Automatic Transmissions?

Ares67Coupe

New Member
Jun 16, 2004
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Nor Cal
Ok, so it is beginning to get to that time of needed a new transmission or getting the old one rebuilt, however I would like to change over to an AOD for that extra gear for those highway trips that I occasionally make. Especially with changing out the rear end gearing to 3.55. Now is there a particular brand of AOD to look for IE TCI etc? Or is it better to go with a stock AOD. It will need to be built either way for the power I am going to be making. Any recommendations on brand or should I just straight build a stock AOD? I will be making over 500HP BTW if that helps sway anyone's decision.
 
A few questions first...

How hard will the car be driven, line lock/drag racing, slicks in your future?

How much are you prepared to spend?

A stock AOD can easliy be blown up behind a stock 5.0 in a fox Mustang. But with some key upgrades it can handle the 400FWHP range without trouble, 500 is pushing it a bit IMHO.

TCI and B&M are in the same league, a step up from a stocker but not for serious racers. They are just heavily tricked stockers, although I think they make units for the 500FWHP arena they are generally more for street cars.

Lentech makes the best ones but they start at around $2250 IIRC, and go way up from there.
 
Well I already have a C4 in the car, however I do some fairly long distance traveling and the car sounds so damn stressed as it stands with the rear gears @ 2.79. If I dropped in the 9" with the 3.55s I don't think the car would be happy with rolling for 200 miles @ 70 MPH @ 3400 RPM.

If keeping the C4 is better for the HP than by all means I'll do it, I just was looking for that extra gear for the LD trips. I already have a C4 in there, but it needs a rebuild pretty badly. So should I just get the C4 rebuilt, new torque converter, maybe some other stuff done to it, and drop in the 9" rear?
 
You stole the words right off my keyboard... the same two companies I'd recommend.

There is another option, however. I kept my beefed up C-4 and installed a Gear Vendors Overdrive. It cost $2400, but its also good to over 1200hp and I can split gears, if I want. Its a direct bolt-in and just requires you to shorten your driveshaft to about 36.5".

500hp? Wow... I'd like to see your parts list. You really need to go the route I did, with that power.
 
GaPonyFarm said:
There is another option, however. I kept my beefed up C-4 and installed a Gear Vendors Overdrive. It cost $2400, but its also good to over 1200hp and I can split gears, if I want. Its a direct bolt-in and just requires you to shorten your driveshaft to about 36.5".

I have heard about that, how well does the Gear Venders OD work?

My parts list isn't that impressive, it runs only sometimes at 500+ HP if you know what I mean. ;) Just that little red button there on the shifter. :D
 
AOD is definitely NOT the way to go in this kind of case. Gear vendors would be my ONLY suggestion for overdrive.

By the time you pay for a built up AOD, you could be 2600 into it, and in which case could have built a C4 and bought a gear vendors unit. Then you're nearly guaranteed not to blow, and you can split gears. The AOD still isn't as strong as that unit unless you're paying a lot of dough. Art Carr also makes a decent AOD if I remember correctly.

Carlo