I am VERY new to this site, but not to trucks. I have had my 1988 F-150 XLT Lariat since it was new. Yeah, it came with the dime a dozen M5R2 5-speed that was just fine until my 17 year old daughter came home the other night and asked "Dad, how fast can you go in 3rd gear?" Well after intensive interrogation, i found out that she was driving in excess of 55 for about 10 miles in third because "I just don't like moving that big lever around much" Well 3rd gear is squealing like Ned Beatty in Deliverance and I think the sychro is gone. Will it be a pretty straight forward swap to the AOD of am i just wishing too much?

 

it won't just swap over, you'll have to change a few things like the flywheel to flexplate, and your driveshaft probably won't be the right length with the AOD. I believe that ford used the same bolt patten on all its engines and transmissions but i'm not sure. I'm sure there is someone else here who has done something similar who can tell you more. But i can tell you its not a simple afternoon swap.