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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Pup70 on October 03, 2012, 08:24:58 PM

Title: auto trans question
Post by: Pup70 on October 03, 2012, 08:24:58 PM
i have a 77 pinto cruiser wagon 2.3 with an automatic.  My question is there an automatic overdrive trans that will bolt up to my stock motor i need to get my rpms down on the highway.

Thanx
Mike
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: waldo786 on October 03, 2012, 10:04:02 PM
I'm not entirely sure, but I think this trans would bolt up: the A4LD.  I would like to do more research on this myself, but here is some info on it from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C3_transmission
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: Pinturbo75 on October 04, 2012, 08:03:30 AM
yes, the a4ld from a 87-88 thunderbird turbocoupe will bolt right up...
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: johnbigman2011 on October 04, 2012, 04:47:46 PM
How strong is the A4LD?
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: Pinturbo75 on October 04, 2012, 05:16:21 PM
ford detuned the automatic turbocoupes to 155 hp due to the lack of strength of a stock a4ld..... yes there are kits and all for them but they do not hold up to abuse... if you want to have a strong auto overdrive tranny there are a few who are using a 4r55 and the 5r55 tranny from an explorer........ explorer forums has a great writeup on this swap..... the 4 or 5r55 with the removable bell uses the bell ( with slight modification) and plate from a 4r44 bolted to it.... this allows it to be a direct bolt on to the 2.3... but...... you will need a controler for the selenoids... its not a cheap swap but a great one if you want a strong overdrive auto.....plus you can do cool stuff with this tranny like paddle shifters.....hmmmmm...
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: johnbigman2011 on October 04, 2012, 06:13:37 PM
Now that is interesting. Paddle shifters???? Would you have to do allot of trans tunnel mods as well?
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: Pinturbo75 on October 04, 2012, 07:09:14 PM
i have yet to get my hands on one so i have no idea of how much space it needs...
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: racer99 on October 04, 2012, 07:37:15 PM
An A4LD is basically a C3 with overdrive.
They are not very strong.
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: fast64ranchero on October 04, 2012, 07:59:43 PM
I have one, and as stated above, the early stock units, not to strong, but if you use the right parts, you won't have to worry about breaking them...   It's the same basic tranny as used in the Mustang GT through 2010, they just made changes along the way including making them all electronic controlled, but the guts interchange, or atleast most of them...
Mine has a 95 Explorer case, early valve body to keep it manual shift, it has all the guts from 4r55 and 5r55 making it completely rollerized, 5 and 6 clutch drums, a double disc lockup convertor, and a bellhousing from a 2000 ranger..

My thought is, if it can hold up to a 3,800lb Mustang, it'll hold up to my 2,200lb Pinto with the same power....

People use to say the C-4 was weak and talked up the C-6
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: DreamBean on October 05, 2012, 04:51:31 PM
Great Info! Thanks everyone.
Title: Re: auto trans question
Post by: Pup70 on October 10, 2012, 05:19:48 PM
thanx for all the info now my next question dose any one have one for sale