AOD swap where do you start.

Edbert said:

I never thought about it before but you are right, the wider space between cylinder heads is probably why I had so much room...duh! Also the headers in those pictures are specifically FOR the swap I did. I can see the stock small Windsor having a tougher time alright.

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So you are saying that the LTs fit because of the heads? Like you, I have the RPM Performers. I don't know which headers you are using but I have the hooker super comp LTs.

It is funny how similar our builds are. I guess great minds think alike. BTW, do you have a fetish for pre-op tranny **** too?


Just kidding about the **** thing.

ttfn,

jS

jerry S said:

So you are saying that the LTs fit because of the heads? Like you, I have the RPM Performers. I don't know which headers you are using but I have the hooker super comp LTs.

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Not the heads themselves, the 351W block causes my heads to be closer to the shock towers than the same heads on a 289/302 would be, thus while losing room at the towers I gain space around the bellhousing.

Mine are Hedmann Elite Swap Headers.

I live in Harwich on the cape. I had my beat old C4 completely rebuilt with heavy duty bands and a quick shift kit for a little over $650 by Great Western Auto in Dennis. Peter knows his stuff there. Maybe you should check out that option and save a few$$.

69 Capecod said:

I have a 69 coupe 302 with a c4 the cost to repair the c4 is over a 1000 bucks. Well that wont happen. Next tought is a used one. tough to find around here. so now its a AOD swap. where do you start. Do I just find a 302 mustang with a AOD and work backwards or is there one that fits with easy.

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how can it cost $1000 to fix a C4? You can rebuild the thing for in about 6 hours with less than $200 in parts (premium parts at that). If you don't have the money or motivation to do that, you probably don't have the money or motivation for an AOD swap.

I did the AOD in Chepie. No beating, but damn are the upper bellhousing bolts close to the firewall - not even 1/2"!

I thought it was a great conversion, I also used Windsor-Fox. Now get some good gears & have fun!

this is a bummer

An AOD was on my to do list. But not if it means trashing brand new headers that I spent $400 on. I guess it is going to be a TKO 500 conversion afterall.

I couldn't help but chime in on this one because there seems to be some confusion. I have a 69 351W FMX car and the total switch over cost was about $600 including a decent AOD. Shop around for an AOD there are alot of them to choose from but get a 92 or older one. I used the same flywheel and starter and did not beat on the transmission tunnel. Used the FMX crossmember and trans mount, but had to notch it so I could remove the pan if I need to. Used the original floor shifter and just reversed the linkage rod. I shortened the drive shaft and used the AOD swap yoke so I could use the original size U-joints. The Lokar TV cable was a must and even used the original Transmission cooling lines one lined right up and the other I just removed a section.

I hope this helps and if you have any questions ask because I really like running my car at 70 MPH @ 3000 RPM with 3.73 gears

Clark, I don't see the confusion , you had a fmx and a 351w so your experience is different then what he will run into, you also had less to deal with. the '69 351w/fmx to Aod is the easiest year to swap.He'll still need a different flex plate, different cross member and a neutral safety switch/back-up light switch or wire his in.
see I did the exact same swap as you, but I didn't need to do anything to my driveshaft, just aod yoke and a conversion u-joint. Length was ideal. Same as you, I also had no problem with the cooling lines, I just used the brass adaptors off the fmx tranny, cut and flaired about 8 inches off 1 old line, but on a c-4 it'll be different, the lines come off in a different spot. I also used my original shifter rod, but it is rigged in there, but its worked for over 10000 miles so far. i will make a profesional rod with joints on it sooner or later.

Here is something new, just saw this on VMF so I figured this discussion could use this info....its a new company with a shifter adaptor, more expensive then the W/F one was though.....

http://www.performanceautomatic.com/newprods.htm

but i do agree that 1000 is alot for a transmission. i guess its kinda dumb of me to say that, i paid 2500 for a steering set-up . i guess if you want a performance aod, lantach or something similure, 1000 aint bad. its all about the cash flow baby nto to contridct my self or anything