Doesn't look like anybody had any thoughts on a good tranny swap / upgrade. So what all would everybody recomend to replace if they got a used tranny from a scrap yard. Any other tips or tricks on a used tranny??
Probably going to be doing mine next weekend and am going to start off by changing out with the obvious new filter kit, and modulator, vacuum lines. If a rebuilt torque convertor isn't to much money I may go with one of those...any thoughts on going any deeper??
Also, is there any real advantage to going to a synthetic tranny fluid?? Is Amsoil about the best for not to much $$ or does anybody have any other recomondations?? Or is Valvoline Max life type f more than likely good enough??

Thanx a ton...
Dan

 

First question, Why do you think you need to replace the Tranny?

Boneyard trannys are an iffy situation at best, especially for a tranny that had not been made for over 11 years. If you do a search in the Explorer forum, there is a long thread about the re-build of the A4LD with pics. Also it would help if you picked up a paper Factory manual, or download your years manual at www.fordcds.com

I would go with Amisol or any of the high grade synthetic tranny fluids. And I believe that it take Mecron not Type F.

I believe Copper (I think ) re-built his tranny also, so maybe he will chirp in with some help.

 

I just picked up this Aerostar back in March and she's got about 190 000 miles give or take on her. I've got all the previous service records as well. Unless the previous owner had service done elsewhere or missed some records she's never had anything on the tranny ever touched. I figured out of good preventative maintenance I'd change the fluid, this is back in November. When I went to change it, it was beyond burnt out and stinky. The entire pan had at least an 1/8 of an inch full of a very very very heavy grey sludge. After changing fluid...granted I used type F it ran fine for a few weeks. Checked the level several times and it seemed fine. Then a couple days after going to the beach and getting stuck in some sand the missus was driving and I guess it wouldn't go over 40mph and it started making some bad noises. I went and picked it up with a buddy and limped it home at about 35mph in OD. Changed the fluid again, but used some mercon at a buddies suggestion...no change. Pulled the line off the tranny cooler, started the van, and had a buddy add 4qt's to the system and ran it till i got 4 qts out, and triple checked the level. No change. Picked up some additive....which I really hate doing, but in a last ditch effort what the heck...I do beleive it was wynns or gunk...ran the van and discovered that you could manully change it from first to second and then to drive and it kind of ran. You can get her up to 50mph...and that's it....no further...and if you put it in OD that's it...no go. Anywho...the missus has been limping it around town for the last couple of months and now has had enough. I can't afford to get a full rebuild, but I can get a used Tranny from a wrecker for $250 cdn, and from there I'm going to see what I can do to make it go. Then I may take the old tranny and use it as a learning device and pull it apart and see about maybe rebuilding it myself bit by bit.

Thanx,
Dan

 

TheDarkShadow:

Back in 01-02 I rebuilt two A4LDs for less than $300.00 each (Might be a little more now) & they have been running great.

The place for parts is www.bulkpart.com

Then I went down to NAPA and got a A4LD techtran manual.
From ATSG (automatic transmission service group)

These are the parts I bought for mine. I rebuilt 2 of them.
The only difference in the 2 - same year 89 was that one had a different size Servo Piston then the other.

1= 23017B Banner Kit 85-89
2= 23997 Flex Bands Intermediate & Overdrive
1= 23853 O/D Planetary
1= 23880 Overdrive Sprag 85-91
1= ***** Intermediate Servo Piston
1= ***** Overdrive Servo Piston
1= 23901 Modulator no stripe
1= 23922A Filter 2WD 89-up

I got these with $7.50 shipping for a total of $214.88

1= ATSG FORD A4LD Techtran Manual Picked up from NAPA.

Jay

 

Forget the ATSG manual. Download a CD from www.fordcds.com. That CD has a lot more details and is much better than the ATSG manual.

As for rebuilding the A4LD, I'm with Jay. It sounds scarier than it actually is. I did 3 of them, and it's pretty easy. Costs me about $200 each including new bands, clutches, seals, bushings, thrust washers, etc...

In the time it takes for you to hubt for a used tranny, you could have the old one rebuilt. A couple of days is all it takes. 190K with that kind of abuse would most likely have burned out your clutches. So, a rebuild is the only way to go now.

Good luck

 

Thanx a lot folks!!! Really appreciate the input. I'm still more than likely going to buy the used Transmission seeing as the scrap yard will take my old Buick Park Ave and only charge me $50 for the Tranny. But I'm deffinately going to keep the old tranny and rebuild it bit by bit as I can afford the parts. Funny of the day is the modulator is not available from Napa here in Canada...nor is it available at Bob Jones. For kicks I called the Dealer...and aparently it's an obsolete item. *giggles* But he does have a transmision repair place that he trusts that they usually get these trannys rebuilt for 1800. Unbeleivable!
Now if only I could fit an A4LD from a 4L instead and make it work....*ponders*...maybe lots and lots of super glue and a few 2x4's...*lmao*

Dan

 

welcome shadow,
the "dark grey sludge" coating the bottom of your tranny pan is the remains of the friction discs, steels and band friction facings eating themselves up due to the original failed and then the improper ATF...the torque converter is ate up from the same grit along with the rest of the moving parts...valve body also plugged up.....never use type F in a later Ford tranny, Mercon only which has friction modifiers required by A4LD's....latest Fords require Mercon V semi syn with additional friction modifiers

actually, you can rebuild an A4LD 3L to the latest 4L quality level with the upgrade clutch packs with additional discs and steels, use Alto "Red Eagle" friction discs with 6 discs and bands with their "Koleen" steels for the clutch packs, replace thrust bushing with roller Torrington bearings along with other upgrades and have a Monster Van tranny.... "The Raptor"
http://www.transmissioncenter.org/a4ld.htm

 

Thanx again to everybody for their input and suggestions. For the time being I'm just goint to put the used tranny in, but keep the old tranny to slowly rebuild it over time. I just ordered a modulator on principle for the new used tranny from bulkparts. I just noticed that there is a special tool for putting the Torque Convertor. If it accidently comes off or if I find a cost effective rebuilt unit will I need this tool or is there a trick to get around using it??

Thanx,
Dan

 

I never heard of any special tools to put in the Torque Converter. You just put it on, rotate it slowly while pushing until it slides all the way in. Then you put a vise grip on each side of the bell housing to prevent it from slipping out during installation, but that's not even necessary if you are careful not to let it slip out.

 

Awesome....sorry for the silly questions....transmissions are a really black art to me...*giggles*
Sure I look forward to dabbling a little...but I really dont' want to dive too deep and get swallowed by the beast that is the a4ld. The tool is listed here http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/me...roduct_Count=4
It must just be my ignorance on where and what this thing is for...but not surprising that there's a way around using it.

Dan

 

alignment tool to set up front pump alignment to shaft-critical

torque converter is not involved and sets further ahead in tranny, TC output drives front of shaft

 

the tranny shope I use for parts and work I cannot do myself told me that the TC is usually ok if it does not have a ridge of metal built up on the surface were the front oil seal run's on and I have used two TC's from failed trannys in rebuilt one's and have not had any problems with them. I guess you would pay at least $200 or $300 for a new TC.

 

D'oh!! That's all I have to say....

Tried installing the tranny yesterday...got the old tranny out without any issues at all...got the new used tranny all prepped up. Went to install the tranny and for some reason coudn't get it forward enough to get it in. Pulled it down and tried again with more nose up only to get the same result. My buddy comes up with the brainwaive idea of getting longer bolts so we can pulll the thing together. This worked...we got it together, but now you can't crank the engine pully with out a LOT of force. One thing I just noticed is after putting the tranny close to in place, I put the nuts on for the torque convertor to ring gear and snugged them up to stop it from coming off. I just realized in the ford cd instructions it says to do this last...d'oh! First question is one...will this damage the crankshaft. And two how bad a situation might this potentially be?? I'm going back tonight to the shop and removing the tranny and hoping for the best. Any suggestions on what to check for damage would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx in advance!
Oh...
Found out what was wrong with the old tranny...when I pulled the pan off I found 2 bolts that were really REALLY chewed up...lots of metal shavings...and even what might of been some spacers. My guess is this tranny is more than likely not rebuildable...unless there's some amazing way to really clean up the torque converter....that fluid was beyond black and stinky!

 

My experience with transmissions is that they mate up easily and smoothly, sometimes a little bumpy until splines line up but force is definitely not part of the game.

I think you may not have had the tc fully seated into the transmission pump.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Ken

 

Dan:

By forcing the thing in with bolts, you may have forced the crankshaft counterweights against the main bearing side surface, and that's why it's hard to turn the engine by hand. I don't think it really hurts anything except your flywheel (possibly) and your new transmission (torque converter, pump gears, input shaft, thrust washers, etc....).

I second Ken's statement. "Be afraid. Be very afraid."

By the way Ken, that's the same line my brothers and I have been using with each other for a very long time. I believe it came from an old movie, but I can't seem to remember the title. Can you help?