A4LD Servos

[old409]

I'm finally getting around to rebuilding my A4LD. I have all the special tools rounded up and have gone over Glacier and Brains posts several times. However, I can't find any letters or numbers cast on my intermediate and O.D. servos that look anything like the numbers in any of the manuals I have. I have the big A4LD Ford book and both ASTG books. Nothing matches my servos.

My servos have the following,, O.D. servos has cast on it: 7D027, 111/3a on one and the intermediate servos has has 7D027 and 11/3a. Is there some way to convert this casting info into a usable part number? I want to replace both servos.

The tag on the trans has: 00gt MAA 1


09 1 19

 

[old409]

I found the letters on the inside of the servo instead of the outside like the pictures show. More than likely most already know this but I'm not that familiar with A4Ld's. Long, long ago, I rebuilt a Packard Ultra Matic and a few TorqueFlites but they seemed simple compared to the A4LD. Just thought I'd post this incase anyone else has the same problem.

 

[wood1]

Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!

 

[old409]

I think maybe I got myself into a mess. I have two A4LD trannys and both seem to be some kind of abortion compared to what the manuals show should be in them.

One is a 1989 and the other a 1990. Both have the aluminum 3 gear rear planetary. Both are missing spacers at one point or another from a previous rebuild.One has the seal on the bellhousing all battered up. They must have put it in using a jackhammer. It leaked real bad. I have them completely separated so I don't get them mixed up. Both are showing real shoddy workmanship. Can't believe anyone would do halfast work like these are showing.

I was thinking anything after 1987 had the steel rear planets. Both have nothing more than three gear planets. My budget is tight but I'm thinking I'd better go with the 4 gear steel rear planet and 6 gear steel front planet. I can get both new with the required spacers etc. for about $175. That's if they are in stock. Can't check on that until; Mon. I have a new O.D. planet and sprag, torque converter and I did the valve body with a Transgo kit and the Sonnax boost valve. Also picked up the heavier counterweight for the gov. and new spacers, soloenoids, modulator, etc. The bellhousing is being redone so it doesn't give me seal problems.

I'm 65+ now, middleaged, and I want this thing to last at least another 50 years or so until I'm permanetly retired.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Which place are you getting your parts from? Is it a local supplier?

 

[old409]

I got most of my things from Transmission Parts U.S. A., over the internet. The best prices by far that I have been able to find. The local Ford Dealer doesn't seem very interested in selling me any parts, so I won't go back there. There are a couple others in the area, I may try them if I run up against a tough part to find.

Silver State ford Parts on the internet has most of the things I need listed but I won't know for sure if they really have them until tomorrow. If you know of any better places, let me know. Transmission Parts USA had by far the best prices I could find but they didn't have all the hard parts I need. I did find some used hard parts on e bay but I'm a little hesitant to put used parts in my trans. without actually seeing them before buying them.

 

[old409]

Looking for parts.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Is Transmission Parts USA out of stock on them?

 

[old409]

Transmission Parts U.S.A. didn't have the rear planet and some of the other hard parts. But, later today I was told about a local place here in Harrisburg that handled used parts. Gave them a call and had a nice talk with a man that seemed to know a lot about the A4LD.

They salvage transmissions and rebuild the various components. I told him I was looking for a 4 gear rear planet. He told me they had seen very little problems with the 3gear aluminum planet and unless I was doing some towing or other driving that would be out of the ordinary, the aluminum would work well for me. He said to check the clearance on the individual gears and if they were under 0r near .024, my aluminum planet would be ok. I checked and both mine were over .030. He said to be sure and check the gears in all the planets for wear.

Tomorrow I have to take my parts in and he will check them and see exactly what I need. His prices aren't too bad either. Sixty for the 4 gear steel planet and asscoc. parts and $20 for the aluminum. This put a nice finish to what was a screwed up day. I didn't realize how much my eyes and hands had deteriorated in the past 20 years. I'm having some fun, can't see and drop everything I pick up. I'll let you know how I make out tomorrow.

Glacier and Brain have a lot of good info on here and I find myself continually going to it for reference. Thanks guys and thank you too, Brooklyn.

 

[old409]

I started to asemble my trans today and I'm not sure if I have a problem or not.How far down onto the reverse high/ clutch is the shell assy supposed to fit. Mine goes almost the whole way down, there's about a .9 gap between the lugs and shell.

My son and I have gone over the thing about 12 to 15 times and can't find anything out of place on the inside assy. It's put together as per page 110 , ASTG manual, (non 4.0) We have the top hat washer instead of the three part washer assy used in the 4.0. The reverse high drum has the .360 lugs and the shell more than covers the lugs but there is a slight gap between the shell and reverse high /drum.

Any help will be appreciated. We're not familiar with this trans.

Thanks

 

[BrooklynBay]

The halves don't completely snap together. There is supposed to be a small gap. I think there was an older style which snapped together, but that wouldn't be what you have.

 

[old409]

BrooklynBay,

Thank you. We weren't sure about how far down the shell was supposed to go. We checked and re-checked everything we did and couldn't find a screwup any where. We had this thing apart and together so many times that my son dreamed about transmission parts last nite. The shell sits on the high/reverse and is solid but the gap had us going. Again , Thanks

 

[old409]

Moving along here and now hit another snag. I need a selective washer Ford part# 89DT-7D014-MA. It's the .087 thick selective washer. Local Ford dealer said it was no longer available. I'm trying to get one thru a local rebuilder but no luck so far.

Anybody know where I can get one ?

 

[BrooklynBay]

I guess you've already tried Transmission Parts USA. Check WWW.FastPartsNetwork.Com, WWW.BulkPart.Com, WWW.TranstarIndustries.Com, and WWW.Wittrans.Com. Some thrust washers have Torrington bearing upgradeable replacements.

 

[old409]

BrooklynBay,

I ordered the plastic type from WIT. The Sonnax paper I got with the valve upgrade says the plastic was better than the bronze. I remember years ago putting plastic sprockets on my son's BMX bike. I thought they wouldn't last but they outlasted almost every thing on the bike.

Thanks Again.

 

[old409]

I finally got the trans back together and back in the truck. I have no reverse. Everything else seems normal. My son and I were thinking the reverse band could need adjusted but it got dark before we could try that. I had a tough time getting my torque wrench to read ten ft. lbs. and I'm not sure the band is adjusted correctly. Also thinking maybe the valve body.

I'm going to put one more day into this thing and if that doesn't take care of the problem, I'm going to get a Dodge. I've never had any luck at all with Fords. Every one I ever had was a piece of crap. This truck was in great condition body wise and I thought my luck with Fords had to change. I look under the truck and see how sturdy it is and how well built it is and then I wonder who the idiot was that decided to put such a lousy transmission in what is, otherwise, a really great truck.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The reverse band is not adjustable. Did you replace the rear servo O rings with the TransTec Viton D ring kit?

 

[old409]

It's pretty evident I don't know what I'm doing. I used to rebuild Torque Flites and also some Packard Ultra matics. But that was back a few years ago when I could see and move around. I'm thinking I'm too old and crippled up to keep screwing with this A4LD. It's pure torture working on cars anymore. I work a day and then it takes a week to recover to the point where I can work some more.I didn't like what I saw when I tore it down. Never saw such a cheaply made transmission. Add to that my incompetitence and you have disaster in the making.

I think my best option is to Dodge the problem. Dodge as in Dodge Dakota. That's what I was looking for when I bought this Ranger.

 

[wood1]

That sucks, too bad there isn't anyone around close by to lend an exploder forum hand. You could take it to a trans shop to diagnose, providing they have a clue that is.

My father owned a Dakota for a while, the 6cyl engine was pathetic. I would consider one, but only if it was a 318. Screw gas mileage. Either way, best of luck.

 

[old409]

A 318 Dakota what I was looking for when I saw the Ranger. The Ranger caught my eye because it was in such good shape. Just a little rust around the rear wheel wells. It's a hy rider, just has a nice look to it. Other than the rust on the wells, the truck appeared almost new. No rust underneath at all, still had the original paint underneath. I took it for a test ride and liked it so I bought it. I had no clue about what a piece of crapp the A4LD was.

I had it about a month and out went the trans. I bought a used one and it lasted about 11 months. I don't beat my vehicles, no fast starts, never got it stuck and never towed anything. I only put about 3,500 mi. on it since I've had it. Without a doubt, this is the worst truck I ever owned.

It replaced a plain jane 1987 Nissan that I bought new,it had 267,000 mi on it and never had any trans or motor work done to it. Just tires and exhaust. It was rusted up and I wanted something a little bigger with some creature comforts. I sold it for $400 and it's still running everyday hauling plasterboard. It's closing in on 300,000 and here I am with a nice looking but worthless Ranger. I can't understand Ford building such a solid truck and putting such a lousy trans it it. It looks like all their bad deeds are catching up with them now, they're just about belly up, same as my truck.