I have been running a built AOD with the Transgo kit w/Hi-Rev option. I was able to get 150k out of the tranny before the od band burned out. Anyway, the Transgo kit works good but be aware that you should only race in D. In the D position pressure cutback is eliminated and also od is locked out. When in the OD position some pressure regulation is enabled, so the seals won't get blown out on a long trip, and the od function is engaged. My transmission went bad because I was doing the 1D1 option which will burn up the od band. The od band is engaged during 2nd gear manual operation if the kit adheres to the tranny specification. Therefore, to get maximum use out of a built tranny with the Transgo kit ONLY race in D and cut the 1D1 shifting to a minimum. I was able to race my 93' for six full summers and go on a couple of mountainous roadtrips with the built tranny following the above rules.
I am almost done rebuilding my AOD and have a question about the KEVLAR band and am worried that it won't really fit the bill for a hot street car. Any ideas about the KEVLAR bands, also I have seen two independent opionions that it is not for street use.
According to a Ford transmission engineer who wrote quite a comprehensive article on AODs and the /e & 4R on tccoa.com, he says that even with high internal pressures and aggressive servo's that Kevlar is so hard and slick that it can slip 50 rpm or so when shifted, so he advised using it only for strip and not for regular street use.
Ok-Here it is the 411 on the Trans-Go shift, OD @ WOT....
The name on the box is the "AOD HI-REV KIT" this is what makes the **** kit able to have OD @ WOT, this is what you do not want, and should not have installed when doing the Trans Go Shift kit-Unless you want issues with the band and going into OD wehen in Drive "D".... It actually states on the box itself-Increases max throttle upshifts to approximately 5000 rpms This is what was not installed on my shift kit-and I have NO prob's at all.
I've been away for a few weeks. Super busy with work. Anyway, I read the article about the kevlar bands. I am not an engineer dammit, but what the gentleman stated makes a ton of sense.. So, I talked to the guy who is doing the build about the article. He was under the assumption that with the way I built the engine, that I was going to be doing a bounch of strip work with it. We are now doing the Trans-go with the hi-rev option and no Kevlar bands (rather he is putting in heavy duty parts) That will give the smooth cruise feeling I want and allow me to romp on it if I need to show the yuppies around here who is the boss. Thanks for bringing back the thread with the great info. You guys are the best.
I run kevlar bands on an all street machine and it feels smooth and crisp at light throttle. Not sure what damage it's doing in there but the shifting is not adversely affected.