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96 ranger 4.0 auto transmission reliabilty


RangerRough

Member
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 1, 2018
Messages
49
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Age
36
Location
Edgewood Texas
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
245 CID
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6.5"
Tire Size
35" KM3
Hello community!
I am seeking knowledge about the auto trans in my recently purchased 96 ranger 4.0. My buddy says they are complete garbage. I am taking it in today or tomorrow to be rebuilt and new torque converter. I tried for a long time to find one with a manual tranny but everyone holds on to theirs. Anyways, my concerns are that i have a 8.8 geared with 4.88’s for bigger tires, is this rebuilt tranny going to be reliable, i plan on using it for overlanding, travelling 200-300 mile hunting and fishing expeditions and need it to not break down on me. Is there anything i can do to make it stronger if they are garbage tranny’s? Shift kit? Billet pump? Etc. i plan to put 35’s on it if i can, if not 33’s. I am kinda nervous because of how bad he put down ford tranny’s but i did research and from 95-97 were built with the better drive trains. Please help me and any knowledge, info, advice is greatly appreciated, byw i am new to rangers and building them so i am kinda a nooby. Let me know!
 


adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
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Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
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Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
The 95+ trans is much better.
 

RangerRough

Member
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 1, 2018
Messages
49
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Age
36
Location
Edgewood Texas
Vehicle Year
1996
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
245 CID
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6.5"
Tire Size
35" KM3

Shran

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Location
Rapid City SD
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Engine Size
5.0
You'll be fine. Your 4.88 gears will help a lot. May think about a bigger aftermarket trans cooler too.

Heat and lack of maintenance are big contributing factors to the demise of earlier transmissions, and combined with some weak points led to their bad reputation.
 

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