And if so, how rare or popular was it?

If not, why not? I'll have a hard time buying it if you tell me it's cause the 351 generated more power than an AOD could handle. Why.... well, per wikipedia the following table will show you why. Per the chart my 86 with an EFI 302 puts out 185HP and 270lb/ft. The 351 (non HO) from 83-85 put out only 150HP and 280lb/ft. That's a big HP edge to the 302 and a minor difference in torque. So, that said, why would the 351 not have more often been paired with an AOD?

EDIT: It seems like you come across a lot more Bronco's with a 351 than F-150's. Since it seems most Bronco's I've encountered have auto trans, are they typically C6's when a 351 is under the hood? Any AODs?


<table class="wikitable"><tbody><tr><th>Engine</th> <th>Years</th> <th>Power</th> <th>Torque</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>232 CID Essex V6</td> <td>1982–83</td> <td>110 hp (82 kW)</td> <td>183 lb·ft (248 N·m)</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>255 CID Windsor V8</td> <td>1980–81</td> <td>115 hp (86 kW)</td> <td>206 lb·ft (279 N·m)</td> <td>2bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>300 CID Straight-6</td> <td>1980</td> <td>117 hp (87 kW)</td> <td>227 lb·ft (308 N·m)</td> <td>1bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>300 CID† Straight-6</td> <td>1980</td> <td>120 hp (89 kW)</td> <td>229 lb·ft (310 N·m)</td> <td>1bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>300 CID Straight-6</td> <td>1981–86</td> <td>122 hp (91 kW)</td> <td>255 lb·ft (346 N·m)</td> <td>1bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>302 CID Windsor V8</td> <td>1980–85</td> <td>133 hp (99 kW)</td> <td>233 lb·ft (316 N·m)</td> <td>2bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>302 CID Windsor V8</td> <td>1985–86</td> <td>185 hp (138 kW)</td> <td>270 lb·ft (366 N·m)</td> <td>EFI</td> </tr> <tr> <td>351 CID 351M V8</td> <td>1980–82</td> <td>136 hp (101 kW)</td> <td>262 lb·ft (355 N·m)</td> <td>2bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>351 CID Windsor V8</td> <td>1980–82</td> <td>136 hp (101 kW)</td> <td>262 lb·ft (355 N·m)</td> <td>2bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>351 CID Windsor V8</td> <td>1983–85</td> <td>150 hp (110 kW)</td> <td>280 lb·ft (380 N·m)</td> <td>2bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>351 CID HO Windsor V8</td> <td>1984–86</td> <td>210 hp (160 kW)</td> <td>305 lb·ft (414 N·m)</td> <td>4bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>400 CID† 400 V8</td> <td>1980–82</td> <td>136 hp (101 kW)</td> <td>310 lb·ft (420 N·m)</td> <td>2bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>420 CID Navistar diesel V8†</td> <td>1983–86</td> <td>170 hp (130 kW)</td> <td>315 lb·ft (427 N·m)</td> <td>IDI</td> </tr> <tr> <td>460 CID† 385 V8</td> <td>1983–84</td> <td>225 hp (168 kW)</td> <td>380 lb·ft (515 N·m)</td> <td>4bbl</td> </tr> <tr> <td>460 CID† 385 V8</td> <td>1985–86</td> <td>245 hp (183 kW)</td> <td>385 lb·ft (522 N·m)</td> <td>4bbl</td> <td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

The AOD in my F250 is factory - the original engine was a 302 (now has a 351W swapped in). The trans has been nearing it's end for a while so I've used the time to check out options I was interested in.

Everything I've found says that there were no AOD's fitted to anything bigger than a 302 in trucks.........but I have heard of 351W / AOD combinations in some police cars.

'If not, why not?' - Well I guess, despite hp & torque figures, their history shows that they were near their limit in trucks, even with smaller engines.

 

My 1981 came with a 302 and AOD. I swapped in a 351W and rebuilt the AOD and it
does well with the larger engine. The biggest challege anyone faces with these trans
is the TV hookup. I adapted the stock rod on mine from the Motorcraft 2bbl to a Holley
4180 4bbl and it works OK. I am researching and planning the best way to replace the
rod setup with a cable which I feel would work better.

 

in the 80's they had the 351 2bbl 'Vics. I think that was the last one. I am in the beginnings of building a new AOD to go behind my project 351 for my 86. The only stock AOD that would hold up well at all to a 351 would be one out of a 92-93 302 truck, they had all the case updates, the 2" o/d band and the large o/d servo. It would still need the direct clutch pack upgrade to be really reliable. The flexplate from the 'Vic would be needed as well. Any case older than 89 should be avoided at all cost. An AOD can hold up very well to a powerful motor, just not in stock form. The are used quite regularly in high HP/TQ applications in drag racing. In my case, it is much cheaper for me to build up an AOD with hardened to components than to build up and fit an E4OD with control system, new driveshafts, crossmember etc., and the AOD will use less power than an E4OD. A 3 speed trans is out of the question for me. The tv cable for efi 302 is compatible with the EFI 351

 

To make an AOD last, the following will help:
1. MAKE SURE THE TV ROD OR CABLE IS HOOKED UP AND ADJUSTED PROPERLY!
2. Stay out of Overdrive if you are towing, climbing, or if the transmission "hunts." Excessive shifting between 3rd and OD will burn up the OD band fast.
3. Install an axillary transmission cooler. Heat is what kills any automatic transmission.
4. Change the fluid/filter every 3 years or 36,000 miles. Just like motor oil, transmission fluid does break down over time, and the filter becomes dirty.
5. Install a shift kit. Firmer shifts saves clutches, and are easier on any automatic transmission.

*****

You bring up a good point, smashclash. My guess it that Ford figured that most people who ordered the bigger 351 engine over a 302 was more likely going to use the engine hard or for pulling purposes, and a stock AOD was made for low RPM cruising and better gas mileage.

There is a very knowledgeable fellow over in the 1987-1996 forums by the name of Conanski who ran a modified 351 behind an AOD with nothing more than a shift kit for over 8 years and he said he drove it hard and never expereinced any problems. You may want to look him up and talk to him about it.

Are you absolutely sure about that, Ken? I have never heard of a 302/AOD combo in a truck heavier than an F-150.

 

Side question here.... did the 300 I6 have the AOD from the factory?

 

Yes. 302 and 300 were the typical engines to find an AOD behind in a truck.

 

Here's some good info on the AOD.
Main Tech Help Page - Baumann Electronic Controls, LLC

 

Perhaps they did that in New Zealand?

 

Ken's truck originated in San Francisco or some such.

 

no aod in 351 but they can be built to work well with the 351

 

The 302/AOD was available in F250's. Seen a few members post with the combo here. Not sure, but I suspect they are light duty F250's.

 

No, the Australian F-Series trucks that were supplied here didn't ever use AOD's (at least to my knowledge)......C6's & NP435's were the common transmissions.

As Chris mentioned, my truck is ex California - 7300lb GVWR . Everything about it (chassis, brakes, suspension etc) is the same as a HD but along with the AOD, it also has a semi-float Dana 60. That seems to have lowered the GVWR.

The AOD in it is original - the door sticker specifies it.

 

what flex plate are you running with your 351W AOD ? i am tring to do the swap and i am have trouble geting it bolted up right. the flex plate and torque converter are pushing each other.

 

It is flexplate with the imbalance for the 351W that was supplied with the balanced crankshaft assembly that I bought for the engine build. It works fine and it may be
the same flexplate for a C4 or maybe a C6. I don't know for sure but some more
kownledgeable members may know for sure.

As an update, I have finally converted the TV control to a cable. Mine was different than most do. It consisted of a 1991 police 351W carb cable that I bought some
years ago and a Transmision bracket for the same application along with a 1990s
Mustang transmission arm. I had to fabricate the control arm to attach to the Holley
4bbl along with a Ford grommet for the cable. the hardest part was fabricating the
throttle and TV cable bracket to hold both cables in the correct position. This was done by combinding the stock bracket from the original 302 and a Ford throttle cable
bracket for a 351W HO. It works great and has smoothed the shift and made the TV
adjustment more precise.