new a4ld in old truck?

[1stgenxlt]

Ok so I have a 1987 ranger 4x4 with a 2.9 and a4ld. My tranny(250k+ on it) has had the front seal replaced twice in the past year and now leaks like crazy again to the point that it is not driveable. Anyway since i lack the money and or knowledge for a rebuild, im just looking for a lowere mileage replacemnt. I've read the a4ld changes after 87 to electric shift, correct? So is it possible to make the newer version tranny (88-94 from a 4.0)work with my older truck? What would be needed if possible?

 

[Butch2112]

seal leaks

From what I have been reading here and found out on my own, A front seal leak is a major problem with a4ld's Some say the seal is machined in others say not. When I had my a4ld problems I tried to have it rebuilt by a local shop ( waste of time and money) . Any way the lesson I learned was take a4ld to the dealer for a warrenty thats worth something Or by an after market tranny like the raptor transmission. After you try and save money a few times like me you could have bought the high performance transmission any way. The only positive, is I got real good at removing and installing a transmission. Good luck

 

[1stgenxlt]

Would I just need the wiring harness and ecu for the new tranmission, or could i just splice the tc lockup wires together since the plugs probobly won't match and then run the overdrive solenoid wires to a toggle switch inside the cab?

 

[Bent Bolt]

You could swap valve bodys from a 85-87 to a newer style 88-94 trans. That way you don't have to wire in any switches and what not.

 

[1stgenxlt]

Would that be fairly easy to do without much inside trans experience? But then if I were to happen to find one with the upgraded valvebodies it would be a waste though. Iv'e been having a very difficult time trying to find any kind of a4ld in salvage yards around here so I doubt I would be lucky enough to finde one of those though. But does my switch idea sound like it would work?

 

[1stgenxlt]

So does nobody else have any knowledge on this. Or am I really the first person who has ever had this problem?? Because I would find that very hard to believe.