the same one on the 4R pic.

A4LDs have the same pan as 4R44E. You have an A4LD.

 

[mhtwin987]

exbass94:
"That's because the picture is of a 2wd transmission. If it was a picture of a 4wd A4LD, it would have the "blunt" tail like yours."
"A4LDs have the same pan as 4R44E. You have an A4LD."

Yes sir, I do believe it's an A4LD. I've been on the internet and in books looking thru all sorts of info and I also found the info you gave me. Thank you everyone for your help.