To buy or build my AOD

[webshot]

I am looking at completing my drive train mods maybe over the next month or so. I have already: Put in 373's, got an aluminum d/s. Now I am looking at either rebuilding my AOD with a semi-man valve body, 3k stall.....the works. But I got to thinking. Maybe I should just buy a lentech AOD already built. I was thinking on getting a tko. But I have been told the cost is through the roof for one of them. ANd I dont plan on doing to much drag if any. Mostly just street and weekend warrior type stuff.

My question is which would be "presumably" the best route? Rebuild my AOD to make it a beast, or just buy a beast? Also are there any other considerations I should make during this decision?

 

[jaackal]

a rebuild if u were to get it done some where would cost my guess would be 1500 bucks, so go from there weather or not u should just buy a new one...me personally from my expierences i would just buy a new one, bolt it right up and ur good to go just my .02

 

[plainwrecknate]

i'm with jaackal. to get your rebuilt will be arouns 1500-1700, to get a new lentech it's 1800, on special right now. without the special it's 2000. so for a few hundred more, you can get a new tranny. but that's just me.

the $1800 is for the Street Terminator and you pick the stall. this is the route i'm thinking about taking.

 

[plainwrecknate]

deleted. sorry, double post.

 

[notchback]

actually the rebuild could be $1800-$2k easily....and not counting the converter.

definitely go w/ the lentech

 

[JUCD 5.0]

Hmmm i think i may buy the Lentech now

 

[nosmatt]

if you can get your hands on a core aod, you can build something better, and stronger then the lentech, for alot less..and then run a GOOD converter, rather than what they sell.........


just another thought.... i built my own aod, and it is not hard. and the parts are NOT expensive.
with a new converter, and all new soft parts and bushings, i have less than 400 in mine.......yes, i bought a crap converter for now....just a stocker for 130. the rebuild kit was 89, and the carbon mettalic band was only15 bux, the shift kit was 85, the intermediate roller clutch was 8 dollars......not much involved.
get the video, take your time.

1400 bux savings is alot, even if you add the a+ servo (120), the one piece input shaft (170) and the mech diode kit (175), now you have a stronger tranny than the lentech ever will be, and you STILL have less in it.

 

[notchback]

just another thought.... i built my own aod, and it is not hard. and the parts are NOT expensive.
with a new converter, and all new soft parts and bushings, i have less than 400 in mine.......yes, i bought a crap converter for now....just a stocker for 130. the rebuild kit was 89, and the carbon mettalic band was only15 bux, the shift kit was 85, the intermediate roller clutch was 8 dollars......not much involved.
get the video, take your time.
.

ok now, a good converter is $600, apparently not much destroyed in yours...cuz my hard parts alone were gonna be $800....so i got the low gear set from motorsport for $500 which covered all those and made it better to boot.

so even at that...$1100 compared to a warrantied lentech......

doesn't take a rocket scientist to fig that out. i guess it depends on the damage, and no way of knowing til it's broke down

 

[nosmatt]

NOT SURE, but i dont think ya priced those hard parts yourself.

no offense.......but here in fresno, we pay far too much for anything!


fwiw, you can get a low milage 4r70w from a wrecking yard for 250 all day.

you can take everything out of it, INCLUDING the wide ratio gearset, or you can keep your old standard set....this includes the better mech diode, and also the 4 plate intermediate clutch assy...then buy a soft part kit (for the 4r about 50 bux), and bushing kit for the aod (about 23 bux) and use all the drums from the aod, as well as the out input, and output shafts, but use the 4r forward shaft (the hollow one) that is pressed. and pickup SUBSTANTIAL strength over the lentech stock aod parts...... unless lentech states your getting 4r parts, then you are not.

so, a lentech converter, no bueno. you will need a good one anyway.so, the same 600 applies.

get all the good stuff for the aod from the 4r core, and add the hardened input shaft, the a+ od servo, and your at about 540, then add the ~100 for a softpart, and bushing kit from bulkpart.com....
your in the trans for under 700 now...and of course, still need that converter (btw, i would not spend over 400 for an edge converter) GET THE VIDEO, another 30 bux, and get a atsg manual..... no real special tools required. a low milage 4r with clutches that are not burned will not need the drum seal replaced. everything else can be done with a screw driver, other than the pressed in bushings. take the tailhousing, and pump, as well as the aod case to a local mom n pop trans shop to have those put in for about 40-50 bux more.....

now, you can add a lentech vb to it.and then your real close to the same cost, BUT you have stronger internals.


jmho, and everyone has their own.........

 

[smittyb]

Well....I went the Lentech route and I love it. I first went with a Transgo kit and F'ed something up, so then I found and smokin deal on an Art Carr VB..got burned on that one too. I found a brand new Lentech in the local classifieds and jumped on it. It's not truly a Lentech tranny, but the guy bought a Lentech VB, hardened lockup shaft, Wide ratio gearset,etc.etc. and had a local shop put it all together. The guy purchased it for a project and never installed it, he was buying a new house, so I got a good deal. Threw in an Edge converter, and I am tearing up the town. Nosmatt, why do you not like the Edge units?
Btw I still have the Artt Carr VB if anybody is interested, don't know whats wrong with it, I'm thinking maybe just a stuck valve, but thet are stupid expensive new.

 

[webshot]

thanks guys.....good info

 

[RYC CUKR]

I plan on rebuilding mine myself. Put an Edge converter in it and see how well I did. I just like doing as much as I can myself and since I am pretty mechanically oriented I usually pick things up pretty quick.

 

[macx]

You CAN save yourself a bundle building it yourself,
but you do need a few special tools, like the seal
protectors.

It's absolutely true you can get a later model 4R70W
out of a yard cheap and transfer lots of the parts.

Here's some details

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/article111.html
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/article80.html

 

[rsw007]

i can say honestly that i will always run a edge converter in my aod. they rock!

 

[nosmatt]

who said i did not like edge converters?


what i said was, i would not pay over 400 for a converter. that converter being an edge........
they are not 600 in other words.

i have heard nuthin but good about em...........when i get a converter, i will most likely go with TCS again, becuase of my past positive results.

 

[rd]

If I was doing it, and I have an aod in the garage waiting for me to install in something, I would go the home rebuild route and then buy someone's valvebody, TCI or Bauman, probably.

I have researched it, and you might need the seal installer tools, but that's about all of the special stuff needed.

I don't like doing vb mods, except cleaning them, because if you need to make changes, it's messy and takes a whole fluid change.

 

[RdRunnr]

Like everyone said, you can build up your aod for half the price of the name brand ones and it will probably be stronger.