Transmission Help & Suggestions

[outback]

I'm new to the mustang world, I just purchased an '88 SpeedDensity LX 5.0 automatic about 3 weeks ago for $900.00. The motor runs good and the transmission was fine. I removed the smog and a/c, added headers and x-pipe, electric fan, and fixed a few other small things.

We changed a few vaccum lines around since some of them weren't even running into the distribution block, or whatever you call it on the firewall near the brake booster.

My problem started as we went for a test drive. Let the car warm up, pulled out on the highway and it felt like it was shifting up faster than it should. Went about 2 miles and turned around, went to warm the tires up anyway and it wouldn't spin them but the rpms went up to about 4500 as if it were under a small load (before adding the extra stuff it would smoke posi all the time). So I ran it through to about 80 and let out of it, it didn't feel right so we went back home. Let the car sit and idle for a while to make sure the waterpump etc. was going to be okay. I got in to rev the car up a couple of times and it felt really sluggish. So now, i'm thinking what the ****. I put the car in neutral, it goes forward...reverse it stays and doesn't do anything, 1-forward 2-forward, etc. etc. Park tries to pull the motor, but holds the car. What could I have done, or did the transmission just take a crap?

What auto transmission does the stock 5.0 LX have in it?

Like I said I'm new to Mustangs and especially fords, this is my first ford. Although I consider a mustang a mustang and not a ford

 

[2000xp8]

Well you have an AOD, I don't think there is anything on the trans vacumm or computer controlled, so it may of taken a crap.

Not sure how much work you have done, but a stock AOD car usually will only smoke the tires if you power brake.

 

[outback]

Not much has been done to the car, but it seems to run pretty good for a stock stang.
I won't even smoke the tires powerbraking now...and that's only with front brakes.
Before it would spin the tires just going from idle to WOT, now it just lugs.

If the transmission did take a crap, and I want to keep it an automatic what transmission should I upgrade to?
I don't really want to spend over $1500 for the complete setup if possible, but want something that will hold up after converting to mass air, cam, heads, intake...

 

[cammiegrn]

MLPS?

Sounds like your Manual Lever Positioning Sensor or MLPS might need to be adjusted. You need some special tool for it. It relays between the shifter and the tranny on an automatic to tell it what gear it should be in. That should fix the "what gear is it trying to be in" problem.

 

[87'GTstang]

What vacuum lines did you change around exactly? Also how does the engine behave at idle compared to previously before all of this was done?

 

[The Shape]

Sounds like your Manual Lever Positioning Sensor or MLPS might need to be adjusted. You need some special tool for it. It relays between the shifter and the tranny on an automatic to tell it what gear it should be in. That should fix the "what gear is it trying to be in" problem.

I don't believe the AOD uses such a sensor it is a pretty old school trans, no electronic control whatsoever. As said above there aren't any vaccum lines for an AOD either. Only thing I can think of is if you while working on the vacum lines and removing the smog system you might have accidently knocke the Throttle Valve cab;e off of the throttle body. It should be reight beside the accelerator cable and attatches by snapping into a rubber grommet on the throttle body.

You are right as long as the engine is tuned up correctly and the TV cab;e is set right an AOD shouldn't have any problem what so ever lighting the tires up without power braking. My car is stock and I can spin the tires with no problem from a dead stop without touching the brake pedal. As for the worst case scenario and you nee dot replace the AOD a few companies to check out would be PA , Lentech and Art Carr all of them make beefed up AOD's in different levels/prive ranges. And they all have good reputations.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Check to see if the TV cable is still hooked up to the throttle body and didn't fall off.

The speed density AOD cars are a little more peppy than later AOD's. My '88 would light up the tires from a stop and now with 3.73's and some mods it will get rubber on the 1-2 shift. It ran a 14.8 @ 93MPH and i got it down to 14.0 @ 100MPH with bolt-ons.