I just read Caplan's? article on the conversion on a 78-79 Bronco. I have a 2 whl drive F-250 With a rebuilt 460, 9.5 compression, heavy RV cam from Crane, 370 gears with 265 75 R 16 tires. I would like to put an E4OD or an AOD in this beast. Any help would be apprecieted.

 

Do you have a budget in mind? OD installations can get expensive and the cost of putting an OD outways the mileage savings by a ton. That's if you are looking to get more MPG (which won't be much). But, if are looking to just save engine wear and tear and drop the RPMs for a better cruise than they would be great.

The AOD Ewill need an upgrade in parts to handle the power of the 460. They weren't made to mount to anything bigger than basically a 302. You can get a performance AOD build plus the adapter to bolt to a 460 but you are looking at around $3000. A stock AOD will burn up quickly. The adapters themselves run about $900.

The 460 E4OD would be a good option. There will probably be some modification for the transmission mount crossmember and will fit tight with the cab hump/firewall but should fit. Downfall of the E40D is the computer controller you'll need to get which runs around $500 alone. If you can get the E40D cheap enough, that may be the least expensive route. I can't say for year, but I've heard the earlier E40Ds were junk, but the latter ones were good. I'm just not sure on years.

I'm not sure exactly what all is involved with linkage and what not with those two tranny's, but I can't imagine it being very difficult.

You may want to look at the Gear Vendors OD units. They are expensive, but bulletproof and the install seems easy enough. You'll have to shorten the driveshaft, but the units are made to be a bolt on deal with the application.

I'm looking at an OD install in mine down the road, I just need to save up the cash.

 

Thanks for the info I also read about getting an E4OD out of a diesel along with the TCM. This might be the easiest way to go. Like you I am waiting for the right deal and the money