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M5OD to auto ?

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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 11:24 PM
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M5OD to auto ?

My Mazda 5 speed is becoming more of a pain to shift lately, mainly 3rd n 5th gears, and I've noticed some clutch slippage/chatter. Anyways, I've done everything I can think of to revive the shifting, to no avail. Also, I've become less fond of shifting, and wouldn't mind just press n go.

Truck is 92 F150 4x4 with 300 I6. I've been contemplating an o/d auto swap, but have thought about 3 speeds since the truck has 3.08 gears. Has anyone done a swap like this?

I know I could just go out and buy an auto truck, but this one is in great condition, only has 133k miles, and all accessories work, so I'm kinda partial to keeping it.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:25 AM
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You'll need,

- Flexplate (auto flywheel)
- Auto tranny
- Trans. mount
- Auto steering column with shift cable to trans.

And for a "clean" swap, a auto pedal assembly (92-96) only will work in your cab.



Any transmission from the following engines will bolt right to your 6cyl. - 300-6, 302 and 351, witch is the small block bell housing bolt patern family.


Your choice of trans will be,

AOD - 4 speed OD, vacuum operated, with TV cable (Throttle Valve)
E4OD - 4 speed OD, with OD cancel switch, fully electronic transmission, and will require a computer for it to work.

C6 - 3 speed, very simple, very cheap, and very durable transmission! but with this trans, you'll loose the most mpg.



Now, it is preferred you find a tranny out of 1992+ truck, as the 1991 and older trucks, use a speedo cable for the speedometer, your truck doesn't. So that hole in the trans. will have to be blocked off.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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Ok, what about transmission outputs work with my current transfer case? AOD with a floor mounted shifter appeals to me, seems the least invasive. Thanks for the help.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by IDIDieselJohn
You'll need,

- Flexplate (auto flywheel)
- Auto tranny
- Trans. mount
- Auto steering column with shift cable to trans.

And for a "clean" swap, a auto pedal assembly (92-96) only will work in your cab.



Any transmission from the following engines will bolt right to your 6cyl. - 300-6, 302 and 351, witch is the small block bell housing bolt patern family.


Your choice of trans will be,

AOD - 4 speed OD, vacuum operated, with TV cable (Throttle Valve)
E4OD - 4 speed OD, with OD cancel switch, fully electronic transmission, and will require a computer for it to work.

C6 - 3 speed, very simple, very cheap, and very durable transmission! but with this trans, you'll loose the most mpg.



Now, it is preferred you find a tranny out of 1992+ truck, as the 1991 and older trucks, use a speedo cable for the speedometer, your truck doesn't. So that hole in the trans. will have to be blocked off.
Ummm....

Here's some more food for thought...

I fhe gets a E4OD/4R70W, he'll need the computer for an automatic, AND for that engine......


if he keeps the factory computer, he can run a c6, AOD, etc...non electronic shifting tranny...
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 01:28 PM
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AOD would be a good choice. Vital that you hook up and properly adjust a TV cable.
If you get aN AOD from a 4x4 truck your transfer case should bolt to it.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 06:48 PM
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What year trucks has the AOD? Theres a junkyard right down the road very well stocked with 85-up F150s that I'm sure I could source parts from.

So the output of the 5 speed n AOD are the same? What about difference in length? I assume driveshafts will need to be modified. If I use a floor shifter like I mentioned, I assume I can retain my current column, correct? Thanks again.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by kas83
What year trucks has the AOD? Theres a junkyard right down the road very well stocked with 85-up F150s that I'm sure I could source parts from.

So the output of the 5 speed n AOD are the same? What about difference in length? I assume driveshafts will need to be modified. If I use a floor shifter like I mentioned, I assume I can retain my current column, correct? Thanks again.

You'll need to get a driveshaft from the donor truck (Which is MUCH easier, if its the same cab/bed configuration you have I.E-Standard cab/longbed, etc)

And yes, with a floor shifter, you CAN keep the current NON auto column...Which, btw, is the same exact column as an automatic, minus a few pieces...

And as far as I know...1991 was the last year for the AOD...1987 was the first-ish year for an E4OD....So yeah...Just take a look...
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:05 PM
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E4OD came out in mid year 1989.
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by IDIDieselJohn
E4OD came out in mid year 1989.
I was close!

I'm not a 8th gen guru...That's YOUR job...LOL
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:34 PM
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Trucks an extended cab long bed, so I think I'll be at the driveshaft shop for that.

I'm up in the air on floor shift versus auto column tho. Most of the 92-up auto columns I see have have the od cancel switch. Did the older shifters select all 4 forward gears, or just od, 2, 1? Guess I could have the button on the shifter, just not use it.

As for the TV cable, and vacuum stuff, if I find an 87-89 I6 with AOD, I should be able to take the cable and associated lines, plus flexplate, and bolt everything up straight up to mine, then adjust, correct?
 
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by kas83
Trucks an extended cab long bed, so I think I'll be at the driveshaft shop for that.

I'm up in the air on floor shift versus auto column tho. Most of the 92-up auto columns I see have have the od cancel switch. Did the older shifters select all 4 forward gears, or just od, 2, 1? Guess I could have the button on the shifter, just not use it.

As for the TV cable, and vacuum stuff, if I find an 87-89 I6 with AOD, I should be able to take the cable and associated lines, plus flexplate, and bolt everything up straight up to mine, then adjust, correct?
Pretty much...

As for the shifters...

On the 1992+ models, they're all E4OD's...So they have the OD canellation button on the end...

HOWEVER...

You CAN use a gear selector from a 1980's-1991 Crown Vic, etc....They used AOD tranny's....

And if ya found one, you could simply swap the whole column in..5 bolts, and 2-3 connectors...And gain a tilt wheel...

And as an added, even further bonus...The Steering wheel adapeter from Grant, for the trucks, are about $80...For the CV's, etc...$25...

And it's the SAME FREAKIN COLUMN....Minus the non airbag setups..
 
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Old Feb 1, 2012 | 09:44 AM
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There's no vacuum associated with the AOD just the TV cable. Also note that the AOD has a mega deep OD ratio which will be all but useless with 3.08 gears unless the OP lives in a mostly flat area and/or travels in excess of 70mph frequently. If you go this way I would also strongly suggest using the latest version of the AOD you can find or have it rebuilt to the latest spec and add a shift kit before install it, the early AODs were notoriously weak in stock form and a high gear ratio combined with a heavy vehicle will make it's life unnaturally short.
 
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Old Feb 1, 2012 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by kas83
What year trucks has the AOD? Theres a junkyard right down the road very well stocked with 85-up F150s that I'm sure I could source parts from.
The AOD mostly came in the 87-90 pickups and mostly came behind the 5.0 and some 4.9, but never the 5.8 from the factory. However you could still order the AOD up to 93 I believe.

Also Ford had a trans they called the AOT, which cam out in 81 and used till 86. I was very similar to the AOD, but was even weaker, and burns up easily. The AOD is a updates AOT.

Originally Posted by Conanski
There's no vacuum associated with the AOD just the TV cable. Also note that the AOD has a mega deep OD ratio which will be all but useless with 3.08 gears unless the OP lives in a mostly flat area and/or travels in excess of 70mph frequently. If you go this way I would also strongly suggest using the latest version of the AOD you can find or have it rebuilt to the latest spec and add a shift kit before install it, the early AODs were notoriously weak in stock form and a high gear ratio combined with a heavy vehicle will make it's life unnaturally short.

I would recommend re-gearing with the AOD, with stock tires 3.55 at least, maybe 3.73 if you want more torque. I would recommend beefing up the AOD, however I don't like shift kits. I put bigger clutch packs in mine, and harder shafts. You can also adjust the TV cable on the AOD to hold a gear longer and shift firmer.
 
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