Swapping A4LD from 4.0 93 AWD to 3.0 89 RWD - things to look out for?

[Zen Punk]

The transmission in my 3.0 RWD 89 is giving out - no reverse, shifts late, drives forward in neutral. The van's not worth enough to get a pro tranny job, so I'm going to have a friend swap out a tranny for me. I've come across a 93 for cheap, so I may buy it for it's transmission. It's a 4.0 with AWD, will this present any problems when I go to swap the transmission?

[xlt4wd90]

Zen,

The AWD transmission has a different tail shaft and housing that the transfer case bolts to. The drive shaft may be different lengths as well.

You might consider going with the 93 AWD, as it's got much more going for it. Move as much usable parts from your 89 to the 93 as you can.

[96_4wdr]

can transfer the rear housing and tail shaft off the 89 to the 93 tranny.
but I believe there are differences in the way the torque converter lockup is implemented in early vs later A4's...from memory only...may be tranny wiring harness issues and ECU issues

info on these are getting long in the tooth, I don't have Service info or tranny manuals on early A4's

the 93 A4 4L tranny is a much more rugged stronger tranny with lots of improvements to bushings, bearings, valve body, clutch packs drums and bands

[copper_90680]

Hi Zen:

Welcome to our FTE forum

[JTHill24]

Plus the 89 is a floor shift and the 93 is a Coluum shift.
If you look on the trans where the shift cable hooks up it will be differant. The Shift arm hangs down on one and sticks up on the other.
I think one pulls to change gears and the other one pushes.

JaY

[sicdefused]

(((i am no expert on this))) but i belive i would pull and (((-LABEL-))) all the wiring harnesses sencers and computer at the same time along with the 4.0 leaving as much of the wireing intact as possable..... then i belive the transaction will go vary smooth........ JMO
GOOD LUCK and keep us updated