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I want to use a 4 speed automatic transmission in a Jeep that I am building. Being a Ford Man I want to use a 302 that I had built up for a mustang I sold last year. I figure I can find a transmission from an Explorer that will mate with my 302(susposedly same patern as a 3.8 6 cylinder?) and the Borg Warner 1730 transfercase that came with Explorers should be fine for what I want. However I dont know jack about transmissions!! What year Explorer should I look for and am I right about the engine bolt patern? Will the trans need a computer to operate? ( I would realy like to stay away from the computers!) Thanks
Firedog, you need to check out Baumann engineerings website, www.baumannengineering.com. They have very good articles on what will fit, where and what to do to make it better. Once you choose the aod that you want, call your local vo-tech and see if they offer classes on transmission rebuilding. If they offer a class take it, it will be the best money you can spend. A rebuilt Aod can cost around $1600. The parts to rebuild an Aod will cost around $400, quite a difference. Good luck.
You are correct that the 3.8L and the 302 use the same bolt pattern.
You'll look high and low to find a 3.8L Explorer. Maybe someone installed a 3.8L somewhere, but Ford never did. Ford did build 302 Explorers from 1996-2001, though. The earliest ones were all 4x2, later ones could be either 4x2 or 4x4.
And yes, those transmissions will require a computer to operate.