Will a 2000 Ranger Manual fit in place of my 1993 A4ld?

[Kirby N.]

I have a friend with a wrecked 2000 ranger. I want to put his tranny in my X. The A4ld is a piece. Will it work? Any computer changes? Will the Flywheel be a direct swap what a/b the Clutch? Any info would be appreciated.

 

[jimbo74]

um, if his is a stick, then off the bat, it inst going to swap with an auto......

also, they are different... would need special adapters or is just impossible all together

 

[Brett]

didn't you swap from an manual to an auto? What's wrong w/ the a4ld?

 

[Kirby N.]

The A4LD is not what I want. I want a manual. I know there will be some modifications there, but will it bolt up to my engine? Will I need a computer?Does anybody know if anyone has done this or something simular?
Jim, I realize I will need a few things. I have the whole wrecked truck to work with. I found some info on Therangerstation but not enough for me to buy the junked ranger.

 

[Kirby N.]

Brett if you don't know what is wrong with the A4ld, do some research...

 

[410Fortune]

Kirby,
Brett knows all about the A4LD trust me.

I converted my truck from a 5 speed to an auto.
This can be done in your truck, yes.
It is NOT an easy bolt up swap.

You will have to change lots of things on your truck to convert from an auto to a stick including wiring, pedals, shift linkage, the plate for the stick shift under the carpet, the computer, starter, flywheel, hydraulics, and more. This means part compatability and money.


There may also be some other issues, if the ranger is a 4x4 and your truck is a 2wd for example that creates more work.

I spent the better part of 6 months getting parts collected to convert my truck to an auto, which I did in 3 days. Research is the key.

Brett was the single largest help I had when converting my truck, but then we tackle lots of similar projects together......
Brett may be pointing out that the A4LD auto is not a bad transmission, ut has gotten a bad wrap.
The people who rebuild the A4LD are typically at fault for its poor reputation. Thats not to say that the A4LD is not the weakest link in the drivetrain, it is, but with proper maintenece it should last a good long trouble free life.

This conversion is done more and more often and the information you need is out there.

 

[Brett]

Originally posted by Kirby N.
Brett if you don't know what is wrong with the A4ld, do some research...

I did my research. Here's what I came up with...

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=69135

 

[Kirby N.]

I am Glad brett is educated. Thanks for the reccomendations you guys gave me a few months ago but I am sorry to say it was a POS. I did more maintence on that tranny then I ever had, used the oil the guy reccomended which was synthetic and not cheap. I guess I don't understand the a4ld, because I have no idea why anyone would put one back into thier truck after it failed. I had them fail twice and I should have known better the first time. The A4LD sucks and it will no longer spend anytime in my truck. I thought I did everything I could do to make it tougher. It might be a good tranny for a lighter b2 or you, but it will no longer be in my truck. If you guys like the POS, go ahead and keep using it. Thanks for the scattered information answering my question. It helps a little....

By the way, If you guys want it, I will have an A4LD w/ a High Po Torque converter and a LOW first planetary. Lasted me about 15,000 miles. Not the best $660 I have spent. Needs a rebuild...

The reason I was considering this swap is because I have a rolled 2000 ranger. I want the tranny, the more research I do, the more I think it will be pretty straight forward. Please, don't speculate. It could cost me some more cash. I might just buy a 91 X w/ the tranny and Tcase I want and swap then part it. But that will cost me time and money finding the X and parting it. The ranger is already here...

 

[410Fortune]

OKay then put in the 5 speed!
Just be prepared to spend some $$$$ and time gathering parts, thats all!

IT is definatley a do-able conversion, but tranmission conversions are as tricky as engine conversions in some regards.

Dont get me wrong the A4LD is not the best! When my rebuild is toast (hopefully in 100K miles at least) I will be converting to a C4 or possibly even a SOHC with a later model tranny.

The only reason I used the A4LD in my truck is because 1. I had access to one with 160K miles on it, never been touched from Ford, with a perfect maintenece record and 2. I hd access to a transmission rebuilder who knows his stuff, an older guy who has been building ford autos for racing and such for like 50 years...

You may find that almost all of theparts you need from that 2000 Ranger will work, but it may also be worth your while to use everything from the Ranger, including the engine and computer..

I doubt the Rangers pedal assembly will work on your Explorer but you dont know until you try....otherwise you will need the pedal assembly and master cylinder from an Ex similar to yours and a 5 speed computer and tranny wiring harness at the very least. Then you will still be left with the Explorer column shift so you will want to get a 5 speed steering column and shroud for your ex......

By all means if the Ranger is sitting there grab the tranny!!

What engine does the 2000 have? What axles ect? 2wd or 4wd?

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks 410.

It is a 4x w/ a 4.0 and 3.73s w/ a Dana 35 rr (???) and a 8.8. If you swap manual to auto you need to swap computers? I knew I needed to set the timing for a manual, but why do I need to mess w/ wiring and computer? If it is for the little 4x4 light to come on, I don't care. For the backup lights, I figure I will have to work on the harness going into the sensor, but other than that...

Also, If I go the parting out an explorer route, I will get my hands on a manual tcase, which would be nice!

Also, driveshafts. Will mine be the right length w/ a 5 speed and a manual Tcase? Just wondering if my donor will have to be a sport.

 

[410Fortune]

Okay if your truck has a T case now (the Navajo) and the Ranger has a T case now they should have the same length drivetrain. Meaning the tailshaft of the transfer case is in the same spot, obviously a Navajo has a much shorter d shaf tthen a long bed ranger. I really dont know for sure because I have never worked on the 2000 Ranger.

If your d shaft is not correct, take the ranger shaft and have it shortened. Also if you ever plan to do a lift, now is the time to take that into consideration.
Its also a goot time to have U joints installed and possibly stroner ones installed.
You can find a shop will help you out for $50 machine + parts...

You MIIGHT be able to fool the auto computer and not get a CEL< but this will be done with WIRING.
The 5 speed has a 3 position clutch switch which has the electric shift wire, clutch engadged for starting wire (Neatral safety) and I believe the cruise control wire.

ON the auto the neatral safety and electric shift are wired together to the neautral safety in the trans.

The reverse sensor is locared in the 5 speed and the auto so that wire will only need to be routed to the new trans.

You will want the sensors and wiring for the trans from the Ranger.

The changes are not too difficult, if you go look at your explorer you will see that were the clutch pedal goes, there is already the plug for the clutch 3 pos switch, just for the auto they put in a jumper. Ford only made 1 computer wiring harness for your truck that would accomodate a 5 speed or auto, it's the harness to the transmission that is different. HOWEVER you need to identify each wire on both trucks (books) because the colors will likely vary and the ranger wcould have updated 4x4 switches, who knows.

Thw wiring is the easy part.

The Ranger is a OHV 4.0L and so is the Navajo?
I would be swapping the engines as well!!!

If they are both OHV's then your swap will be much easier,but there are things you want to buy, a new slave cyl, new clutch, new master cyl, pedal assembly from Junk yard, and so on.
(any 91-95 Ranger/Explorer will work, etc...If you cant afford all that you can use the stuff from the Ranger, but its likely that you will be dropping the tranny sooner than later....

Your best bet is to have Brian at Apten disable your computers auto functions (I think its 2 wires different from 5 speed)
Or find the exact same computer for your truck, only 5 speed.