UPDATE: Well, the 3.0 highway rearend gears in my 302/C4 combo are OUT... and the 3.50's are back in!! Picks up MUCH better; like I thought it should have all along. Also, to complete the "poor gas mileage" portion of my quandry, I've decided that the Gear Vendors OD that bolts onto where the tail secton of my C4 tranny is would suit me just fine. I won't be switching to an AOD trans; too many tangibles that could go wrong. Thanks again to everyone who pitched in to the point where I finally got it thru my thick skull!!!

Daryl

 

what will your final O/D ratio end up being? If it's say .82-1 you'll end up with the same RPM/speed ratio you had with the 3.00 gearset.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-Jan-03 AT 09:11 PM (EST)]At this point, I have no idea what my final gear ration will be. I haven't had the OD installed yet, and I don't know what it is now with the 3.50's on the regular C4 trans. How do I find out this info?
I guess I need to know it, huh? What is a desireable final (OD) drive ratio?

Thanks,
Daryl

 

Daryl

Your ratio is 3.50 at this time. The 3.50 gearset and your C-4 has a 1:1 ratio in 3rd gear. Your desired ratio with OD depends on a number of things but mainly at what rpm range your engine cruises efficiently without bogging down on every little incline in the road.

My wild guess is you will want to be around 2.75-3.00 with your final drive ratio with OD and your 302. A big block or a 351 would be able to get by with an even higher gear around 2.50 in OD. This may sound like you just made an expensive full circle back to 3.00 gears. In a way, that is what you are doing, but you have an extra gear with OD, you should end up with a bit better gas mileage and drivability.

Your OD vendor can help you achieve what you want. At least you know what your truck was like with 3.00 gears. You have a good starting point and should know if higher gears than 3.00 will cause a power problem.

'fenders

 

Thanks,'fenders...

Well, I HOPE this all makes a difference. $$ doesn't grow on trees, even here in the agricultural part of California!
Talkatcha later,
Daryl

 

Daryl,
I thought of you Sunday. I went to a swapmeet in Indy and one of the vendors had rebuilt AOD's. They were rebuilt, had a shift kit, and included a new torque convertor. Price....$1295. Just to give you an idea what the AOD is going for.

 

Daryl

Unless you are just made of money. That AOD is exactly what I would be buying if you want OD. It can be serviced all over the country. The price Truckfarmer just posted is what I would expect to pay for an AOD rebuilt correctly.

Nothing wrong with Gear Vendor products, but it takes a fine truck to be worth a $3000 OD by the time you pay labor tax etc.
Sorry if I seemed non-committal before, I was just helping you explore options.

'fenders

 

TruckFarmer,

Who is he? and how do I contact him? for the $1295 AOD??? And thanks for thinking of me... it really helps me not feel like I'm bouncing aimlessly from vendor to vendor hoping one will come through. Ahhh, the "crap-shoot" you take with hit-and-miss restoration!!!!!!

Daryl

 

Daryl

I really don't mean jam a stick in your spokes everytime you pedal by but here I go again. Have you talked to the locals. I suspect Greg's AOD is 2000+ miles away from you. As we have discussed, the cable adjustment is absolutely critical. When you are 2000 miles away with an AOD that doesn't work right after install, imagine the potential fun. A vendor in Illinois that thinks your installer screwed up. An installer that thinks otherwise. Who's paying the shipping? I would suggest the transmission be purchased throught the installer. I have to believe an AOD is not at all hard to find in Southern California. Start asking some local shops. Start with some of the smaller ones with a good reputation.

I honestly don't mean to be difficult. I look forward to the pictures of your truck.

'fenders

 

Daryl,
Examine this chart: http://www.fordsix.com/tech/trucktranny/trucktranny.htm .
Notice that the desired engine RPM's can be obtained by combining the right axle ratio with either an overdrive or non-overdrive transmission. But the fewer gears you have to work with, the greater the compromise at either end of the operating range. The AOD adds one more available gear over your C4. Some guesstimates can be calculated before you commit cash to swapping trans or ring and pinions.
What size rear tires are you running?
What mods have been done to the 302?
How do you intend to use this vehicle? Main street cruisin? Stop light drags? Cross country rallis? Pulling boat? Car trailer? Hauling cement?
Find a reputable tranny builder that understands hot rodding. I'm lucky in that I found a great tranny guy that lives two miles away. He even picks up and delivers because we're in the same neighborhood, and volume counts!
Good Luck!
Brett

 

'fenders & bhabben,

'fenders: I'm not at all offended or put off by your input. In fact, I appreciate it. Of course I balk at spending $3K for the Gear Vendors OD unit, but if that's what's best, then knowing me, I'd save up and do it. But, if an AOD is better AND CHEAPER (!), hey that's a no-brainer.

bhabben: I do in fact have an excellent shop fairly close. In fact, I stopped by there just the other day to talk OD's and one of the mechanics there was showing me an AOD they have in their race car. The shop is H.L. Shahan's. He and his wife are late 60's-early 70's speed record holders with Dodge/Plymouth then with AMX. This shop does NOTHING BUT hot rods and bad boy stuff. No glitz, just straight talk and muscular cars/trucks. Think I'll call H.L and Chad back over at their shop and talk AOD's.... There's a good tranny shop near by to them. They rebuilt my C4 when I first got the truck and I haven't had a bit of trouble with it since.

Guys... THANKS FOR THE INFO!!! I'll contact them and talk AOD's and then letcha know...

Please keep the input/comments/feedback coming. I need all the help I can get from folks who actually KNOW what the heck they're talking about vs. getting so much info from local "ya-hoos" with bad advice.

Daryl

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Jan-03 AT 11:27 AM (EST)]bhabben,

Tires: BFG Radial T/A 255/70 X 15
Motor: rebuilt 302, bored 40-over; Doug Thorley headers, Edelbrock Performer manifold, Carter 625cfm carb, Mallory distributor; PowerMaster 140-amp alternator; Hot Road Air A/C; Taylor 8mm wires.

B-de, B-dee, B-dee.... That's All Folks!!!

Daryl

P.S.- they're already checking on the AOD unit! About half the cost of the OD. (why does that just NOT makes sense to me? that a bolt-on OD is twice the price of replacing an ENTIRE transmission with an AOD?). but hey, if that's what it is, then that's fine with me!

 

OK, HERE'S THE LATEST ITERATION ON THE "OD VS. AOD" BATTLE:

1. Cost to have an AOD built for my application: $1300-$1500 (seems reasonable compared to what you guys are telling me);

2. linkage kit: will only be necessary IF my B&M floor shifter does NOT have the pin to remove so the OD can be enabled(I'm getting them the B&M shifter unit # so they can confirm if it has the pin or not). If it doesn't, I would need to replace the floor shifter with another shifter;

3. relocate cross member
4. shorten driveshaft
5. Total, including labor: $2000 (providing I take the driveshaft over to the other shop and get it shortened; estimate: $100-$125)


Sound fair?

Daryl

 

There seems to be some knowledge about AODs here so I'll ask a question if I may.

I'm using a 5.0L SEFI with AOD in 54 Panel. All drive train is from a donor Crown Vic.

I have heard about the critical linkage adjustment for the AOD so I figured that I'd be ahead by using the Lokar Nostalgia floor shifter rather than try to get a column linkage to hook up right. I don't have a column in mind yet but it will probably be Ididit by default.

So will the floor shifter make the adjustment easier? Is this a valid concern?

Thanks

 

Half Ton,
From what I've learned so far (limited though it be), a column shift is not an option with the Ididit or the Flaming River steering column in conjunction with an AOD. I would love to have the column shift too, but I have a B&M "Megashifter" on the floor that will require: (1) replacing my Lokar kickdown cable for a new kickdown cable (a longer one); and (2)a bracket kit that ties the shifter to the tranny (about $45-50).

Ordered the AOD today. Should be built in about a week, then I'll arrange for the install, which includes: moving the cross-member; new shift linkage and kickdown (as noted above); shortening the driveshaft; and getting the speedometer calibrated to the new set up. Possibly a new flywheel, depending on what's in there now and whether or not it is a "universal" type that can be married to the new AOD. As far as the shift points, I've requested a "smooth" shift, not the "Racer-Joe" hard shifts... I'm WAY past that crap in my life!

Daryl