Understanding my AOD and its potential

[webshot]

Okay I have been on the board for a few days now reading just about every post concerning the 5.0 AOD (I have one in my 88 GT). Been writing notes on everything from AOD shufflin, valve bodies and shift kits. And I must say I am thoroughly confused on how to get a AOD to perform (the more I read). On one note it is said that you can safely do the shuffle, then on another hand it wrecks the tranny. Its back and forth like that, that confuses me. I know this is a public forum so alot of opinions are biased or based on false info. I plan on tricking out my exhaust, then the drive train, then tackle the engine. But I am not one of the types who just takes their car to a shop and just says do whatever to make me fast. I like to understand what is going on and even try stuff myself.

So my question is, could we have a small discussion on the AOD and the right way to trick it out and get it to perform? Or some concerns I should consider before taking this on. Or maybe post some links where I can expand my knowledge (I could have missed a thread or 2)... Searching here has kinda confused me, I didnt read all the posts in the search results (searched for "AOD" and "transmission") but I read ALOT of them.

 

[Foxfan88]

i wouldnt advise the shuffle, i mean i havent done it or know much about it but it seems unnecessary.

as for AOD performance, i would suggest a 3k stall and a good shift kit, thats as far as i would go with the AOD

i was going to beef up my AOD but instead just got all the parts i need to swap to 5speed for 400$

either way it will cost some dough, but for track consistancy, the AOD rules but for having fun on the street the 5 speed takes the cake.

 

[tjm73]

DO NOT DO THE SHUFFLE. When you do the shuffle you momentarily engage and slip reverse and overdrive bands and generate excessive heatr and wear on those bands, which shortens the life of the tranny.

From teh factory the AOD leaves much to be desired, but it has a lot of potential to offer. Where I to buy my '90 Mustang again I would probably preffer an AOD car.

As for what's best it really depends on a lot of factors and how you want the car to perform and how much you are willing to spend.

For a mild street car, a shift kit will suffice for many people (not me). At a minimum I feel every AOD needs at least a shift kit, auxillary tranny fluid cooler and a torque convertor. Next on the list is either a 1 piece input shaft or a hardened 2 piece replacement shaft. And after that a Lentech Valvebody which changes the shift pattern from P-R-N-OD-D-1 to P-R-N-3-2-1 with OD engaged by a switch (in either automatic or manual versions).

An AOD with a tranny cooler, Lentech manual valvebody, 1 piece input shaft and a torque convertor will tear a 5 speed car a new asz...IMO. Their are some internal thigns that can be addressed and that will make the tranny more reliable too.

 

[webshot]

tjm73 -
That is exactly the kind of stuff I want to know.... basically the different formulas and stuff. My friend has a stick that is pretty hot, but I want to whip his arse. I liek going against the grain too, seems people underestimate auto's. That setup you just explained, what would you think a ball park daollar figure would be on that?

For my cause, It primarily would not be a daily driver, but I want to be able to gete on the freeway from time to time. I dont plan on racing the circuit but I want to be able to hang with the big boys on the street.

Oh and thanks for letting me know what a "valve body" does. I hear alot on the boards, therefore was afraid to ask what it did with out a flame retardant suit...lol

 

[dbdragracing]

subscribing....I want to learn how to beef my AOD up too!

 

[tjm73]

There are a couple great resources for AOD performance that I have learned a lot from.

Lentech - www.lentechautomatics.com
Baumann - www.becontrols.com
Precision Industries - www.converter.com

Baumann has an incredibly extensive ammount of information on Ford Automatic Overdrives and their stuff is not overpriced at all. I've talked to them, my brother has talked to them and friends ahve talked to them. They seem like really good people. Baumann's technical database is outstanding.

Lentech is, in my opinion, the top AOD valvebody supplier. They were the first to reprogram the Ford valvebody to work in a way that doesn't suck.

Precision Industries makes the best torque convertors IMO. They have a higher internal torque multiplication factor than anyone else and the build quality is outstanding.

I would suggest thoughly investigating these three sources of info as well as TCI, Art Carr, and B&M.

The AOD in particular is way, way underestimated. It has been said that with a few select parts the AOD is stronger and more efficient than the GM Turbo 400, which was widely accepted as the toughest factory auto tranny for a very long time, maybe even still.

 

[tjm73]

Oh and thanks for letting me know what a "valve body" does. I hear alot on the boards, therefore was afraid to ask what it did with out a flame retardant suit...lol

The valvebody is like the brain of the tranny. It controls everything.

Things you want to learn about are the A-Servo upgrade, the hardened input shaft options and torque converters. The converter is the muscle of the tranny. It recieves the energy fromteh engine and applies it to the gearsets in the tranny and stores and releases that energy through the tranny fluid.

Torque convertors are extremely confusing devices. What works on a high hp small displacement engine will not work the same as a large displacement high torque engine. Add different axle ratios and vehicle weights to the mix and things get whacky....fast.

I've spent years reading about all things automatic and feel like I'm just starting to get a decent understanding of them.

 

[stroked8e5]

As far as beefing up internally my units always get the mechanical diode reverse drum, Kevlar OD band, alto direct clutch kit and solid Teflon sealing rings for direct. Thats just for everyday cars and trucks. When my T-5 pops I plan on doing just the opposite of everyone else and swap an AOD in my 85. Really just because I have one built already with Kolene steels and Raybestos blue clutches.

 

[webshot]

tjm - very good info and links.....it is much appreciated. Hopefully others will chime in with some input.

 

[Lyncher]

so basically...a beefed up aod with a shift kit, 3000+ stall, a valve body, and a transcooler will actaully be faster than a 5 speed? Any input is more than welcome

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I searched and didnt wanna start a new thread

 

[tjm73]

so basically...a beefed up aod with a shift kit, 3000+ stall, a valve body, and a transcooler will actaully be faster than a 5 speed? Any input is more than welcome

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I searched and didnt wanna start a new thread

It could be. Not definitly gonna be. Too many variables. It will shift harder, faster and more consistently for sure.

 

[Lyncher]

It could be. Not definitly gonna be. Too many variables. It will shift harder, faster and more consistently for sure.

so basically say I have a 700+ rwhp stang...with a built aod 3500 stall, big ass trans cooler and good valve body + shift kit....will it be faster than a 5 speed on the same car?

 

[webshot]

I am not a professional but Ihave been talking to lots of folks since this thread and it seems it will eliminate driver error and increase consistancy. But it will also limit the possibility of getting that super duper on time perfect shift and petal shift that is possible with a stick. As I was told it prevents you from pulling out the incredible but then it also keeps you consistant. Not sure if that made sense but when this dude was explaining it to me at a speed shop it made sense.

 

[Lyncher]

...basically it means that you will be consistant, but you will never get that one time perfect run with perfect shifts thats .1 faster...right? So I mean average time wise...which would be faster

 

[spyne]

Subscribing....

 

[shttygtstang]

I think on a car with higher hp levels it will be faster than a 5 speed just because no one can shift as fast as a automatic tranny.
imo also the aods are one of the worst trannys. i did alot to mine shift kit,red high friction cluch packs ,hardened imput shaft,3500 stall , i wasnt impressed at all. Next project im going with a nicely built c4.

 

[Modular2v]

if you guys have ever ridden in an aod car with a full manual valve body you would fall in love with the car

 

[Lyncher]

not necessarily an aod but an auto... and no i havent been in a car with a full manual valve body...what does that actually do? thanks!

 

[davs5.0]

Wow, lots of good info TJM.

For those that asked, an auto will outperform a stick almost everytime at the track. Way more consistent and with the addition of a air shifter solenoid, it will shift at the same rpm everytime you go down the track. Throw a transbrake in and it will leave at the same rpm everytime. See where the consistency comes from.
However, an automatic trans does have more parasitic loss compared to a stickshift car. The trans with its heavier pump and converter takes more power to turn it. Most sites i've seen say about 15% loss for stick and 20% loss for the auto.
Now for the first question. The "shuffle" is like playing russian roulette. You may do it a hundred times but it only takes that one time to have a really bad day. Your best bet is get a Lentech valvebody and take it out of the equation.

 

[tjm73]

so basically say I have a 700+ rwhp stang...with a built aod 3500 stall, big ass trans cooler and good valve body + shift kit....will it be faster than a 5 speed on the same car?

For the money a 700 rwhp car should not have an AOD. It should have a C4.