will an 89 BII a4ld swap into an 85 BII that has an automatic overdrive(a4ld?) transmission?

 

89 shift pattern P-R-N-OD-D-2-1 ? YES it will then. Only difference will be if it's a colum shift..the gear on the trans side wont connect to your floor shift linkage and you'll need a aftermarket floor shift.

I had purchased a rebuilt tranny and the shifter linkage was for a column shift so i just got an aftermarket B&M for it.

 

thanks, the 85 has a floor shift while the 89 has a column shift

 

You'll also have to figure out the 3-4 shift. On an '89 A4LD, the 3-4 shift is electronically controlled, on an '85 A4LD, the 3-4 shift is vacuum controlled. I think the valve bodies are interchangeable, but I'm not certain of that. Assuming they are, then it shouldn't be a big deal.