Thread: Need help with my 90 TBird

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What trannys will fit the 3.8L in my 90 tbird? It currently has an automatic with overdrive. the L(ow) D(rive) and O(verdrive) and the overdrive is gone I only have the 2 lower gears. I want to find a used tranny from a junkyard that will work with this setup so I can replace it easily as we are down to only 2 cars right now, 1 if I can't fix the tbird

Thanks
Tim-

I don't think there's an alternative trans that will fit. I had to replace the trans in my 89 T-bird with a used one from a junkyard. These transmissions seem to go bad a lot so they're hard to find used. I still have the Bird but it's been sitting out back since the doorpost rusted off at the bottom and caused the windshield to crack. It's a good parts car but I'm too far from Bismark to do you any good. It has to go soon.
My aerostar van has the same engine and transmission but I haven't been under there to compre them to see if the case is the same. They also have a history of tranny trouble. But it's worth checking out if you find one in a junkyard.
I don't know if the T-Bird supercoupe had a 4 speed manual trans but if it did you would need all the clutch linkage too.
If you have to give up and junk the Bird save the rear end. It has independent rear suspension in case you didn't know. It might be a good fit in your 49 Plymouth.

Thanks for the response Al, the Tbird is gonna be kept until the Plymouth is about ready for the road, then I was planning on swapping the rearend. Thats why I don't want to rebuild the tranny, Trying not to put too much in it before we scrap it or part it out.
Also is there anyone out there that has looked under the Aerostar to know if the tranny will work? I know where I can get a few of them

Also, can anyone tell me which tranny this is? So I know which one to look for? ie. for a 350 would be th350 or th400, that kind of stuff

It's raining too much to crawl under the Bird right now. It's supposed to rain till Tuesday and I won't be home then. I'll check it out as soon as I can and get back to ya.
I liked the Bird till I had to buy parts for it. They sell units not parts. You can't buy hinge pins you have to buy the whole hinge. You can't buy a wheel bearing. You have to buy the hub assembly. You can't buy a parking light lens you have to buy the whole parking light assembly. They use crappy glue to hold the lenses on. Both of mine fell off and went under the wheels. $56 each to replace them.

Dam Al, that sux, that is one of the reasons I am just keeping it running rather than repairing it. Still missing a taillight on the passenger side rear, and there is a dent in the drivers fender. Looks like crap but it gets me from one place to the other.

Tim It finally stopped raining yesterday I jacked up the T-bird to look at the tranny. I couldn't see much because there's a catalytic convertor on each side and the jack kept sinking into the ground but the pan and bellhousing were different than the Aerostar. I don't think they're interchangeable.
A three foot section of the unibody brace (frame) fell off when I jacked it up. I think it must have been in a flood at some point before I got it. It's the best looking junk car I ever owned. Anybody in the northeast need a motor or tranny for a T-bird? It fits from 1989 till they became extinct.

Thanks Al, I appreciate the effort. Well I guess I will need to check around here at the junkyards, the bigget one we have only has 1 '94 Tbird. mabe that one will work.

I believe your tranny is an AOD metric. A royal pain in he @ss to change, but not a total waste. Look for a Crown Victoria/Grand marquis with low mileage. These had the same tranny and usually were treated rather gently. Hope this helps.

Thankls drg84, I will take a look at those 2 models.