This is a complicated read, but basically it rebuilds the A4LD to a 5r55s\e.

Any one else heard of doing it, or think it is a good idea?

Project Frankentranny – AKA A4LD / 4R55E / 5R55E Hybrid Project - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations

I'll post this in other sections, but thought a few of you might be interested. (Um Duane pls read very very carefully.... )

 

Phew, that took a bit but here is what I think......

I am not an expert on the C-3, a4ld, 4r55e series so take this for what it's worth.

Alot of the info he has is dead on but some of his theories are not exactly accurate. For instance, He didn't like the idea of a staped steel drum, there is a reason for using a stamped steel unit rather than a heavier cast unit. For one, the stamped unit WILL take MORE abuse than a cast unit since it will "give" under moderate strees. It was for this reason Allison went with the stamped steel packs in the MD and HD series (desigend for 25k--40k GVW trucks). Also 99% of the abuse he notes in his pictured are not from stress on the tranny parts they are the result of driveline vibration (i.e. bad u-joint) being transfered thru the tranny and "rattling" everything inside.

I think his idea for the front support and charging pump looks like a great idea IF it all works, I would really like to see the worm track on both front supports side by side to tell for sure and you will want to be DARN sure!! there are only 2 things keeping your tranny alive, lubrication and cooling, both are manipulated in the front support (along with lockup also I belive but I'm not sure)

He shows alot of bushings and thrusts bieng replaced with roller bearings but I didn't see anything about oil supply to the rollers. A roller bearing in place of a thrust or bushing can be a bad thing if the openings in the bearing allow more fluid into the bearing, I know this sounds like a good thing but it will be starving other bearings and what not because it is taking up all the volume of fluid before it can make it the rest of the way down the line.

Just some thoughs on the subject. It sounds like a doable project but I would really research it for yourself and look at the parts side by side to be sure they will work like they are supposed to !!

So when do we start??

 

Let's see.. when... First Co, then Ohio, then Baby's room, then rock the yard, Then the '63, then baby... then baby college graduation... then we can start.

 

I hear you Flip, then after graduation you have a couple of years to get all that stuff done and then they get married and have grandkids so you are out of money and time again. LOL

 

Well I'm still up for rocking the yard and if'n ya need any help with the baby's room I can help but I will warn you, I AM NOT A CARPENTER by any streatch of the imagination.

 

chad, i have read that whole post, and another one on the 4r55e. That is where I got the ideas for my tranny gasket replacement on my old ranger.

Matt

 

Well it looks my worries were founded... Elvis's tranny was puking fluid at the middle of a trail that we went up last night... kinda scary, had to come down in the dark then wait for 3 hours for Clint to return with the trailer... 28 deer, 14 elk, and 1 porcupine shareing the raod with us on the way home. (the 1,000 foot drops on the trail in the dark made the puker factor high.

 

Do you have an auxilary cooler, or just the stock stuff? An ad on cooler might help. Also, if you are crawling, an elect. fan on the cooler might help too.

 

after market cooler... big electric fan on the radiator (oil cooler is also in radiator) It never got hot, watched the tranny guage...

 

If it was puking and not getting hot it might have gotten areated, was the truck on a steep incline when it did it???

 

cmon..... off roading.... put 1 and 2 together? lol

sorry, i couldnt resist

 

last time I checked, rock gardens were fairly flat

 

ouch, im striking out tonight........ ill go cry in my corner...........

 

Yep pretty steep, bumpy and I was moving pretty fast getting up a moutainside.