BroncoII4x4.com

I'm getting a Bronco 2 4WD that has an overdrive automatic that slips pretty bad. I think its and 84 or 85 model with a 2.8 V6. Would it be easier to rebuild the existing transmission or try to find another? Local pull-a-part has several rangers and maybe a bronco 2 2WD. If I fit another transmission what transmissions can I use? I need to use the transfer case I have because of budget.

The decision on the type of transmission is yours alone, but, an automatic will be easier to put back in. If you want to keep the automatic consult a transmission shop to see what it will cost for a rebuild of yours with a new torque converter, a shift kit, and an after market transmission cooler, a bigger t-cooler is better to a point, (heat is normally what kills an automatic). In the past I have found that bypassing the radiator into an oversize transmission cooler works the best, but, when the temperature goes down outside the shifting isn't what it should be. Many people get 100K and more miles from a properly setup automatic without a problem, again, you need to keep them from getting hot. I got 200K from an automatic some years back, that is not unheard of.
The one you get from a P&P is going to be a crap shoot, I like to save money and effort as much as the next guy/gal, but I hate doing the same job more than once just to save a few bucks.
Converting to a manual is a lot of work and expense. The manual will probably outlast the automatic, but, you will have to replace the clutch sometime, and who knows what kind of condition it is in when you get it.
I would suggest you drive it to a transmission shop, have them check it out and get a quote to include the shift kit and t-cooler, find out what if any warranty. Get more than one quote.
Follow this link to ID your transmission as Ford put in 2 different ones: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_li ... Trans.html
It is assumed that you have an A4LD as they were the most common, but it could be the other. This link will tell you what is involved in swapping an A4LD to a Manual:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_li ... Speed.html
Another link, if it is an A4LD that will be of interest to you is: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_li ... manual.pdf
Let us know what you deside and what kind of quotes you end up with.

Ray

if its a OD its a A4LD and it would be a 85. 84 it should be a C5 3spd. if ya wanna keep the OD try to find a good 4.0 A4LD,ford beefed um up for the 4.0

try to find a good 4.0 A4LD,ford beefed um up for the 4.0

Is it a drop in?

yup, the only differencs ive heard of is the 4.0 may have 2 solinoids and the real early A4LD's had one

I'm assuming I'd need to find one out of a 4WD for the correct tail housing.

I'll probably rebuild the one in the truck depending on the price of the parts. Definitely want to stick with the automatic but need to stay budget minded as well. A friend deals with early rangers a lot and may have a A4LD in his shop. If not, I'll rebuild the one I have. Transmission shops are out of the question. All around here will quote over 1000 bucks.

The price doesn't surprise me at all.
My neighbor had a transmission for his X rebuilt, they removed, rebuilt and reinstalled. The bill was $1800.
The sad part, his wife dropped it off at 8am, he picked it up at 2pm. If you figure the price of the rebuild kit and torque converter and oil as being $450, (I think that is what I saw it for online) the company charged him $225 an hour. Now that is highway robbery, and in the end, the X isn't worth over $2000. Plus, the neighbor had been told by another shop that it only needed a service job, flush, filter and refilled with new t-fluid. They wanted $249.95 for that.
That is why i said to shop around.
The 4.0 trans is beefed up, but so I have been told, they can be beefed more by using the parts from a 5.0 A4LD. I don't know that to be a fact or not. The guys around here who have them in their 4x4's all run big coolers, an inline oil filter and shift kits that some guy at one of the transmission shops builds custom. I will ask around and see if anybody has had any problems with their setup, and what the guts of their trannies are.

Ray

I'm going to attempt the rebuild myself. How hard can it be?

cajun66 wrote:I'm going to attempt the rebuild myself. How hard can it be?

good luck. those trannys really werent that good ta start with

Will the 4.0 Ranger transmission out of a 2WD work? I'm thinking of getting a better transmission and rebuilding it if necessary.

yup, just swap the rear shaft

Awesome. Those are easy to come by for me. As long as the transfer case will bolt up to the 2WD trandmission, I've got it made.

And after deciphering the VIN it is an 85. Not sure why I said 84.

just need the rear shaft and extension housing(thats what the tcase bolts to) but both trannys have to be completely disassembled tado the swap

Sounds like I'm going to have a lot of fun whichever way I go.