rebuild a4ld or upgrade?

[jjvblack]

ok so i got this 87 bronco II automatic 4x4, it is in really good condition IMO, i got it in the shop currently putting new heads, headers, cleaning and gasket matching the upper and lower intake, doing a computer swap; but, the tranny on it currently has some issues. ok so when its in neutral in 4x4 high, and i hit the low range button i hear a load clunk when it locks up. also befor i changed the tranny fluid and filter it would shift into gear hard from park to anything on the tree. then when driving it wouldnt shift up if i had the accelerator down, or down unless i rev'ed while braking to get it to bump down a gear. also it shifts real hard into reverse and sometimes it wont even work unless in 4x4 low. like i will put the brake completely to the floor then shift into reverse let it go in then give it some gas and it will just rev and catch rev and catch. not sure what the hell the problem is. i have changed the tranny fluid and filter 3 times now. the levels stay the same so there isnt a vacuum line suckin it into the engine.. not sure if i should get a junk yard one have this rebuilt or upgrade to something else, not sure what it would be though. any help would be grately appreciated. oh yea all three times i changed it there was a enormous amount of shiny metal particles in the tranny fluid. think metal flake tomatoe soup. CHEERS!

 

[jjvblack]

any ideas anyone?

 

[RangerSVT]

Short of getting adapters and upgrading to an AOD, I'd have it rebuilt and have 5R55E internals put in, it will make a stronger more reliable trans...Basically you will have a newer 5R55E trans ( like whats in the 2000 ranger) but without the computer controls the trans requires...
SVT

 

[CountryBoy704]

theres not much you can upgrade to without swapping the motor, you can go manual with the mitsu tranny or the m5od though, you can get an adapter for an aod but thats hella $$$

 

[koda6966]

I asked about rebuilding an A4LD and was told it would be easier, and cheaper, just to bolt on a JY A4LD until it died. Or bolt on a M50D and have it last forever..

 

[4.0B2]

I asked about rebuilding an A4LD and was told it would be easier, and cheaper, just to bolt on a JY A4LD until it died. Or bolt on a M50D and have it last forever..

yep...
but a4ld's are stupid easy to rebuild if you have a good book on them. it was the first auto i ever rebuilt actually.
and don't be scared of the a4ld in my opinion. i've had very good luck with mine! the only upgrade you can do that is worth it IMO is the md05 manual.

 

[koda6966]

I ended up doing neither. I sold the truck and the next owner discovered that the transmission was off kilter and had a bad leak. He replaced the mounts and topped off the fluid and it shifts fine, for now. I'm expecting trouble down the road but oh well! It will give me a reason for a 4.0 swap, since if I did one I would use the 4.0 tranny anyway. If this was confusing, I bought the truck back after he fixed everything and put on new tires.

Anyways jjvblack sorry to thread jack. If I was you I would look into how much your options would cost, how much time they would take (assuming your B2 is your daily driver, you would want low down time) and whether you really want to put that much effort into it.

 

[RangerSVT]

Here is some reading info on the A4LD...
SVT

 

[Bent Bolt]

I built a Frankentranny when I had the 2.9 . Worked very well and wouldn't hesitate to use it behind a 4.0 - just not a supercharged 4.0L .

 

[brinker88]

Personally it only sounds like you need your valve body gaskets replaced. Thats what mine does, and I've researched it for hours and thats what I've come up with