Pinto Car Club of America

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: lefty on July 05, 2009, 09:47:06 PM

Title: C3 transmission update
Post by: lefty on July 05, 2009, 09:47:06 PM
Question--Will the A4LD fit my 77 pinto 2.3 engine-if so would there be any modifications-ie:could I use flex plate and torque convertor from A4LD on my 77 2.3 engine??

tks
LEFTY
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: pintoguy76 on July 05, 2009, 10:07:12 PM
I'd like to know the same thing. I have a good 2.3 A4LD from a 1990 Mustang that I cant seem to sell. Might consider putting it in my 79 if its not too much work.
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: thewrench3 on August 27, 2009, 06:09:33 AM
You can put the A4LD in behind the 2.3 but you have to change the felxplate and torque converter to the A4LD pieces. The A4LD uses a lock up torque converter. Also The A4LD is longer so you will have to shorten the driveshaft.
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: lefty on August 27, 2009, 09:54:35 PM
what fords and what years did the A4LD come in --also would I need any type of extra harness etc to make this work if I install one behind my 1977 2.3 engine

thanks in advance
Lefty


Quote from: thewrench3 on August 27, 2009, 06:09:33 AM
You can put the A4LD in behind the 2.3 but you have to change the felxplate and torque converter to the A4LD pieces. The A4LD uses a lock up torque converter. Also The A4LD is longer so you will have to shorten the driveshaft.
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: lugnut on August 27, 2009, 10:49:11 PM
I have an a4ld in my shed that I was thinking of putting in a Pinto also.
It is a few inches longer than a c3 and the mount is farther back. Thats what stopped me.
There are 2 solenoids that will need to be wired in- one allows/prevents the trans from going into overdrive. Should just need a manual switch to 12 volts. The other solenoid controls the lockup torque converter, and may be more complicated to connect up. I was going to experiment w/ it, but like I said, the tranny mount situation stopped the project before it began.
mike
Quote from: lefty on August 27, 2009, 09:54:35 PM
what fords and what years did the A4LD come in --also would I need any type of extra harness etc to make this work if I install one behind my 1977 2.3 engine

thanks in advance
Lefty


Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: 71pintoracer on August 28, 2009, 09:11:50 PM
You could wire up the solenoids to toggle switches but what a PITA. Not so much of a problem flipping a switch to go into OD and then another for lockup, but if you forget to turn them off and you leave the converter locked the engine will stall at a stop. I have the entire set-up from an '85 2.8 Ranger. Most of the wires to the PCM can be eliminated, you need power and ground of course, also VSS, MAP and TPS. I have the PCM, harness, all of the sensors, carb (with the TPS), trans,converter,flywheel and shifter. I was going to put it in my cruiser but I have my eye on a turbo coupe at the moment, so this stuff may be up for sale!
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: douglasskemp on August 28, 2009, 10:21:11 PM
Was going to do this in my CW clone, but have since decided I want a V8.  I do have a question.  Why wire up the O/D to a toggle?  My Mustang has an A4LD, and the shifter actually has four fwd gear selections...Shifter layout is: P-R-N-O/D-D-2-1  Personally, I was going to use the Mustang floor shifter, and was going to either leave the lockup disabled (O/D without lockup is still more fuel efficient than C3 without O/D), or, hook it up to a toggle like you, with an indicator light somewhere eye-catching so I'd know when it was on/off.  I even toyed briefly with the idea of, if it was toggled, for it to cut off below a certain speed (like 45 mph) so it wouldn't stay on at lower speeds.  The problem I had, is I do not know what kind of signal the lockup requires for it to engage.  Is it just a simple 12+vdc solid, or is it a momentary pulse like a spike to turn on and another spike to turn off.  Maybe that would only be the internal inputs from/to the ECU, and maybe I am over complicating things, but I just didn't know enough about the lockup.  And, now it's a moot point since I am going with a v8, possibly with AOD, and those things have (thanks to the Mustang following) stand-alone systems for them for non ECU-controlled vehicles.  Maybe one of those setups could be used and retrofitted to the A4LD?  Who knows?

btw, there is a bit of a write-up on the A4LD over on the ranger station: A4LD (http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/a4ld.html)
They even have a PDF copy of the A4LD Service Manual (http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/pdf_documents/A4LD_manual.pdf) (right click this link and save to your computer if you want a copy ;D)
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: 71pintoracer on August 29, 2009, 06:19:00 AM
Good info Doug, it looks like the earlier trannies had only 1 solenoid for the converter lock up. That would simplify things a great deal, just 1 toggle for converter lock up and you still have OD.
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: hellfirejim on September 01, 2009, 12:53:53 PM
I have a C3 in my Pinto.  When i put it in I forgot to count the number so splins in the input shaft as I had all the pieces. Now I need that information, can anybody help.
thanks
jim
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: amxtra on September 01, 2009, 01:24:27 PM
  Never done this swap, but just a thought, if you want the lock up converter to cut out, why not hook it up to, or through a brake pedal switch ? Cut the power when the brakes are applied, would that work ?
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: lugnut on September 01, 2009, 08:47:45 PM
Quote from: amxtra on September 01, 2009, 01:24:27 PM
  Never done this swap, but just a thought, if you want the lock up converter to cut out, why not hook it up to, or through a brake pedal switch ? Cut the power when the brakes are applied, would that work ?

I thought of this, but I think that as soon as you released the brake pedal, the converter would lock up and either kill the engine, or you would take off like a shot. I'm not sure though.
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: hellfirejim on September 02, 2009, 12:00:47 PM
Quote from: hellfirejim on September 01, 2009, 12:53:53 PM
I have a C3 in my Pinto.  When i put it in I forgot to count the number so splins in the input shaft as I had all the pieces. Now I need that information, can anybody help.
thanks
jim

No help on the spline count of a C3?????????  Somebody has to know.
Title: Re: C3 transmission update
Post by: amxtra on September 02, 2009, 01:38:20 PM
   Ok, slightly more awake, but i dont think it would be that hard to hook the lock up to come on with a push button switch, when brake pedal hit, it interups the power and will not come back on until switch hit again. I know I have seen a switch set up like this on something. cant think of what atm though