i have a 87 F150 with a 302 V8, and I was wondering how simple it would be to swap out my C6 for a AOD, and if it would be worth it.
The truck is driven about 50/50 on and off the highway. I use it as my daily driver and my work truck, so some days its holding 3 people and some groceries and some days I have a 4500 pound trailer. I understand you cannot tow with overdrive without desroying the trans (or at least messing it up), but what kind of modifications would need to be made to use the AOD, and does the AOD have a O/D off switch?

 

IMO not worth it.

AODs were troublesome transmissions. '88-'93 had many of the bugs worked out of them. TV cable adjustments are critical. You would be looking at some fiddling to make it work right, so I suppose it depends on your tolerance for that sort of thing. To make the OD off button work, you'd probably have to swap out your column and wiring.

Correction, as noted below, the AOD uses the lever position to lock out OD, not a button.

Then there is the issue of what you would gain. Given your part time towing and off roading, you are looking at what, a 10% improvement on 1/3 of your driving?

 

well i did some digging and the column would remain the same, only difference is lettering
C6 = P R N D 2 1
AOD = P R N OD D 1
I haven't looked much into the AOD itself. Are they really not that reliable? I thought they were fairly common, next to the C6.

 

Common, yes; durable, not particularly. I burned through three of them in a '92 Crown Victoria during my youth (mostly my fault, doing burnouts and generally abusing it). I would not want to rely on one in a truck, especially one that tows a 2 ton trailer.

 

good to know. now, my C6 has 400k on it, should I be replacing that anytime soon, or as long as it runs its good? Going for optimal mileage despite the use.

 

An AOD can work and last as long as any other trans but you will need a truck version to start with and a 4x4 version if your truck is 4x4 and it will need a shift kit if you want to get maximum life out of it. Later transmissions were built better than earlier so if you can only find an '80s version have it rebuilt with all the upgrades before putting it in.

 

I had one behind my Dyno proven 400hp 4000lb mustang, and while I blew up a few, it was my own fault. The aod trans is known for sliding out of od, and quickly engaging 2nd gear, which then slips od... When you slam the gas down, you shear off the od input shaft.
If you manually downshift from od to D, then this problem is eliminated. The aod is a stout trans when in D, and uses less hp then a c6.
I would have no problems putting an aod in a truck, when the e4od or 4r70 is not an option.