AOD swap for C4?

tchesney

Founding Member

May 6, 2002

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Union, MS

Jan 20, 2004

#1

• Jan 20, 2004

• #1

Has anyone here installed an AOD in place of their C4? Am considering this for another project I have started. Also, can it be swapped in and the original shifter be used or will it have to be modified, or is there an aftermarket shifter that will let me keep the original console.

Main goal is having overdrive due to installation of a taller rear gear.

Do not want to go to the trouble of installing a clutch pedal and such for a Tremec.

 

dodgestang

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Dec 15, 2003

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Cecil County, MD

Jan 20, 2004

#2

• Jan 20, 2004

• #2

tchesney said:

Has anyone here installed an AOD in place of their C4? Am considering this for another project I have started. Also, can it be swapped in and the original shifter be used or will it have to be modified, or is there an aftermarket shifter that will let me keep the original console.

Main goal is having overdrive due to installation of a taller rear gear.

Do not want to go to the trouble of installing a clutch pedal and such for a Tremec.

Click to expand...

Easy to do, all the parts for swap are readily available on line from places like www.windsor-fox.com www.moderndriveline.com www.darkhorseperformance.com

You need an AOD flex plate, block plate, cross memeber, yoke, driveshaft shortened, TV cable, shofter adapter (so you can use the original shifter), and some small amoung of wiring to hook up the bakc up lights and nuetrla safety.

Its not difficult to do, I have a race ready AOD in my 65. The toughest part of the swap is setting up the TV cable...unlke the C$ that you can run without the kickdown lever if you wanted to and just manually shift it, the AOD NEEDS the TV cable. It is not a vacuum actuated transmission and all the shifting is controlled based on throttle positition.

 

A

AustinCobra

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Jul 24, 2002

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Austin, TX

Jan 20, 2004

#3

• Jan 20, 2004

• #3

That's sounds great. I was thinking of the exact same thing for my 72 convertible 351C. Thanks for the info dodgestang, and the question tchesney. Anyone have a idea of how much power a AOD can take? Are they all the same, or were some built heavier than others?

Does anyone else have advice on this subject??

If you're curious, here's an interesting history of the evolution of the Ford automatic tranny.

http://www.baumannengineering.com/alphabet.htm

Thanks,

Joe
Austin, TX

 

A

AustinCobra

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Jul 24, 2002

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Austin, TX

Jan 20, 2004

#4

• Jan 20, 2004

• #4

C4 to AOD Transmission Swap web page

Hey, I found this doing some web research. Might be of some help.

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/DanJonesC4AODswap.html

Joe

 

12sec67

Active Member

Oct 6, 2003

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San Diego, Ca

Jan 20, 2004

#5

• Jan 20, 2004

• #5

AOD's work well but are not as strong as a C4 so if you plan on running a lot of power through it you might need to spend some cash.


you'll love it when it's done!

 

chepsk8

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Jan 15, 2001

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Easton, PA

Jan 21, 2004

#6

• Jan 21, 2004

• #6

I have one in my 69 'Vert. Pics and details are on my website www.chepsk8.stangnet.com

My biggest installation problem was mating to the stock shifter, took some creativity.

Four trouble-free years. OD is nice on the highway with 3.55's!

 

N

natejones75

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Oct 21, 2003

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Evansville, IN

Jan 21, 2004

#7

• Jan 21, 2004

• #7

Easy to do, don't have to piss your money away on windsor Fox stuff either

I put a jasper prepped AOD into my 65 Gt Fastback. Use a little time like I did, and I made my own crossmember (welder, iron, and original crossmember), my own shifter connections (still uses the original shifter in the original local) and my own flywheel. How you ask? Take a late model flywheel (14 inch diameter, 50 ounce weight) and an original flywheel (12 inch diameter, 28 ounce weight). Cut the weights off of each, and weld the 28 ounce weight onto the late model flywheel. You don't have to worry about balance as long as you put it back on the late model flywheel in the same location s it was on the original one, in respect to the crankshaft dowel pin.
The only piece you should have to buy (if you got all the little crap with your AOD) is the TV cable. I got mine from Lokar. BE CAREFUL! It must be adjusted right to shift, or it will burn up that new AOD fast. Must be adjusted with a pressure guage onto the middle inlet (take out the pipe nipple)

 

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GaPonyFarm

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Jan 2, 2004

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Columbus, GA

Jan 21, 2004

#8

• Jan 21, 2004

• #8

After trashing three race-ready AODs, I decided to just go with a hardened C-4 with a Gear Vendors under/over drive unit. I haven't had a problem since.

Its pricey, about $2500, but its easy to install AND it works.

 

tchesney

Founding Member

May 6, 2002

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Union, MS

Jan 21, 2004

#9

• Jan 21, 2004

• #9

Well, thanks guys!!! Lots of good info. This car is going to be a street cruiser. It is my cousin that lives in Dallas. He flew me out there last weekend and I ending up putting in a MSD 6AL, an Edelbrock 600 and tuning and tweaking, got the engine running GREAT! I think he was impressed with my work, and now wants me to take the car to the next level. He has no intrest in racing, just wants neck snapping acceleration for kicks! Most bang for the buck would be installing some 3:83's or so in the rear end, thus the need for an overdrive. The engine is a mildly modified 302 with edelbrok performer cam and intake, and now a new 600 cfm carb, MSD 6AL ignition, headers, newly built C4 with a shift kit, and such.

 

BobV

20+ Year Stangneter

May 18, 2003

474

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Leavenworth, KS

Jan 21, 2004

#10

• Jan 21, 2004

• #10

Also, be aware that AOD's are pretty wide, causing headaches with a lot of early-model headers & exhaust systems. Fixable, but can be a surpise gotcha...

 

Edbert

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Jul 13, 2002

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Austin TX

Jan 21, 2004

#11

• Jan 21, 2004

• #11

The only part of the AOD that is seriously weak is the two peice and hollow input shaft. Replace it with a solid one-peice and you're good to go with power at or below 400fwhp/400ft-lbs. In factory form though the AODs were known to die behind a stock 5.0 with drag radials. They got a bad rap for a long time but if they are built right they are almost as strong as the C4 can be. Lentech makes the best ones but they are quite pricey.

 

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bnickel

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Aug 21, 2002

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lubbock, texas

Jan 21, 2004

#12

• Jan 21, 2004

• #12

Take a late model flywheel (14 inch diameter, 50 ounce weight) and an original flywheel (12 inch diameter, 28 ounce weight). Cut the weights off of each, and weld the 28 ounce weight onto the late model flywheel. You don't have to worry about balance as long as you put it back on the late model flywheel in the same location s it was on the original one, in respect to the crankshaft dowel pin.
no need to go through all of that, if you use a flexplate for a 351-w with FMX or C-6 tranny, the bolt pattern is right for the aod as is the balance, and you can get them at most any auto parts store for under 50 bucks

 

A

AustinCobra

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Jul 24, 2002

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Austin, TX

Jan 22, 2004

#13

• Jan 22, 2004

• #13

AOD for a 351C

"The only part of the AOD that is seriously weak is the two piece and hollow input shaft. Replace it with a solid one-piece and you're good to go..."

Edbert, Can this solid one-piece shaft be purchased separately and if so, where? Also could a good local transmission shop install it?

Bnickel, Any idea on hooking the AOD to a 351C? Would it use a similar flywheel.

Thanks,

Joe

 

Edbert

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Jul 13, 2002

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Austin TX

Jan 22, 2004

#14

• Jan 22, 2004

• #14

My tranny came with one, from TCI, but you can get just the shaft. Check out the very bottom of this page:
http://www.tciauto.com/ford/ford_aod.htm

 

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bnickel

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Aug 21, 2002

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lubbock, texas

Jan 22, 2004

#15

• Jan 22, 2004

• #15

Bnickel, Any idea on hooking the AOD to a 351C? Would it use a similar flywheel.

you are in luck, the cleveland and windsor use the same flywheel