I pulled my AOD transmission this afternoon, the overdrive band is history. I have never rebuilt an AOD before so I am looking for some recommendations on improvements while it is apart, servos, shift kit and other options. The truck is just used as a cruiser, the transmission is a 91 Lincoln Mark VII Ford reman, F1LZ7V000AARM, 2500 RPM stall converter and it's hooked to an approx. 375HP 306. TV pressure was set at 34psi.

 

Check these guys: Baumann Engineering - Upgrading Your AOD-E/4R70W or AOD Transmission

 

Hey Chuck,
I'm sorry to hear about your AOD. I'm experienced in
that dept. myself. The Baumann engineering site is a good one as is "silverfox" who makes solid throttle bodies eliminating the need for that dang cable.


You want the strongest Overdrive Band you can get. They come in (3) sizes A, B, C & some after market guys make an A+ size servo. The A servo is a 2 inch wide one that came on the Tbirds with larger engines. We went with an aftermarket A sized servo & the band was made from Kevlar.


I'd be cautious on the racing shift kits. We had one for a bit & I found them totally impractical for street driving - i.e. they moved your shift points way up in rev's. A lot of really hard shifts - great if you are racing not so good for cruising around town.


A lot of people go with the AODE internals in the AOD case. I had a transmission shop with a lot of old timers do my second try. It's also easy to get the wrong flex plate - let them help check that one.


Hang in there.


Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Hey Chuck,
Another piece of advice I was given when driving AOD's.
Run around town in D not Overdrive - Only move it into Overdrive when you are going over 50mph - highway driving. I also try not to get on it when I have it in Overdrive. Hard shifting isn't your friend in Overdrive.


I'm sure there are other opinions out there. We drive in Overdrive only on the highway & we have 15K miles on the second edition AOD.


Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Is performing these Baumann AODE upgrades/going through an AOD a DIY project or is this better left to a shop? I've worked on a couple of T5 transmissions and that seemed pretty straightforward however I'm sure one of these is more involved....just not sure to what extent.

 

Hi Ben,
We have been driving the truck just like you stated above. The problem did not show up until our first long road trip. The transmission just did not like the long run up into Flagstaff. Made it home OK but I knew something was just not right. I gambled on this transmission, bought it used, it was a Ford reman done in 2010. Only paid $150.00 bucks for it, some you win , some you loose, oh well.
Going to put an A servo in and kevlar band. Also going to put a shift kit in it but not sure which one. I do not want a racing transmission, this is an old farts cruiser, so something with firm shifts not head jerking, I am going to give Baumann a call tomorrow.

 

Putting in shift kits are usually pretty easy. It's when you get into the clutches ans planetaries that it gets more complicated. If you are confortable with your mechanical ability go for it, if not hire it out. The hard thing with hiring is out is finding a shop that won't screw you.

 

These manuals are very good: Ford AOD Transmission Rebuild Manual

The official factory service manual is pretty good too, but you need the service bulletins to go with it. May be online?

I'd be tempted to buy a reman from Summit or similar, a performance upgraded trans. They aren't that much, compared to modern trannies.

 

There are also some very good videos out there on AOD trans rebuilding...I am more of a visual guy so I like the videos over the books but I do keep a book handy for diagrams and charts.

 

Hey Chuck,
Let us know what you hear from Baumann Engineering on your AOD.
We also have a transmission cooler on our's - not sure if you went that route. Did the trans fluid smell burnt? Look ok?


Are you going to rebuild the trans you have or go get another one?


I admire you for taking a shot at it yourself. You'll learn a lot.


Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Ben
We are only using the cooler that was in the radiator. I think a real cooler is in our near future.
We are actually doing both. I am going to rebuild the transmission that I have and I also bought another used AOD to install and get me up and running.

I keep you posted on the Baumann recomendations.

 

Welded up a holding fixture this morning, thanks TonyB55 for the design, I guess that I am ready to tear into this thing.

 

Nice fixture...I see that you have the more desirable 5-rib case, good start.

 

I'll second the ATSG manual. Nice tranny fixture. I hope you post up the tear-down and build as I suspect I may be there some day.

 

Definitely post pics of the process as I'm not far behind you in doing the same!