What are the pros and cons of running an AOD in my F100 with a 300/6? Are they really that weak; anyone with a success story? What would I need to watch out for?
What kind of work could I expect if I wanted to install an AOD in place of the T18 granny my truck currently has? What kind of performance/mileage/speed increase or decrease? Parts I would need to get from the donor? Could I run a floor shifter w/ the auto to avoid swapping my column? Sorry if it seems like a lot of questions. Thanks for any help!

 

There is no downside if you have a healthy AOD and the truck is geared appropriately. 3.55 with 28" tires seems to be sweet spot for performance and milage with the I6, you could potentially see 20+mpg on the highway and towing performance will be much improved.
Floor shifter should be no problem with parts from one of the cars but you will also need to attach a TV cable to the throttle linkage, this cable controls line pressure inside the trans and must be attached or it won't last more than a minute.
Any auto tranny will benefit from a shift kit and this one is no exception, also look for a later versions as they were built stronger than earlier ones. If you want a success story the AOD in my 5000lb ext cab 4x4 survived 8 years behind a 351 with no ill effects and I abused it and towed plenty. It was a fresh rebuild with all the updates and has a shift kit.

 

Thanks! Do you know if there are any drive shaft or crossmember differences between the AOD and the T18? Also, what car could I yank a floor shifter from, something like a Mustang II shifter might work?