Beefy Tranny?

[TimR211]

Hello,

Well last week's vacation turned out to be the vacation from hell. I was pulling my travel trailer up the side of a mountain in NE Georgia (near Helen) when my tranny started smoking, dropped all its fluid and quit on me. Ouch!

The nearest tranny shop was 60 miles away and the closest ford dealer was 15. Against my normal practices, I took it to the dealer. Well, it either needs a new tranny, or they can rebuild it. It's really up to my aftermarket warranty company.

My question is...is there anything beefier that I can stick in there instead of the A4LD? Is it worth trying? Should I just stick with a new A4LD? Rebuilt?

Thanks,
TimR><>
PS>My explorer is still up NE Georgia (I live in Florida)...it's been a week, and the warranty company is just getting around to looking at it!
'93 Explorer 4x4 XLT - minus a transmission
'93 Ranger Splash

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi Tim, and welcome to the board.
Sorry to hear about your tranny going south on you. Right now I'm in the same boat as you except It went out near Las Vegas. I had it rebuilt, but 3000 miles later, it bit the dust again. It's sitting at the local tranny shop(the only one in town)waiting to be looked at. If you can get a new one, do it. There are no other trannies that I know of that will work for us. There is however a guy in Arizona that builds these trannies for racing and they are supposed to be pretty bullet proof. Do a search for Doug's transmission and you could get his number from here.

 

[retronail]

Trainie Prolbems

Sorry to hear about the trans, were all in the same boat I just smoked the third one. Don`t waste the money to rebuild it, it won`t last. I just heard about Dans trans, I`m looking in to this my self. Good luck

 

[leftover]

Dougs Transmissions in AZ
His shop # is 480-964-3832.

Doug's Performance Transmissions
310 East Southern Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85210

$3000.00 for 9-speed manual A4LD

Just a price I checked. The service manager will talk to you, since Doug is extremely busy.

Hope this helps.

 

[FMNavajo]

Just FYI-
I had a tranny go on me just as TimR211 described it except I'm on the west coast. When I had it towed to the local tranny shop and they pulled it to see what was broken they found that the bell housing seal was not machined in place and it couldn't hold the pressure. When the shop put everything back together and the bushing was machined in place correctly, I haven't had a problem with it since and we go up that drive all the time.

FM

 

[mattadams]

leftover - does that $3000 include all parts and labor necessary? Mine is about to go I think and I was considering going down there for a while. I've got a second car now, but I'd probably just drive the Explorer down there, let him work on it and when its done drive it back to Denver. Have any idea how long it takes Doug to do that?

 

[leftover]

matt
That was me sending them the trans and them returning it, with no major broken pieces, shipping was on me.

The best way is to just call and talk to the service manager since there are all different types of things they do to them. Notice I looked at the full-blown 9-speed manual version, not just a beefed up, sturdy auto.

We all can dream and at the current time there is still no tax on that luxury, although I imagine some politicians:fire: have tried to figure out how to tax it since it is a luxury.

Extreme4x4 knows these even better. She has actually used them and speaks highly of them. I'm still saving my lunch money(a buck two-fifty and counting).

 

[brianb9]

Blown trannies

Hey you all should consider switching to the BW T-5 tranny manual. I installed mine recently and it runs like a champ and shifts way better than my previous one that blew up three times under warranty.

It's available from Advance Adaptors for well under $3000.00. If you all are interested I could talk to the guy that sold me mine and maybe negotiate some kind of discount if you bought a couple of them. They basically bolt in with very little modification short of drilling some new holes for the cross member support. The access panel for the stick is already in your trucks and the boot and panel with stick hole is pretty inexpensive from Ford. If you want more details just email me or post here again tomorrow night.

Brian
Brian

 

[leftover]

brian
Is this the Advance Adapters kit #27-1002?
It states it is for 2.9L V6 to a T-4/5 and the B-W transfer case.
I take it you kept the 4.0L?
Tell me more, please!!
This would be worth it to get rid of that M5OD(looks like it is going to cost me between $1500-2500 just for parts).

 

[brianb9]

T-5 Tranny

Leftover,

That is the right kit as Ford also used the Mazda junk in the Bronco IIs with the 2.9 and the 4.0 so the bellhousing is the same and the bolt pattern.

They also give you a front bearing retainer, special clutch disc (spline count),new bellhousing, a new pilot bearing/ bushing, and the adaptor to go to the transfer case (includes bearing and a special spud shaft to transfer case shaft.

The overall length is identical to our setup so you do not need to do any driveshaft alterations. As I said you will need an adaptor to fit your manual linkage if your transfer case is manual. If it's electric then it is even easier and it all bolts up. I had a machinist engineer friend make the adaptor so if you want the details and measurements I can send them to you or he would probably make another for a fair price.

I can definitely tell you any money spent rebuilding the Mazda will be spent again and again .

Email me for more details when you need them or post.

Good Luck,
Brian