Rebuild A4LD or Swap?

[Glynn2262]

I have a 95 Ranger Super Cab with 4.0, 225k, 4" lift, 31x10.5, 2 wheel drive. A few year back I swapped the 7.8" rear axle for a 95 explorer 8.8". The transmission was blow by from the pump (more info from older post below), but I have just lived with it and put another 75K on it. But now it is time to do something; so my question is with this setup do I just rebuild the A4LD or is there something better I could swap to? I have a pretty good shop so fab work would not be a problem, this is not my field so I thought I would ask the experts.

"Default 95' Ranger Transmission shutter or hesitation
I have a 1995 Ford Ranger 4.0, 2wd, automatic transmission and at low speed in high gear it will shutter or hesitation from about 1500 rpm up to 2500 rpm. I pull a boat with it and have no trouble pulling the boat; I think it is because the added fuel increases the hydraulic pressure on the solenoids in the transmission. Does this sound right? If so can I just change the solenoid or solenoids? Also, are the solenoids controlled by a sensor or computer module? If not what is it and how do I fix it?

Thanks,"


Thanks again,

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Have you changed the oil and filter recently? Pull the tranny cooler lines off the tranny and run some cleaner through and blow out with air. Remove the plug on the torque converter and drain it also. It should shift into second around 12-13 mph with light throttle pressure if not the modulator may be going bad. Gears 1-3 are mechanically/hydraulic controlled and O/D is controlled by the computer yes throttle pressure will effect the shift points but it is vacuum pressure that is controlling the throttle valve in the transmission (modulator). If there is tranny oil in the vacuum line to the modulator it is bad. Start with the complete oil/filter change and see how it responds?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/a4ld.shtml
some good info here you can upgrade to electronic tranny but it needs the harness and computer also. Maybe someone here has done the upgrade?

 

[Glynn2262]

It doesn't have oil the vacuum line coming from the modulator. I will take your advice and clean out the cooler and lines, good idea thanks. I have changed the tranny oil and filter about every 50K, the last time there was more shavings in the pan. Normally when I wash out the pan there may be a very lite film (very fine like graphite) in the pan but not bad, this time it was more than I have seen and ever on the dipstick and the fluid was barker and discolored. Because the torque converter is basically a septic tank are more to the point also a septic tank; I was wondering if the torque converter could be flushed after I pull the plug? I don't know to much about the veins in the TC.

 

[Glynn2262]

And a bit more info, it is shifting harder these days and as the temp drops to low teens and single digits very slow to go into reverse and may whine for a mile or two.