AOD to E4OD
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From: Edmond
AOD to E4OD
I have a 91 F-150 w/ 5.0 EFI and an AOD this is starting to show signs of inpending failure (VERY hard kickdowns especially). I've been "restoring" this truck (new front-end, complete 5.0 rebuild, 3" lift kit, etc, etc...) for about a year and have $5000 in it as of now. The plan is to drive it for the foreseeable future, so I'm considering my options and have got it down to two (I think....)
Option 1: do a rebuild on the AOD and replace all the factory guts with a HD gear & shift package. Cost $700
Option 2: buy a used E4OD from a 94 Lightning for about $200 and put in a $100 shift kit (if needed)
OK guys (and gals...), let discuss these options and help me make a good choice based on your vast experince........
Option 1: do a rebuild on the AOD and replace all the factory guts with a HD gear & shift package. Cost $700
Option 2: buy a used E4OD from a 94 Lightning for about $200 and put in a $100 shift kit (if needed)
OK guys (and gals...), let discuss these options and help me make a good choice based on your vast experince........
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Brunswick, Ohio
Buy the E4OD and resell it for more money to pay for the AOD rebuild. Those darn E4OD's sell for $600 just from the junk yard and you don't know the condition, they also cost around $1000 to rebuild. I sold the one out of my 92 F150 for $800.
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From: Centerville, Iowa
Originally Posted by beerinside
Buy the E4OD and resell it for more money to pay for the AOD rebuild. Those darn E4OD's sell for $600 just from the junk yard and you don't know the condition, they also cost around $1000 to rebuild. I sold the one out of my 92 F150 for $800.
.AOD's can be beefed for lots of horsepower, and don't rob you of quite as much as the E4OD will. Just rebuild and shiftkit the AOD. If you do it yourself, you can really save money and go wild.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by MustangGT221
I say stay away from the E40D and stick with the AOD. I can't stand electronically shifted trannies.
...or if you want a bulletproof transmission, look at a C-6.. gotta be the best transmission i ever owned..
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From: Centerville, Iowa
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From: Fayetteville, NB
Yeah, my 91 crapped its E4OD. Bought a used AOD 3 years ago for $300 and it came with the BW 1356 transfer case and axles. Have over 30K miles on it and still running strong. I did put a tranny cooler, B&M deep aluminum pan and transpack. I'm also running a built 351W pushing easy 400hp and 450tq with no problems.
Keep the AOD.
Keep the AOD.
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From: Calhoun GA
A C6 is cheaper to build/rebuild compared to the others mentioned, and can be built STRONG! But you wont have OD unless you pay for an aftermarket OD unit for the C6....and they're right around $1500 through Gear Vendors.
I can tell you, from a tuning aspect, that having an E40D can be a better option. I can control everything, from shift points, to shift firmness, TQ converter lockup and TV pressure...and much more with the software I use. Electronics do allow for precision tuning, but it does come with a price. You will find that many GEN 1 Lightning owners mod the crap out of their trucks (blower or turbo and/or N2O, heads, cam, intakes, etc...)and continue to use their E4OD's without any problems. Keep in mind, the PCM's they run are cal'd for an E4OD, so using an aftermarket trans contoller would be more $$$. I do know that the Lightning E4OD's can take plenty of abuse with just routine fluid changes and installing a valve body. It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how you want your rig to perform.
I can tell you, from a tuning aspect, that having an E40D can be a better option. I can control everything, from shift points, to shift firmness, TQ converter lockup and TV pressure...and much more with the software I use. Electronics do allow for precision tuning, but it does come with a price. You will find that many GEN 1 Lightning owners mod the crap out of their trucks (blower or turbo and/or N2O, heads, cam, intakes, etc...)and continue to use their E4OD's without any problems. Keep in mind, the PCM's they run are cal'd for an E4OD, so using an aftermarket trans contoller would be more $$$. I do know that the Lightning E4OD's can take plenty of abuse with just routine fluid changes and installing a valve body. It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how you want your rig to perform.
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
I haven't figured out why so many people don't like the E4OD. The one in my 1st GEN Lightning was good, and so is the one in my Bronco. I've only known a couple of people who ever had problems, but every model transmission can have one wear out or have problems. If I had the extra money, I would go for the E4OD. If on a budget, the AOD. The overdrive is a must with todays gas prices.
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From: Topsfield, MA
The AOD has overdrive...so the non-OD issue is only on the C6.
I just don't like the E4OD because the stock computer cant be changed to MAF easily since the tranny is computer controlled. You'd need a stand-alone unit which is more $$. The tranny works fine, it's not a bad transmission, it's just the fact that it's computer controlled. I've driven many of each, and the older auto trannies have a better feel to them, and I prefer them. These have all been stock, I can't speak for highly modified transmissions. My experiences have just been that the computer controlled stuff takes my throttle position input too much, it shifts when I don't want it to or doesn't shift when I want it to. The older tranny's don't displease me in this manner. I'd take the 72' winnebago tranny I have in my motorhome (3 spd) over the 4 spd auto in my mom's 95 Mercury Cougar (4.6L) which is electronically controlled. It shifts better and the applied power feels better IMO. We've had that cougar since it had 9k miles on it, and that transmission has been AWFUL it's entire life. Luckily my mom doesn't notice or care.
I'm going to move this to the transmission forum because we've only talked about the tranny, the fact it's an 87-96 is irrelevant...
I just don't like the E4OD because the stock computer cant be changed to MAF easily since the tranny is computer controlled. You'd need a stand-alone unit which is more $$. The tranny works fine, it's not a bad transmission, it's just the fact that it's computer controlled. I've driven many of each, and the older auto trannies have a better feel to them, and I prefer them. These have all been stock, I can't speak for highly modified transmissions. My experiences have just been that the computer controlled stuff takes my throttle position input too much, it shifts when I don't want it to or doesn't shift when I want it to. The older tranny's don't displease me in this manner. I'd take the 72' winnebago tranny I have in my motorhome (3 spd) over the 4 spd auto in my mom's 95 Mercury Cougar (4.6L) which is electronically controlled. It shifts better and the applied power feels better IMO. We've had that cougar since it had 9k miles on it, and that transmission has been AWFUL it's entire life. Luckily my mom doesn't notice or care.
I'm going to move this to the transmission forum because we've only talked about the tranny, the fact it's an 87-96 is irrelevant...
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From: Edmond
From Justin: My experiences have just been that the computer controlled stuff takes my throttle position input too much, it shifts when I don't want it to or doesn't shift when I want it to.
My thoughts are the same as Justin. I don't like a trannie that just decides to shift or not shift when ever it "feels" like it. I'm leaning toward the AOD rebuild now that we've discussed it a bit. Found a guy that will do it start to finish (ie removal, rebuild, re-install) for $700. That sounds pretty good based on past experiences. Thanks again for the discussion guys....
My thoughts are the same as Justin. I don't like a trannie that just decides to shift or not shift when ever it "feels" like it. I'm leaning toward the AOD rebuild now that we've discussed it a bit. Found a guy that will do it start to finish (ie removal, rebuild, re-install) for $700. That sounds pretty good based on past experiences. Thanks again for the discussion guys....
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