Tranny upgrade

Moondog2178

Moondog2178

Member
Mar 10, 2024
46
12
18
New York
#1
Hi all, I have an ‘89 5.0 vert with 39k miles on it. I’m the second owner. Bought it in March with 38k. Other than flowmasters and sub frame connectors the car is completely stock and unmolested. I’m looking to replace the current AOD tranny in the near future with a better one. The original tranny has already been replaced and I just had the seals done on this one. These trannys are weak. Has anyone upgraded their tranny and what do you recommend? Thanks
 
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#2
I like to row the gears...... TKX
DSCF1096.webp
 
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#4
It's been a minute since I had the car and did the swap, but the 84 vert I had and swapped a 5.0 HO/AOD combo from a Lincoln Mark VII had a snap ring come loose in the planetary gears and allowed them to grind into the back of the pump. The fix is a spiral ring in place of the snap ring that holds the planetary gear set. That's something I didn't see in the article that @Noobz347 shared. Otherwise I agree, a manual is the best way to go and the reason I have the 87 GT vert that I never seem to get to do anything with. :cautious:
 
#6
LILCBRA said:
It's been a minute since I had the car and did the swap, but the 84 vert I had and swapped a 5.0 HO/AOD combo from a Lincoln Mark VII had a snap ring come loose in the planetary gears and allowed them to grind into the back of the pump. The fix is a spiral ring in place of the snap ring that holds the planetary gear set. That's something I didn't see in the article that @Noobz347 shared. Otherwise I agree, a manual is the best way to go and the reason I have the 87 GT vert that I never seem to get to do anything with. :cautious:
Click to expand...
 
#9
Do you plan on modifying the engine? It could just be bad luck that the trans broke with such low mileage, at stock power levels I wouldn't necessarily call them weak. I do however think they were slow to shift and wasted too much power compared to a 5 speed.
Maybe consider a shift kit?
Possiy some 4.10 gears for the rear.
 
#10
2000xp8 said:
Do you plan on modifying the engine? It could just be bad luck that the trans broke with such low mileage, at stock power levels I wouldn't necessarily call them weak. I do however think they were slow to shift and wasted too much power compared to a 5 speed.
Maybe consider a shift kit?
Possiy some 4.10 gears for the rear.
Click to expand...
No. Already have 3.73s and a a shift kit
 
#12
89ripper said:
I assuming this still has stock valvebody? Im not at sure what comes with a "shift kit" anymore. Are you doing the AOD shifting trick or do you just put it in drive and go?
Click to expand...
This is the second tranny and I’m not sure what comes with a shift kit either. I had a leak so I just replaced the seals. The prev owner put 700 miles on it the last 7 yrs. Now it’s being used. I’ve put a 1000 miles on it last 5 mos. I don’t do the shifting trick. I just drive n go. It’s a cruiser for me. I’m 55
 
#13
What are you actually looking to accomplish? Guys put way more through them than 200rwhp without breaking them. The shift kit reduces slip and heat.
If it's reliability you are after, in this case I'd break it before I bought something significantly more expensive.
 
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#16
Moondog2178 said:
This is the second tranny and I’m not sure what comes with a shift kit either. I had a leak so I just replaced the seals. The prev owner put 700 miles on it the last 7 yrs. Now it’s being used. I’ve put a 1000 miles on it last 5 mos. I don’t do the shifting trick. I just drive n go. It’s a cruiser for me. I’m 55
Click to expand...
Ok, fair enough Moondog. Ive owned my mustang for 28 years and in that time have gone through 2 AODs ( one was my fault) I learned the hard way and paid for it in the end. 2000xp8 is right in the sense the trans is not "weak", its just a non performance transmission which has some lackluster buttery shifts that most people scrap in favor over a manual. How well do you know the POs history with car? Did they do good work? Thats low miles but maybe they hotrodded it idk
 
#20
89ripper said:
Ok, fair enough Moondog. Ive owned my mustang for 28 years and in that time have gone through 2 AODs ( one was my fault) I learned the hard way and paid for it in the end. 2000xp8 is right in the sense the trans is not "weak", its just a non performance transmission which has some lackluster buttery shifts that most people scrap in favor over a manual. How well do you know the POs history with car? Did they do good work? Thats low miles but maybe they hotrodded it idk
Click to expand...
Car was always garaged and pampered. I didn’t want an AOD but I couldn’t pass up this car. Never seen rain. One owner car and they’re in their 70s now
 
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