Hello everyone I'm finally looking to do a AOD conversion for my 68 F100. It has a rebuilt 351w, rebuilt Holley carb, 3.50 9" with track look and currently a C4 that needs a rebuild. So instead I'm going for the AOD

I picked up a 1991 Tbird 5.0 and will be using the AOD. This AOD conversion is pretty common but I have a few questions to make it easier.

1. Will I have to go with a floor shifter? The Tbird has a floor shifter but I wanted to keep the column shift

2. The speedo is electrical, can I use my existing cable on my 68 F100?

3. My original radiator has a leak so good time for an update. I'm thinking the Champion radiator with the tranny cooler. Anyone use this with good results?

4. I would like to go with some long tube headers. Any bolt ons out there?

5. What about the AOD mount?

I would appreciate any help to make this conversion easier. I'm ordering the Lokar kit for the TV cable too.


Thanks for your help
Kenny

 

Kenny, The AOD should be a direct bolt on, may have to modify drive shaft. You should be able to connect it to your column shift, I believe there is a secondary cable that has to be installed to the engine.

I would have suggested getting one from a truck. Before you install it find out if it needs any mods for longer life in the truck.

John

 

I was initially contemplating putting an AOD in my '69 F100 Ranger but after a lot of reading/researching on the subject, it became quite clear to me that a 4R70W transmission would be far superior to the old AOD.

The AOD first came out in 1980 and was produced through 1993. The successor to the AOD was the AODE. The successor to that was the 4R70W. A 4R70W is essentially a 3rd generation evolution of the AOD.

The AODE and 4R70W are electronically shifted instead of shifted by hydraulics through a throttle valve cable and governor control like the AOD. An AODE and a 4R70W don't have a T.V. cable or a governor.

The best AOD's are from 1988-1993. Prior models had various internal production flaws, most notably, a lack of sufficient lubrication to the rear tail shaft.

Stock AODs tend to be slugs when it comes to shifting, especially from 3rd to 4th and 4th to 3rd. An AOD can be built to be a stout transmission but still won't have the capabilities of a 4R70W.

A C-4 or a C-6 doesn't have the best 1st gear ratio (2.46:1) but, it's better than an AOD's 1st gear ratio which is 2.40:1. A 4R70W has a much better 2.84:1 1st gear ratio.

I'm still a good ways from installing my 4R70W since I'm currently in the process of rebuilding it and, the 240 inline six and C-4 will have to come out before the '90 Mustang GT H.O. 5.0L EFI engine and 4R70W transmission can be swapped in.

I got my 4R70W torn down before the weather got to be so hot and humid here so, until the weather cools back down, I'm pretty much at a stand still with it at this point.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post15464208

 

Here, read post 61

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...od-swap-5.html

 

Something to consider, when using a transmission from a vehicle with a floor shifter, the shift arm will probably not work with the column shifter. You can change to a column shift arm, but you have to open up the transmission to change it.
Also, there are no long tube headers designed for a Bump with the 351W.

 

I used mustang headers and they fit great with a couple mods.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...my-bump-2.html

 

Some of the earlier T-Birds had column shift. But it's not all that difficult to swap the shifter arm 180 degrees to make one from a floor shift work with a column or vice versa.

 

Thanks for the replies. It great we can come to this site for some guidance.

Cleveland you are ahead of me on the upgrades but we are doing similar things with the gear swop, headers, and AOD. I appreciate how you do a write up when you get it together.

And Cracker that's exactly what I was looking for on the shifter change.

Thanks again for the input
Kenny

 

Glad I was able to help, I followed that earlier this year when I flipped mine

 

Honestly I have not gained any fuel economy from all the swapping and upgrading, but drivability and performance have gone up significantly. I lost about 2mpg on the highway, but i am averaging better overall. (The AOD is a real power hog compared to the C4. You'll feel that too...)

One thing I have to say is you definitely will want a shift kit in the AOD. I'm about ready to flush mine and install the trans-go equipped valvebody I built. I set it up for moderate shifting so hopefully it will firm up this slush box.