AOD or C4 ANY THOUGHTS?
- Thread starter Clark
- Start date
69PaleHorse
Member
Check out these recent threads, they may answer some of your questions.
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=461756
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=461749
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=461756
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=461749
An AOD in your car is going to be tricky because they never made an AOD to fit behind a big block.
A C4 can be built to handle 400HP with little cost.... that would be your easiest route. If you want to swap to a larger tranny, I'd skip the FMX and go with a C6. There's alot more aftermarket parts and knowledge for the C6.
A C4 can be built to handle 400HP with little cost.... that would be your easiest route. If you want to swap to a larger tranny, I'd skip the FMX and go with a C6. There's alot more aftermarket parts and knowledge for the C6.
DarkBuddha
Founding Member
I too assume the 393W is a stroked 351W. In that case, I'd like to endorse the AOD option, especially if your car is a driver. If you're starting from scratch I think you could build a comparable AOD for 50% more than a stoutly built C4. The AOD would allow for running lower gears while maintaining drivability. Look at a tranny from Lentech, which will more than take the kind of power your making. 
dodgestang
Active Member
Clark said:
I have a worked AOD behind my 408c...and while my specific build has been less than a stellar performer...when it is working I really enjoy the AOD.
Its REALLLY coool with my 4.11s cruising along at 3k in OD (which is pretty fast) and having someone with a little knowledge hearing the RPMS you are pulling and reving up on you
Just a little flick of the wrist drops it into 3rd and I leave em long gone and then upshift back into OD and slow down and wait for them.
Right now I am leaning towards an AOD that I can get for $300 with a shift kit, not new but was recently rebuilt and was running good before a T5 change. A C4 does not sound that bad but is that AOD that weak? I know my 393W will have some torq but you would figure that it could take some punishment as many 5.0's I see tearing up the street. Thanks for the input.
dodgestang
Active Member
Clark said:
A $300 stock aod with a shift kit will not last for any period of time behind a 393w with driving anyway other than a grandmother.
The AOD uses a 2 peice input shaft which is the weak point. The standard thinking these days is to upgrade to a 1 piece shaft, non-lock up converter, and other 'tweaks' including extra clutch packs, larger OD band etc and setting it up very similar to the internals of a newer (and stronger) AODe/4r70w. Some people (including me) go so far as to put in the 4r70w gearset to get a 2.8 first instead of a 2.4 first for some pull off the line.
dodgestang said:
Good advice, not only the two-piece design was weak but it was hollow as well
The other part that is notoriously weak on the AOD is the overdrive band. Don;t let that talk you out of the AOD though, only realize that in stock form the AOD was not intended for performance applications. You can buy a brand new (warrantied) bolt-in AOD that will take up to 450fwhp for around $1,500 though.
Black Thunder
Member
- Jan 28, 2001
- 49
- 0
- 6
dodgestang said:I have a worked AOD behind my 408c...and while my specific build has been less than a stellar performer...when it is working I really enjoy the AOD.
Its REALLLY coool with my 4.11s cruising along at 3k in OD (which is pretty fast) and having someone with a little knowledge hearing the RPMS you are pulling and reving up on you
Just a little flick of the wrist drops it into 3rd and I leave em long gone and then upshift back into OD and slow down and wait for them.
408C huh? That's what I'm putting in my Mach. Did you build it or did you buy it assembled? How do you like it? I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the transmission. I have a C4 right now and I was thinking of just having it rebuild with stronger internals and hope it holds up to the 490HP that will be applied to it.
C4s can take 1,000HP if built right, for the price of one of those puppies you'll be able to get a 500HP AOD though. The AOD will cost more than a 500HP C4 though.
AOD will have more parasitic loss and weighs more, but it allows you to use a shorter gear out back and still have streetability. Some think the trade offs are more than worth it, others do not.
AOD will have more parasitic loss and weighs more, but it allows you to use a shorter gear out back and still have streetability. Some think the trade offs are more than worth it, others do not.
dodgestang
Active Member
Black Thunder said:
Built it myself. Love it. 393 RWHP
real run on the street....and I am getting 12 miles to the gallon with 4.11 and my 850 DP no less....so maybe in about 18 years if the tranny doesn't break anymore it will have paid for itself 
