I'm getting an Explorer A4LD transmission with a transfer case. Now, the transmission isn't a bolt in for the Ranger for a couple of reasons -- not the least of which is that the 5 speed electronic controller won't like it.

But, my question is: is there any difference in the output shafts? If the output shaft of this thing can be put in my 5R44E then I can adapt it to the transfer case without getting another tranny.

For what I'm getting this tranny for, and the fact it comes with not one but two transfer cases, I'm going to take it. I just would like to use that output shaft.

Thoughts? Experience? Derisive laughter?

 

i believe the A4LD and the 5r44E do have the same output shafts........if it is a BW1354, then it is the same transfer case.......all 4x4 rangers and explorers had the BW1354 after 1994 i belive..........exception came with the explorers that had the auto 4x4....i belive it was called "control trac"....

 

Yes, Maurice, it's the standard 4x4 transfer case (both of them are). I'm trading some stuff I have, and some of my time on a project for them.

Well, it would be nice if they were. I'd like to find out before I rip down my transmission though, lol.

 

if the tranny is from a 4x4 explorer than the t-case from your ranger will bolt to it no problem, hell, the old 1350 t-case from the 1st and 2nd gen trucks will bolt to it. the output shafts and rear flanges of the 4x4 5R55E and A4LD are identicle, as is the output shaft and flange of the 4x4 M5OD and 4x4 TK4 and TK5 and 4x4 FM145 and FM146. i believe the only explorer that used a different t-case was the 5.0 explorer, and even that im not too sure about.

now, the thing i dont know however is if the a4ld output shaft can be put in the 5R44E... yes the output shaft will fit the t-case no problem, but will it actually work in the tranny i dont know...

 

EDIT: I'm stupid!!

 

Yes, your last point was my real question: can I put it in my current tranny.

I'd already been informed the t-case was no problem a while back when I began to think about this conversion, but thanks for further confirmation, Jason.

I have no t-case at present, though, lol -- I'm converting my 4x2 to a 4x4 and doing a SAS with a Dana-44 from a 1979 F-150 including coil springs and radius arms.

 

Okay, well...thanks for sharing!

 

Just sharing my wealth of knowledge!

 

Believe I found the answer in this article: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...3&page=3&pp=20

Could be do-able. I have to finish reading it, but so far so good.

 

that looks pretty promising, so what are you trying to do? take a 2wd 5R44E and convert it to 4wd with the output shaft and housing from the A4LD?

 

Actually, if it can be done, JUST the output shaft, and keep everything else I have on my 5R44E.

If I have to do a lot of disassembly, I redo the bands and what not while I'm in there.

Better link (to page 1) of the thread: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=146953

That's a "printable" link (less hoo-hah).

 

Yes, it CAN be done! On page 2 of that writeup there is a pic of the shafts and a write up about them. It says they are the same.



I'll have to write that guy and see what he says about this. Maybe I can do it with the trans in the vehicle. THAT would be awesome.

 

John call deltrans @ 3024538213. Tell them what you want to do and what you have and they can tell you. They have answered a bunch of questions I had about the C5 trans. The know there stuff from what I have seen.

 

i thought it was possible........since they are the same trannys except the 5R44E is computer controlled...

 

also remember that your driveshaft will no longer work because the 2wd driveshaft has the slip yoke in the tranny and the 4wd has it in the shaft.......and the 2wd driveshaft will be about 8"-12" too long....

 

Yes, and the 4R/5R series uses roller shaft and thrust bearings.

Well, I'm psyched now. That was a major part of the expense that just dropped away pretty quickly. Could mean more budget for something else, like maybe a selectable locker for the front.

 

good! do you have a front diff? or are you doing a SAS?

 

Yes: a 1979 F-150 high pinion Dana 44, and all the coil buckets. coils brackets, radius arms, tie rods, etc. I'm basically replicating the F-150 coil suspension on the Ranger.

I just posted in Ben's thread like the vulture I am to pick a piece of his late truck: the rear driveshaft.

The front driveshaft will be custom.

 

They're not much different in length, though the other difference is significant. The reason they'er not as different as you might think is the 4x2 tranny has a very large tailcone that sits where the transfer case mounts.

 

John let me know when you wanna tear into it. I will help anytime.

 

How much longer is the F-150 axle?

 

5.5" on the passanger side.....

 

awwww yes i forgot about the tail cone....

 

I'm not sure if that's right or not. What I can tell you is the stock F-150 wheels have a lot of backspacing. When I put that axle with the stock wheels in front of my truck, the width is scarcely different than my existing setup with the Fabtech spindles. The result when I complete it will be virtually no net change in width due to the wheels.

The wheels are desirable because they'll eliminate the "scrub steer" I have now where the pivot center of the steering is inboard of where the wheel actually is, causing it to "scrub" in order to be moved in an arc when steering. The ideal is for the center pivot to be right in the middle of the tire.

Now, my rear is already narrower than the front because of the spindles. But with wheel spacer/adaptors to mount the 5 on 5.5 F-150 wheels to my 5 on 4.5 axle, I will end up with a track width closer to the front than I am now, I believe.

All in all it should be no big deal about the axle width. It won't look "excessive" or "out of place" on a street truck.

 

i did alot of research a few months back on doing a SAS on my truck......everyone i have talked to on Ranger forums, Bronco forums, and on f-150 forums......the early Bronco has the exact same width as the Ranger TTB is.....and to get a full size axle to equal a early Bronco axle in length you have to take 5.5" off the passanger side...even came to that conclusion after taking measurements myself......the F-150 was 5.5" longer steering knuckly to steering knuckle than my Dana 35 TTB...

i dont know if they made the Rangers wider at all after '97, but to make a full size F-150 axle fit under my truck with the same track width, 5.5" would have to be removed off the passanger side...