Trans swap
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Trans swap
I have a 72 F-100 with a 302 and C-4 trans. I really don't know if the engine & trans are OEM or what year they are. I just stumbled on an AOD, year unknown. Is it in my best interest to replace the C-4 with the AOD, assuming the years match?
What about trans mounts, bell housing patterns, driveshaft lengths,etc.?
The reason I'm thinking about the swap is my current trans leaks a little bit & it shifts funny when it's cold. When shifting up between 2 & 3 there's a momentary slippage causing the engine to race for a second. It doesn't seem to occur when it's hot. Not being very familiar with auto transmissions, I have no idea what this means, but I don't like it. Also, I know the engine is fresh but the trans has an unknown number of miles on it.
Any input would be appreciated.
Hartski
What about trans mounts, bell housing patterns, driveshaft lengths,etc.?
The reason I'm thinking about the swap is my current trans leaks a little bit & it shifts funny when it's cold. When shifting up between 2 & 3 there's a momentary slippage causing the engine to race for a second. It doesn't seem to occur when it's hot. Not being very familiar with auto transmissions, I have no idea what this means, but I don't like it. Also, I know the engine is fresh but the trans has an unknown number of miles on it.
Any input would be appreciated.
Hartski
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From: Pittsburgh,Pa.
The 302, C4 combo was an option in 72 but after 36 years anything is possible. If the C4 is an original truck trans it will have a bolt on rear yoke. AOD trannys weren't introduced until the 80's. The first versions were breakage prone. The heavier E4OD was introduced about '90. They hold up better than the early versions. Trans selection kind of depends on your plans for the truck. If you plan on big engine mods, hauling heavy or doing a lot of towing a heavier trans would hold up better. I have a C4 in my 72. It works fine for my needs.
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I have a 91 aod from a mustang, and it works fine for me. depending on the year of your engine you may need a different flex plate. my engine is a 68 so i had to get a different flex plate, to match the converter and balance. The rear transmission cross member will have to be moved back and i had to shorten the drive shaft. You also have to get a tv cable to make the transmission work. Igot a shift cable from the I Did It company for the column shift. You can also get one if you want a floor shift. As redcat said if you are going to do heavy hauling I would get the heaver transmission.
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I don't do much hauling with it, just the occasional run to Home Depot for various things. 95% of the time the bed is empty. Eventually I'd like to be able to pull a trailer with my Jeep on it, but no more than once every couple of months or so. I'm in the process of upgrading to front discs before I do any towing. So from what you say the C-4 will probably be fine for my needs. What about the momentary shifting problem when it's cold, any ideas on that?
Thanks for your replies.
Hartski
Thanks for your replies.
Hartski
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From: redding U.S.A.
Hartski,
I read this post last night. This morning I started up the truck, and it wouldn't shift into 3rd. It was really cold this morning. Later in the day the trans started working normally again.
I have been planning an AOD swap for a while, I want the 0.67 overdrive. 4 gears are nice to have.
I've done some reading and gathered the following info for an AOD swap-
-Ford made a few upgrades over the year so the youngest tranny the better.
-You need to get a TV cable adapter kit or make your own. LOKAR makes one specifically for this purpose, they sell for about $65-85
-I've heard the driveshaft needs to be shortened. I've also read that if you use a mustang yoke you don't have to shorten it. I'm not sure. I remember seeing different length 9" yokes as well, maybe that can help.
Either way, I've found an AOD on craigslist for $150, and ordered the LOKAR kit for $65. I plan on doing the swap in the next 2 weeks, I've got to get some odd jobs going as I'm in college and FLAT BROKE. Hopefully this can be done as she's my only vehicle!
http://www.bzerob1.com/tech2/c4aod.html this is meant for mustangs so read carefully.
I read this post last night. This morning I started up the truck, and it wouldn't shift into 3rd. It was really cold this morning. Later in the day the trans started working normally again.
I have been planning an AOD swap for a while, I want the 0.67 overdrive. 4 gears are nice to have.
I've done some reading and gathered the following info for an AOD swap-
-Ford made a few upgrades over the year so the youngest tranny the better.
-You need to get a TV cable adapter kit or make your own. LOKAR makes one specifically for this purpose, they sell for about $65-85
-I've heard the driveshaft needs to be shortened. I've also read that if you use a mustang yoke you don't have to shorten it. I'm not sure. I remember seeing different length 9" yokes as well, maybe that can help.
Either way, I've found an AOD on craigslist for $150, and ordered the LOKAR kit for $65. I plan on doing the swap in the next 2 weeks, I've got to get some odd jobs going as I'm in college and FLAT BROKE. Hopefully this can be done as she's my only vehicle!
http://www.bzerob1.com/tech2/c4aod.html this is meant for mustangs so read carefully.
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From: Pittsburgh,Pa.
Hartski, I've had a couple Ford automatics that wouldn't shift well when cold. The E4OD in my 96 is a little slow on the 2 - 3 shift when it's below freezing outside. I just let them warm up. There are a couple of members here that know a lot more about automatics than I do and I'm hoping one of them will chime in.
I don't tow with my 72 but the original owner did. He regularly made a roughly 300 mile round trip between his home and Lake Erie with a fishing boat in tow. He had the trans rebuilt once in the 35 years he owned it.
I don't tow with my 72 but the original owner did. He regularly made a roughly 300 mile round trip between his home and Lake Erie with a fishing boat in tow. He had the trans rebuilt once in the 35 years he owned it.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
The C4 that was in my F250 had a similar problem, it did not like 3rd when cold. Wouldn't even shift into third under 45, if at all. It was a pretty simple fix though- The stop on the dipstick had slid up, and the tranny didn't have enough fluid. Once it heated up and expanded, it would run fine.
FWIW, that tranny is worth a few dollars to drag racers, especially Mustang runners. It can be built very tough without spending a fortune, and the short fixed yoke means it fits in just about anything.
Just to let you know so you don't chuck the old one-
FWIW, that tranny is worth a few dollars to drag racers, especially Mustang runners. It can be built very tough without spending a fortune, and the short fixed yoke means it fits in just about anything.
Just to let you know so you don't chuck the old one-
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Well it sounds to me like the shifting wierdness is nothing to worry about. I think I might have a vent issue as well. The dipstick keeps popping out of the tube, and at one time, when the trans was overfilled, I had trans fluid coming out of the speedo cable onto the floor of my truck. I haven't had that problem in awhile, but the dipstick issue remains. I really don't hink I need to worry about it though. I'm have a bit of a leak but it seems to be coming from the cooler lines. I'll address that at a later time. Right now I'm in the process of doing the disc brake upgrade.
Hartski
Hartski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: UPSTATE NY
you can get new lines at any auto parts store dirt cheap, same thing with the gasket for your pan. if you are using an oil cooler for it or a trans cooler well its winter and i'd consider having the lines go through the bottom of the radiator. i've got zero experience and cant say much about transmission repair other than that the c4 and c6 transmissions have been on speedvision fixit shows, and there are tons of tutorials online about how you can adjust your bands, replace clutches, yada yada. so i would have to think fixing it would be hell of alot better than replacing it. and that overdrive is not gonna do much for saving gas in relation to the cost and time of the project. i would say drop that tranny out, flip it upside down and get wrenchin!
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AOD: '88-93, from behind a V8, preferably from a truck. From behind a 6 in a truck OK too. AOD sites, some tell the tale of what's wrong and what they fix.
AOD Transmission from PATC, AOD Transmissions
AOD Performance Products - Baumann Electronic Controls
www.CKPerformance.com
TCI - Ford AOD, AODE and 4R70W
TCI has the easiest info imo, and they also have a link showing/telling how to adjust the TV cable.
A built C4 from them is $1100 or so. A built AOD is over $2100. Lot of money for an extra gear....
Do the math on the fuel savings. You usually will save a little gas, but won't save any money.
Good luck with it.
AOD Transmission from PATC, AOD Transmissions
AOD Performance Products - Baumann Electronic Controls
www.CKPerformance.com
TCI - Ford AOD, AODE and 4R70W
TCI has the easiest info imo, and they also have a link showing/telling how to adjust the TV cable.
A built C4 from them is $1100 or so. A built AOD is over $2100. Lot of money for an extra gear....
Do the math on the fuel savings. You usually will save a little gas, but won't save any money.
Good luck with it.
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It sounds like the swap isn't worth the effort. As far as the cooler lines are concerned, I was talking about the lines that go to the radiator. I don't another cooler besides that one. Thanks for all the input everyone.
Hartski
Hartski
