So, I have a 1998 ford ranger, with 70k miles on it. The previous owner did pretty much 0 service to take care of TSBs.

It's starting to have some shift flare... so I'm gonna throw in a transgo shift kit before it gets worse. Now, I can find these easily on amazon, but I can't seem to find a plate/bonded gasket for the 4r44e that everyone talks about... should I just use the normal gaskets instead? Get them from the dealership? Anything else I should take care of while I'm in the valve body?

 

Ok, so based on the service bulletins, this is what I ordered for the 4r44e:

Ford OEM Part # 1L5Z-7Z490-EA | FREE SHIPPING* -Sunrise Ford Parts

I believe that has the gaskets bonded to it.

 

I am not sure, but when I ordered the bonded plate I paid about $57. If you install the Transgo kit the bonded plate is not really needed as the kit has a pressure relief valve that should solve the gasket blow out problem. I had to get an extra plastic ball that the kit did not have. The Ford dealer tranny guy just gave me one.

 

Thanks bud, could you elaborate on that plastic ball bit?
What did you ask for, do you know specifically what part he gave you, before I pull my VB apart?

 

The TransGo kit will tell you where the ***** go, and how many, and their size. Apparently my transmission only had three ***** while Transgo was designed to use four. Get the kit and study up on it before you tear your valve body out. Yours may have four. The work is a bit tedious but not hard. The hardest thing is keeping the various length valve body bolts in the right place, and remembering to line the shift linkage up. I do not remember the part number of the bonded plate, but the tranny man at the dealer gave the part guy the part number from the TSB that fixed the gasket blow out problem. If yours is a plain plate leave it with them and use yours and a set of gaskets. I believe the gaskets should be about $20. The gaskets did not come with the TransGo kit I bought.