A4LD Installation Difficulty?

[MirrorrorriM]

Hey guys, long story short, my girlfriend's 1991 Explorer 4wd has a few problems. Shes got the dreaded shift flare from 2nd-3rd, and also, won't shift into 4th gear because the mechanic at Ford "had to take it out" to fix her no start problem.

So, shes getting crap mileage because she does decent highway cruising to get to work and is maxing at around 3500rpm on the highway, so we were toying around with the idea of a tranny swap this summer. Now, I am no noob to cars, I have replaced my buddies Chevelle's transmission, swapped in a 4spd and also installed a shift kit into my 1990 Camaro IROC. What I want to know is, what is the level of difficulty of replacing this transmission, with the transfer case and all...never worked on one of this type before. I am looking to have the old one out and new one in over the weekend.

Cheers
_Clark

 

[BrooklynBay]

If you have a socket set, extensions, universals, ramps, box wrenches, pry bar, and a floor jack it shouldn't take more than a few hours to pull out.

 

[MirrorrorriM]

Sweet, that's what I wanted to hear. Anything else unexpected I should know about? Something that is a PITA to deal with or is it all pretty straightforward?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The only real concern is that the torque converter should be fully dropped into the bellhousing. Make sure that it's fully seated before installation. Use flare box wrenches on the hydraulic fittings, and flush out the cooler lines with cooler cleaner spray.

 

[93explorer4life]

i have removed 3 a4lds and i hate em, but tahts cause i did it to much lol, they are easy if u have the right stuff, so if u are paning on removing it out side in hte dirt/gravel, and no floor jack and jsut a dad to help u, it sucks, but with the floor jack, and all the right stuff, im sure it will be simple.
it took me about 5-7 hours with nothing but some tools and my dad to help, so im sure it will be a cake walk fer ya! jest remember exhaust has to come out, the best way to ge to the top tranny bell housing bolts is with a rediculously long extention and a ratchet, all bolts should be 13 mill, or 1/2 inch, but 13 fist the best! jsut drop the cross members for the tranny and skid plate for the t-case, pull drive shafts off, and let it hang take extention slid it on the two top bolts and all the others that u can reach with extention and bam, then all wires, coolant lines and it should come out with gental perswation!
man i do this to much! and it is easier to take the t-case off, so much easier to manuver that way! goodluck

 

[MirrorrorriM]

Thanks guys, you're a big help!

 

[Glacier991]

LONG extensions for the socket are the key... that and the PITA of the exhaust... some PB blaster on the exhaust bolts and bellhousing bolts the night before is a good idea

 

[colindo94]

If you can use a tranny jack to get it out. and put the new one in. Its one heavy unit with the tranny and transfercase all connected. Also the exhaust is ket to take out. Don't even waist the time of trying to get it out over the y pipe, near to impossible. Other then that it's no big deal.