How Much More Power Can an AOD Take?

LARIAT 85 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 01:12 PM

1985 Ford F150 Lariat
Carbed 302 engine, AOD tranny
3.55 rear

I have a basically stock 302 motor, only it now has a 4-barrel setup, and of course the Duraspark II ignition conversion. What I plan to do is port and polish the stock E5 heads, and upgrade to a more efficient camshaft (nothing radical). And last would be a set of long tube tri-Y headers.

That is what I would like to do. The question is, can my newly rebuilt AOD handle the changes?

Conanski · #2 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 02:58 PM

I say yes, I'd suggest you add a shift kit if you haven't already. My 357 produces more TQ than a 302 could ever hope to muster and my AOD is going on 8 years and counting.

85e150six4mtod · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 03:09 PM

Look at the mods listed here.

There are some weak areas in the AOD, if you fix those you will get the longer life.

AOD Transmission from PATC, AOD Transmissions

AOD Performance Products - Baumann Electronic Controls

www.CKPerformance.com

TCI - Ford AOD, AODE and 4R70W

Note one or more state they use '88 to '93 cores as there was some change made in '88.

Good luck.

BTW, I hope you fixed up your TV cable or linkage when you swapped to the 4v. Leading cause of heartbreak is improper throttle valve adjustment. Burn 'em up quick.

LARIAT 85 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

I say yes, I'd suggest you add a shift kit if you haven't already. My 357 produces more TQ than a 302 could ever hope to muster and my AOD is going on 8 years and counting.

Why would you suggest a shift kit? I don't plan on racing it or anything like that. What would the benefits be to using a shift kit?

By the way, I also heard how important an axillary tranny cooler is to the AOD. I just bought a stock Ford AOD transmission cooler, and am trying to figure out where to mount it. Where is the stock location points for the tranny cooler on '80-'86 F150s? Anything I should know before I install it?

Quote:

BTW, I hope you fixed up your TV cable or linkage when you swapped to the 4v. Leading cause of heartbreak is improper throttle valve adjustment. Burn 'em up quick.

TV cable adjustment is already covered. I had a friend who rebuilds transmissions for a living adjust it for me. He also warned me how CRITICAL the adjustment is. I have been running the 4V for about a year now without any problems so far.