swaping from manual to auto tranny. do i need to swap computer also

[gingell15]

im swaping my 92 x manual tranny to an automatic tranny do i have to change the computer as well or will it run the same with the comp. i have in it now, my truck is not a daily driver offroad use only?

 

[wood1]

As I understand it the A4LD is hydraulic controlled other than the torque converter lock function and the overdrive. It has a vacuum modulator and governor that handle the 1-2-3 shifting. The TCC and OD are solenoid controlled by the computer. If you don't want either than it should work. You could even gear up a couple switches to activate the TCC and OD if you wanted to...

I'm sure that others with more knowledge than me will chime in... but I think it'll work.

Chris.

 

[Spdrcer34]

I don't know if it is REALLY needed, but have an computer from a 1991 Auto 4x4 Explorer, if you need one. $30 to your door.

btw, what made you go with a Auto over a Manual?

Ryan

 

[91exploreron37]

Yea most people on here are doing the opposite. but if its for off road use only then I think it will work with the manual computer since you wont be going fast enough to use the lockup. but dont forget to hook up the vacuum line.

 

[gingell15]

I don't know if it is REALLY needed, but have an computer from a 1991 Auto 4x4 Explorer, if you need one. $30 to your door.

btw, what made you go with a Auto over a Manual?

Ryan

swaping just because it is alot easier on me when im rock crawling

 

[Spdrcer34]

Rock Crawling + A4LD = short lived transmission!

The m5OD isn't MUCH better, but it IS stronger.

Ryan

 

[410Fortune]

Many moons ago I did this same conversion

IMO the factory A4LD is not a bad transmission, its the rebuilds that suck
Its not teh best but its not horrible

The internal slave cylinder design of the Mazda 5 speed sucks too, so which ever transmission you decide to run is fine with me.

I was SICK and tired of having clutch issues in my truck, I went through 3ea Mazda 5 speed rebuilds in less that 2 months, and after installing 4 clutches in one summer trying to get it right, I too decided the automatic would be much better suited for my truck.

I converted my BII from a 93 4.0L and 5 speed to a 93 A4LD automatic and never looked back. I had a very competant transmission builder rebuild my donor transmission and did the conversion over a weekend. That A4LD held up to a few years of abuse.
The automatic is superior for towing and for wheeling IMO
I towed a 19' boat to CA and back on 33" tires behind an A4LD and that transmission is STILL WORKING in a friends truck

The answer is YES
you need the automatic computer, it has the 2-3 shift and TCC solenoid controls built in.
You will ALSO have to modify your wiring harness, from engine harness to transmission harness is different.
You also should use the factory 3 position clutch switch jumper in your truck to take care of the NSS circuit, it just plugs in.

You may consider the C4/5 conversion as well, if you have the time and $$$, it would leave you without overdrive.

Also the 700R4 is an option.

I personally bit the bullet and eventually went V8, leaving the weakish V6 transmissions behind

 

[BrooklynBay]

The 5R55S swap sticky has information on installing a 5R55S which is stronger. It has a separate controller so you don't have to mess around with the OEM computer, and wiring harness.

 

[Swamp Rat]

spdrcr34 Gingell15 is putting a doubler t-case so the a4ld i think will hold up. If not he still have the manual trans.

 

[Joes4x4Ranger]

What are you doing for a shifter? Swapping out steering column's or using some type of aftermarket floor shifter?? I'm seriously considering the same swap but the gear selector issue is holding me back. I'm also tired of toasting clutches and constantly shifting off-road.

 

[gingell15]

yah im goin to probably just throw in a floor shifter, and be done with it

 

[Burns]

I didnt change the computer in my 91 when i went from the AL4D to the M5OD

 

[rguy]

I recently swapped out a M5OD for a A4LD too for Rock Crawling/Climbing and mine is for off-road use only as well. I don't care how tough the manual may be, until you've tried Rock Crawling/Climbing, you can't understand how bad it is. To make a long story short, the automatic is the only way to go. Anyway, I swapped computers thinking it was necessary, but apparently you can't simply swap in a computer from the same year model with an automatic transmission. Speaking from experience, it may or may not work because there are more than 1 automatic transmission computers for the 1991 model year. Even though I swapped the transmission harnesses and computers, I was getting transmission and engine trouble codes. I was puzzled at first as to way I was getting engine trouble codes then I discovered there are more than 1 computers for the 91. Not only was I getting Engine trouble codes, but the engine ran terrible. Since I was short on time, I reinstalled the M5OD computer so I could go 4wheeling. I got NO trouble codes and it ran great. In this situation, the only reason to swap the transmission harnesses is for the reverse lights to work. Oh yeah, do you have manual or electric x-fer case? I ran into a problem when putting my donor vehicle back together. Since it had an electric x-fer case and the automatic transmission computer but a manual transmission, the x-fer case will only go into 4W HI. It won't go into 4W LO because the computer can't sense when the transmission is in neutral/park. I'm sure I can fix this with a little work on the transmission harness, but I haven't had the time. Mine has a manual x-fer case and once on the trail I found that the shifter wasn't moving the x-fer case linkage all the way into 4W LO. It worked fine in the driveway, but had problems popping out of 4W LO on the trail. Apparently, the mounting holes are off by about 1/2" to 1". I fixed this by clearancing the back of the x-fer case linkage by about 3/8" to 1/2".

 

[rguy]

As a little insurance, I installed the Transgo A4LD Junior shift kit, a second trans cooler, by-passed the cooler in the radiator, and installed a trans temp gauge. I installed an electric fan over the non-oem auxillary cooler, but haven't had to use it because the fluid is nice and cool.