Ford Ranger Transmission

Do the 1985-1994 Rangers all use the same transmission A4LD? Can you swap between the 2.3, 3.0, and the 4.0 engines?


http://www.transdepot.net/A4LD-Ford-Transmission-Factory-Replacement-Stock_p_287.html

(quoted from post at 05:56:15 08/29/14) Do the 1985-1994 Rangers all use the same transmission A4LD? Can you swap between the 2.3, 3.0, and the 4.0 engines?

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Yes all 85-94 Rangers (2.3 and 3.0) and 95-96 Explorer 4.0 use the A4LD. I think newer 2000 maybe Ranger 2.5L will also work with an A4LD.

Check out the site..http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/AutoTrans.html

Rangers from 85 up to 94 did indeed use the A4LD - but after 94 there are some radical changes. The 95 and 96 used an electronic version renamed the 4R44e. This eliminated the vacuum modulator and replaced it with electronic controls. 97 and newer used the 5R55e - which is essentially the same MECHANICALLY, but is now a 5-speed unit. Many internal changes. Thrust washers are replaced with Torrington needle bearings. Direct clutch feed is reworked for better performance. O/D unit in front of case has been reworked. Clutch linings are of different composition, and are now directional.
Overall, essentially the same basic shell, but evolved and updated.
You can interchange the A4LD units between the different engines, but there ARE internal differences. The 2.3 unit has less clutch plates in the forward and direct clutch packs. The bellhousing bolt patterns are different, but the bellhousings are interchangeable.
Using an older A4LD with a newer vehicle will result in some compatibility problems. To make it work would require addition of a vacuum line for the modulator and linkage for the kickdown. Then, the computer would throw fits as it was expecting to control the transmission and shift points, but there are no sensors for same.
Overall, best to stick with matching the proper unit to the engine and vehicle. Trying to substitute can lead to opening a very large can of worms. Best to check with an expert as to what will work well and what won't.

85-94 will essentially run the same transmission.

It is an A4LD. The problem you are gonna have is crossover between bellhousing configurations for the different motors. Also, the earlier A4LDs had only one solenoid, a lockup solenoid. By the late 80's Ford added a second solenoid to control OD as well.

I would stick with one in the same year range and motor.

Stretching my memory back to when these were common in my shop, I had stacks of bellhousing/pumps for them. Seems I always needed the one I didnt have...

If I found a 94 hooked up to a 4L V6 could I just swap the bell housing to hook it up to a 3.0 V6?

The problem is these are getting so old that junk yards are crushing them as soon as they get them in.

The bellhousing is the outer pump half, so you would have to swap the whole pump as an assembly. I think it would work, but dont want to say for sure. My memory aint that great. I guess it would depend on what year you are putting it in.