electronic shift upgrade for old aero
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electronic shift upgrade for old aero
is it possible to install a newer a4ld transmission equipt with electronic shift into a older 1980s aerostar?? can i swap the computer and other components along with the new doner transmission?? is it possible to upgrade a old van to accept the newer electronic shift a4ld transmissons.
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Originally Posted by ken1mod
no, the computer changes would not be reasonable.
are you saying (((it can`t be done)))?? or are you saying it is (((not worth the effort)))??
*it seems to me* ..this is only my opinion.. if it is at all posible to make use of the newer, better, updated lower milage transmisions it is well worth the labor invalved to replace a wiring harness and puter.. ( but only if it can be done ) ... i have replaced wiring harneses do to fire damage it was vary easy... just plug/play and drive away.... lol . please be more specific ... .... did ford change the electronic controll wire harneses so radicaly that it is totaly incompatble with the older aero vans? .. .. it also seems to me that if you have pulled the engine and transmission on the van you want to upgrade with new running gear it should be vary easy at this time swap in the new harness as well .. .. ... but if it can`t be done.. i guess it can not be done : ( . .. .
Post Fiend
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Look, replacing computer cause next problem - to replace many sensors. For example - old aero has MAP, later aeros - MAF, many later trucks have coil pacs (EDIS), old aero has distributor. So to use 5R55E tranny is possible but a lot of problem.... Unfortunatly ford use all in one ECUs. There is no Gear Selection Module like in Mercedes.... they have many modules: 1 centarl (Grund Module), Driver's module (FR), Engine control (MR), Brake System, Tranny module.... I can easily swap components reprogramming ECUs.... But Ford is not Mercedes, so I dont really know how to solve this problem.... May be to design and make new Tranny control unit.... But how much $$$$ to invest?????
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Pablo eluded to some of the things you need to do in order to use the new transmissions. Basically, the transmission is controlled by the engine computer. So if you want to use it in your older van, you will need to get at least the harness and computer, along with all the new sensors. It's not clear whether all the new sensors will install onto the old engine. To be complete, you may want to just pull the entire power train from the new van and drop into your old van.
Post Fiend
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Well. About sensors. MAF, Cam pos. sensor and VSS inside the diff are necessary. You need ignition module. 5-10 days job..... But wiering is different, can you solder like a pro? If yes - this deal is for you!
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Former ******
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To be quite honest, the electronic shift A4LD designs have only modest advantages. A real upgrade would be the 5 speed from the '97 Aerostar. If you want to improve the reliability and towing power, I would recommend swapping to a 700R4 tranny, which can be made to be a much stronger tranny. And while in the end, electronic controlled shifts are better, the mechanical and hydraulic shifting can work just as well so long as the fluid is serviced at regular intervals.
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Post Fiend
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http://www.transmissioncenter.org/a4ld.htm
near bottom of page
done often in rock crawler mudder racer Rangers
near bottom of page
done often in rock crawler mudder racer Rangers
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well i guess the electronic trans wiring swap is out of the question. 
. . . all this talk about ECUs TIFs MAPs and Sensors has got my head spinning lol .. .. .. . after reading your posts i have realized that i was about to make a Big Big Mistake !! .. . . i have my nice shinny new fresh 1991 3.0 on the engine stand ready to install.... but it has the newer coil packs i thought i could just plug the coil packs into the old distributer harness... i guess i will have to go back to the old distributer .. .. i would like to know what year ford started using the electronic shift ..... i have had my eyes on a 1991 aerostar with a good trans and lots of other usefull parts for only 75 bucks for my 1986 swap. .. will a 1991 transmission work in my 1986 ??? . .. . . .. .. .. . .. ... . .. .. .. .
please don`t tell me my TGIF will interfear with the LAMO and short out the LOL ... hahaha.... .. this is getting rather Depressing.. .. .. lol
. . . all this talk about ECUs TIFs MAPs and Sensors has got my head spinning lol .. .. .. . after reading your posts i have realized that i was about to make a Big Big Mistake !! .. . . i have my nice shinny new fresh 1991 3.0 on the engine stand ready to install.... but it has the newer coil packs i thought i could just plug the coil packs into the old distributer harness... i guess i will have to go back to the old distributer .. .. i would like to know what year ford started using the electronic shift ..... i have had my eyes on a 1991 aerostar with a good trans and lots of other usefull parts for only 75 bucks for my 1986 swap. .. will a 1991 transmission work in my 1986 ??? . .. . . .. .. .. . .. ... . .. .. .. . please don`t tell me my TGIF will interfear with the LAMO and short out the LOL ... hahaha.... .. this is getting rather Depressing.. .. .. lol
Former ******
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I am a fan of whatever works wherever it comes from. Putting GM parts in a Ford is something I would normally avoid, but the 700R4 is one tough tranny. I wish someone made an adapter for the E4OD, that would be one tough tranny for an Aerostar. We have an E-350 with 290,000 miles on an original E4OD.
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______________________________________
I am a fan of whatever works wherever it comes from. Putting GM parts in a Ford is something I would normally avoid, but the 700R4 is one tough tranny. I wish someone made an adapter for the E4OD, that would be one tough tranny for an Aerostar. We have an E-350 with 290,000 miles on an original E4OD.
______________________________________
There are GM, Mercedes, Volga, Lada, BMW, VW, Volvo Truck parts in my old aero. Runs well. TO be hornest, read carefully for every part U wanna use specification and they will run well.
I have charts of sensors parameters for neally all the cars and trucks and belive me, the manufacters use the same elements insid their sensors and actuator. Threads, bodies and other design features differ.
I am a fan of whatever works wherever it comes from. Putting GM parts in a Ford is something I would normally avoid, but the 700R4 is one tough tranny. I wish someone made an adapter for the E4OD, that would be one tough tranny for an Aerostar. We have an E-350 with 290,000 miles on an original E4OD.
______________________________________
There are GM, Mercedes, Volga, Lada, BMW, VW, Volvo Truck parts in my old aero. Runs well. TO be hornest, read carefully for every part U wanna use specification and they will run well.
I have charts of sensors parameters for neally all the cars and trucks and belive me, the manufacters use the same elements insid their sensors and actuator. Threads, bodies and other design features differ.
Former ******
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Just in case you haven't noticed, I used to be known as KhanTyranitar, but my username has changed since I just became a sponser.
Oh, and remember those flex pipes that break on our precious Aerostars, I have universal ones you can weld in, and If you guys want, I could stock the bolt in units. Just let me know.
Oh, and remember those flex pipes that break on our precious Aerostars, I have universal ones you can weld in, and If you guys want, I could stock the bolt in units. Just let me know.
Last edited by Bear River; May 24, 2007 at 08:16 AM.
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I agree with Bear. There is nothing wrong with the hydraulic shifted a4ld. You need to go electronic when you have 5, 6 or seven gears because the hydraulics are not up to the task of picking and holding the right gear but 4 speeds work fine with hydraulics.
Just for the record, that which we call the valve body is a hydraulic computer taking data from speed sensor (governor), engine load (vac mod) and throttle position to decide the correct gear in an analog manner. to a point, these work very well. Use your hydraulic a4ld and enjoy. nothing to be gained by going electronic. The manufacturer did it to save lots of money by eliminating much of the valve body.
Ken
Just for the record, that which we call the valve body is a hydraulic computer taking data from speed sensor (governor), engine load (vac mod) and throttle position to decide the correct gear in an analog manner. to a point, these work very well. Use your hydraulic a4ld and enjoy. nothing to be gained by going electronic. The manufacturer did it to save lots of money by eliminating much of the valve body.
Ken