Help me decide on transmissions.Auto and Stick.

[King Cobra 22]

Right now I have an AODE that was rebuilt a little over a year ago with a shift kit. I'm making more power now H/C/I and nitrous and don't think the AODE will hold up. I need something strong and that will be able to handle at least 400rwhp. I have a few options and would like your oppinions on what I should do.I'm on a budget so I'll probably go with the cheaper option.


Option A : Get an AODE rebuild kit with all heavy duty clutches and bands,
3000 stall converter,valvebody,tranny cooler etc...
Pro's-Probably the cheapest?
Con's-Would it be enough?

Option B : Buy a new already built up Aode with a good Torque converter
Pro's-Probably the easiest.
Con's-Probably the most expensive.

Option C : Get a manual.TKO or something and do the conversion.
Pro's- Free up some RWHP,more fun.
Con's-Conversion seems like alot involved(computer swap etc..),don't drive stick too well(only drove stick a few times in my life) Don't know how to launch or race with a stick and will probably be slower due to my lack of expierence.It would be like learning to race all over again.

In my situation what do you think I should do?
Remember I'm on a budget but want something to hold up.

 

[Stanger007]

Subscribing to this one - I'm interested too.

 

[bimmertech]

more fun.

you have answered your own question

 

[Zero Signal]

That's easy - STICK

 

[final5-0]

I have had both types of full blown trans set-ups!

The auto was really cool and ROCKED in full throttle blasts.

For me that was the ONLY time the auto was fun!

For all of those other times ...... the auto made me wish I could shift gears.

Not trying to put down the auto at all

but

No matter what you do to an auto trans car ......

it will never drive like a stick car.

If you think anything like that ..................

don't spend another dime on the auto!

Grady

 

[HISSIN50]

How about a manual valvebody type of set up? You would have the control of a stick but w/o having to actually work the pedal.

Then again, once you got into it (5 spd) and learned stuff like heel/toeing, you would be hooked.............

Good luck with the decision.

 

[King Cobra 22]

I'm leaning more to option A and C not so much of option B because I was looking at a PA(performance automatic) AODE and they cost like $2500+.


So now it's more between building up my AODE or doing a 5 speed swap.

If I were to do a 5 speed swap and get something like a TKO 500 or 600 Would I have everything I would need.
I know I would have to get a clutch pedal.Anything else?
What about my auto computer A9P. Would I have to get a stick computer A9l? Or could I keep my auto computer?

 

[final5-0]

You are listing Fox body pcm's!

Do you have a Fox Stang?

Yes ... You need a stick pcm

Grady

 

[King Cobra 22]

You are listing Fox body pcm's!

Do you have a Fox Stang?

Yes ... You need a stick pcm

Grady

LOL...I knew that... What was I thinking.

If I already have a chip burned for my H/C/I could I use that on a stick pcm?

I was also thinking of possibly getting a used T5 and putting a good strong clutch in it.Would I have to rebuild that up with all strong parts or would it handle 400hp?

 

[HISSIN50]

How long a T5 lasts behind that kind of power is up to the driver. A biting clutch (non organic friction material) and real stickies out back tend to kinda make the trans the weak link in the driveline - not my cup of tea. I want the clutch to be the weak link.

Grady is spot on about the puters - though if you were running an A9P, it might make things easier (the trans and puter have no real association on a fox).

If you search in here, you will find that some peeps have covered the conversion stuff fairly well. Amonst things needed are a flywheel, pedal assembly mods, clutch, DS is good (gets rid of the weight on it), puter, and a host of misc other stuff.

Some places offer conversion kits - that might work for ya, might not.

I guess the manual valvebody was a dumb idea.

Good luck with it.

 

[bimmertech]

I guess the manual valvebody was a dumb idea.

Good luck with it.

i had a manual valve body in my t/a and it was deff cool. for $2500--pa auto--you could get a complete t56 swap.

 

[Grn92LX]

Stick with a built up automatic with a GOOD converter and a full reverse manual valve body.

I have a tremec tko, aluminum flywheel, killer clutch combo and I would love to go with a done right aod with a good converter. Its just too much money and work so i'm keeping the stick. I want the consistency and easier launching for racing (track and street)

 

[King Cobra 22]

I guess the manual valvebody was a dumb idea.

No actually I may want to do that. With that can't you shift without a clutch and drive it like an auto too? That is what I heard.

I think I'm going to go with building up my automatic.
I was looking at http://www.ford-aode.com/ and was looking at some of the kits they have.

What all will I need to handle 400+ hp?

I was thinking of the following

-Interceptor master rebuild kit. (#12) scroll less then half way down.

-Extreme Duty hard intermediate shaft

-deep tranny pan

-tranny cooler

-3000 stall converter

-possibly a manual valvebody

I have a shift kit now and it shifts firm but is there anything else I could get or do to make it shift even harder. I want it so shift REAL hard.

SO what do you think?

 

[Green 94 5.0]

i am biased now, but i would go with the auto to manual swap. i did it after i trashed my second aode and never had one regret. the t5 i put in has been through hell and is still alive and kicking 3 years later. at the moment its handling about 400rwhp. i drive the car hard with a king cobra clutch and 315 35 17 drag radials and it is holding up so far. then again, i dont powershift or launch it hard either. as was already said, how long a t5 will last at that level is 100% up to the driver. if you want info on the swap, do a search in the 94-95 tech forum for the keyword "swap" and my username. you should find all the info you need. if you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a PM. also, as far as the EEC goes, a manual EEC is not necessary for the car to run. it is however necessary for the car to run at 100%. the reason being, at the points where the aod-e would normally shift, the computer pulls timing. this will cause some bogging and hesitation at certain points under normal driving conditions. not really detrimental to the car, just an annoyance.

 

[Green 94 5.0]

also, if you want to step to the manual and decide on a t5, i can sell you a good amount of the swap right out of my car since i am stepping up to the tko600 when the 331 goes in and there are quite a few parts that will need to be changed (tranny, bellhousing, shifter, clutch, clutch fork, etc.). for more info on what will be available, drop me a pm also.

 

[King Cobra 22]

I would like to do a manual swap but I don't really want to do the whole computer swap thing and because I have a burned chip already.Not sure if it would work in a manual computer.There also seems to be alot of things extra that I would need when doing the swap.I'm more into buying the whole kit at one source rather then searching and hunting for different parts from different places.

Now as for the Auto,
I was looking in the jegs mag and see they have a
PA AODE for $1,605 and it is rated to 550hp.
But I'm not sure if that comes with a torque converter.
With the price of a converter and tranny cooler I'm looking over $2,000 and that is beyond my budget.

 

[tjh566]

As far as racing goes a fully built auto is better for it but as far as fun goes i'd rather lose some performance at the track and have a stick, its just some much fun to bang the gears. I drove an automatic car and said i would never drive another auto car unless it was for communting or somethin.

 

[Green 94 5.0]

I would like to do a manual swap but I don't really want to do the whole computer swap thing and because I have a burned chip already.Not sure if it would work in a manual computer.There also seems to be alot of things extra that I would need when doing the swap.I'm more into buying the whole kit at one source rather then searching and hunting for different parts from different places.

Now as for the Auto,
I was looking in the jegs mag and see they have a
PA AODE for $1,605 and it is rated to 550hp.
But I'm not sure if that comes with a torque converter.
With the price of a converter and tranny cooler I'm looking over $2,000 and that is beyond my budget.

there isnt much more necessary you would need beyond what i am removing from mine. basing this on experience though, it is much, much less expensive to piece it all together than it is to buy a kit. do a search like i told ya, and i listed everything needed along with places to get the parts.

 

[final5-0]

I would like to do a manual swap but I don't really want to do the whole computer swap thing and because I have a burned chip already.Not sure if it would work in a manual computer.There also seems to be alot of things extra that I would need when doing the swap.I'm more into buying the whole kit at one source rather then searching and hunting for different parts from different places.

Now as for the Auto,
I was looking in the jegs mag and see they have a
PA AODE for $1,605 and it is rated to 550hp.
But I'm not sure if that comes with a torque converter.
With the price of a converter and tranny cooler I'm looking over $2,000 and that is beyond my budget.

Depending on what kind of chip you got

You may be placing way too much faith in its effectiveness

Some of those you find out there really don't do a whole lol

Grady

 

[King Cobra 22]

Depending on what kind of chip you got

You may be placing way too much faith in its effectiveness

Some of those you find out there really don't do a whole lol

Grady

Well it's a custom burned chip that the shop burned for my H/C/I setup.
Without that I would have problems at idle. So it's kind of important.