C6 vs. AOD
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New User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
C6 vs. AOD
Hey guys.
I have been thinking of doing a tranny swap, but not sure if I'm going the right direction or not.
I have a 83 f-150 4x4 with a mild 351 and a c6. The truck runs great, and I know the C6 is a good tranny, but I was thinking when the time comes, to try and do a AOD swap.
Mainly to gain the Over drive and exta gear. Has anyone done a swap like this, or do you think it would be worth it, if you had a stout AOD built? This truck is 95% on road driving with the occasional back woods venture.
The main intent was to gain some MPG, I'm getting about 15mpg now and was wondering if an improvement could be seen.
Thanks guys, wanted to throw this out for conversation.
later
shane
I have been thinking of doing a tranny swap, but not sure if I'm going the right direction or not.
I have a 83 f-150 4x4 with a mild 351 and a c6. The truck runs great, and I know the C6 is a good tranny, but I was thinking when the time comes, to try and do a AOD swap.
Mainly to gain the Over drive and exta gear. Has anyone done a swap like this, or do you think it would be worth it, if you had a stout AOD built? This truck is 95% on road driving with the occasional back woods venture.
The main intent was to gain some MPG, I'm getting about 15mpg now and was wondering if an improvement could be seen.
Thanks guys, wanted to throw this out for conversation.
later
shane
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From: Virginia
Let's see if any of the AOD guys will chime in, but I am thinking moving that truck at a certain mile/hour down the road, is going to take a certain amount of fuel no matter what tranny you have. 15mpg is pretty good.
You may also want to figure if you do get an improvement, it may be only 1 or 2 miles/gallon. Figure out the cost savings in fuel vs the cost of the new tranny, and it may take years to break even.
But I have to admit I am a c6 fan.
You may also want to figure if you do get an improvement, it may be only 1 or 2 miles/gallon. Figure out the cost savings in fuel vs the cost of the new tranny, and it may take years to break even.
But I have to admit I am a c6 fan.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Billings Montana
If your'e getting 15 mpg's with a midly built 351 and a C-6, consider yourself lucky and stick with your current combo. A C-6 is a bullet-proof tranny. And like Franklin said, you're only going to get 1-2 mpg's with od so it's not really worth it since the AOD can be problematic.
If you really want a challenge and OD, swap in a 5 speed manual. You can get a low 1st gear for offroading and a tall overdrive 5th gear for the highway. Just find a late model F-150 or F-250 with a small block and 5 speed and grab everything the donor truck has to make the swap possible.
If you really want a challenge and OD, swap in a 5 speed manual. You can get a low 1st gear for offroading and a tall overdrive 5th gear for the highway. Just find a late model F-150 or F-250 with a small block and 5 speed and grab everything the donor truck has to make the swap possible.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Pensacola, FL
the c6 is the toughest auto ford has made, however you have no overdrive obviously. this is the only downside to that tranny. you will hear both sides about the aod being too weak and being plenty strong. the aod in my opinion will hold up, maybe go with a shift kit in it. the overdrive would definately improve mileage, but like Franklin2 said, it may be 1 or 2mpg, could be 3 or 4 though. but you will also help the wear on the engine by lowering the rpms. i LOVE the c6, but unless you tow a lot i would rather have the OD.
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
I know the costs would be high to do a swap like this, and maybe a little time consuming getting all the right parts to do it.
I too love the C6 and think it is a great tranny, I just wondered what everyones opinons where on the topic. The tanny is factory stock and never been pulled before and it keeps trucking along.
I may just put a converter in it, shift kit, deeper pan and a filter change and go that route.
I'm wanting to put gears in it, like 4.56:1, but I'm running a slightly larger tire as well. (33's)
I've got some thinking to do...thanks guys for your input, keep it coming.
I too love the C6 and think it is a great tranny, I just wondered what everyones opinons where on the topic. The tanny is factory stock and never been pulled before and it keeps trucking along.
I may just put a converter in it, shift kit, deeper pan and a filter change and go that route.
I'm wanting to put gears in it, like 4.56:1, but I'm running a slightly larger tire as well. (33's)
I've got some thinking to do...thanks guys for your input, keep it coming.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Pensacola, FL
4.56 is pretty steep only running 33'' tires. i would definately consider the overdrive, then you can still have the steep gears for when you are off-road. aod's are easy to find and relatively cheap if buying a used one. it will bolt up to motor, you will need a torque converter for the aod, it will bolt right up to the adapter you already have for tcase. the length of the aod is longer than a c6 so you may have to replace driveshafts, or modify the ones you have if possible. neutral safety switch is different, but not hard to figure out and wire up. you will need to look at the shift linkage, and hooking up the tv cable from the tranny to your carberator. it's a lot of little things you will need to do but not expensive if you look around. i bought an aod and 13-56 tcase on ebay for $200. and the tranny had been recently rebuilt.
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
I want to go with those gears, mainly incase I go with bigger tires later I wont' have to change them again. I might stick with 4.10's, I have 3.55's now and it is a little doggy down low. Thats why I figured a converter might help a little.
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From: Virginia
The convertor usually changed to match the rpm range of the engine, not the tires or final gear ratio.
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Scroll down on this site and read their propaganda about using 4R70W internals, and I think farther down are options for wider ratios.
And just past half way down is an adaptor for a GM 700R if you think those ratios would work better. (i.e. lower first)
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/AOD.htm
And also:
http://www.becontrols.com/products/aodcat.htm
http://ckperformance.com/ford_aod.html
http://www.tciauto.com/Products/Ford/ford_aod.asp
And just past half way down is an adaptor for a GM 700R if you think those ratios would work better. (i.e. lower first)
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/AOD.htm
And also:
http://www.becontrols.com/products/aodcat.htm
http://ckperformance.com/ford_aod.html
http://www.tciauto.com/Products/Ford/ford_aod.asp
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New User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
I was thinking the converter for a little bit more of a hole shot from stop lights and just normal take off, something of about 1500-1800 rpm. Since I have put a slightly larger cam in the motor since the rebuild, you can tell it has tightened up the converter a bunch.
Then do the gears in addition to that.
Do you guys think that the 4.10's would be the best option for a daily driver?
Then do the gears in addition to that.
Do you guys think that the 4.10's would be the best option for a daily driver?
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: LaFollette Tn
Go with the C6.Had one that went 400K miles before needing an overhaul.Now,95% of the miles were interstate.The reverse band broke.(the steel part).The C6 IS the most idiot and bullet proof AT out there.Might be a bit of a HP hog, but I don`t care.Leo
