Hey guys TONS of useful info on this site....you guys rock

I just bought an '89 2wd F150, 5.0, AOD......I need to do something with this tranny pretty quick here.
I've only put about 1000K on it so far.....at first...there was an ever so slight surge/hesitation while in OD...maybe drive too, not sure.
Now.....it has a "shudder".
I did a search, read a bunch of posts.

The ATF looks in AWEFULL condition.....so a filter and 100% drain might be enough to fix this problem? All said and done...this will cost me just over $100. So if it turns out I need a tranny anyways....I'm out an extra 100.

I can get a used AOD for $5-600 that has been "opened up" and checked and verified to be in "great" shape.

A tranny shop rebuild with some basic upgrades(I don't know the tech of this), stock converter stall.....would run about $12-1500 installed. I can re&re.....so minus whatever they are allowing for labour.

Now the BIG OR.
OR, because I plan to convert the motor to 225-250hp this summer, AND I drive and use this truck as a street daily driver, unloaded 98% of the time, and NEVER as a work truck...no towing either.....
Maybe I should be looking at a torque converter stall change??? And what specifically should be done internally?
What would be considered "taking the whole tranny up ONE level from stock"?

What do you figure? I know very little about tranny specifics....but I might want a higher stall. Maybe 2000?

Thx

 

Tippity tops

 

My personal advise horsepower and any overdrive transmissions don't make a good combo. I have always had good luck with the C6 no problems at all. These transmission are meant to take licken and keep on ticken. Try to find a good one out of an eighties truck. I changed my 87 from an AOD to a C6 even though the guy before me had just spent some bucks to have it converted to an AOD. Just my two cents.

 

I will never give up that OD gear. It's a must have option in my books....and most peoples.

3spd auto's are an inexpensive way to go.....but for some extra greens....any AOD can be built to withstand 800+hp.
But I'm only talkin' about 250ish...and it's not like I'm going to be flooring it thru the gears every other day:lol:

 

OD suck more than you know what. C6 trannys rule the earth with horsepower

 

Come on. 250 HP is too much for OD auto to handle? I'm sure there are lots of people here who have that kind of setup in their truck with no problems.

I will agree that the C6 is one of the strongest trannies around. I abused one like crazy with a big block for a long time. But, 250 HP isn't anywhere near big block power.

 

Over drive is just another gear. Any transmission can be built to handle almost ANY horsepower rating. The AOD is more than capable of handling 250hp if you have the right torque convertor to match.

I wouldn't give up OD either. A daily driver getting less than 10mpg wouldn't be my daily driver very long if gas prices stay as they are.

The E4OD can handle more power than the AOD can, and built right it can easily handle major power. The E4OD isn't as tough as the old C6 is, however many were put behind 245hp/405ft/lbs 460s.

 

Well......it's off to the tranny shop tommorrow for a filter change and 100% drain.
We'll see what he say's when the pan gets dropped.

If it comes down to needing a tranny.....I was talking to some people I know...and the word is to go to this one particular guy.....REALLY knows his stuff, and has all his own little "secrets" and "tricks".....I guess he has race trannies and such sent to him from all over the western half of NA.....and he does his thing for the same price as a stock rebuild ....or slightly more, depends on some parts usage I'm sure.
I know an aftermarket TC costs extra.

 

i agree with ace what kind of pansy has to OD with a REAL truck. All of mine have been 3 speeds. You sissies just don't know how to drive if you only get 10mpg with a 3 speed. I get 15-17 with a 351W C6 and a edelbrock 600cfm performer carb.

 

At what? 45mph?
An OD allows you to do the same thing but actually get where you're goin' in a decent time frame.......so why not

 

Good one Loopie. I can't imagine why having a 4th gear makes people sissies. Having OD is the best way to have the best of both worlds. If your going to run it hard there is such a thing as shifting it out of OD. The E4OD is a C6 converted to an OD transmission. Evolution my man. Also Postmaster was right on to, an AOD-E ( 4r70w ) can be built to take what ever you can put to it. I have a 75' F150, 390ci, C6 also and that thing raps like a son-bitc* on interstate. 10 MPG. I wish it had OD.

 

Let's see, by my way of thinking, it would be the people that DRIVE like sissies that would get 15 - 17 MPG out of a 351/C6, unless it was in a car. Besides, if my truck was a little closer to the stock configuration, I'm sure I'd do better than 10 - 12 all around. I haven't ever taken this strictly highway for any distance so who really knows what it gets there. Lifts and fat tires don't do mileage any good.

While the E4OD may be a later design than the C6, it really isn't just a C6 with OD. It's actually a completely different beast.

 

bob is my cousin and we have the same engine tranny combo in our trucks and give em hell when we drive. I have a decent cam in mine and still get around14-16 mpg. You old foggies just don't know how to drive.

 

BS!

I am not an old foggie, however most old foggies drive fairly slow and defensive. It's no wonder they get the best mileage possible.

Our semi trucks at work all have OD, and I don't believe anyone has ever called them "not a truck". It's interesting you bring up the 351W/c-6. My father had a '86 F-150 2wd regularcab with the 5.8 HO, and a C6. He got about 12mpg best when it was NEW! Could it get 14-16mpg? possibly with OD.

 

Wow, two new users with a grand total of 17 posts think they should come in here and start calling people "old foggies" and "sissies". With that kind of attitude, I wouldn't expect to get much respect or help around here. Since you two cousins didn't bother to say what kind of trucks you actually have besides the engine and transmission, it's awful hard to compare mileage.