It's a toss up which is worse, the AOD or the A4LD.

The AOD was much more expensive to overhaul, and was used in Lincoln's, Crown Vic's, Merc Grand Marquis, F150's and etc, while the A4LD was mainly used in Rangers, Bronco II's.

Customers that had bought the big buck Lincoln's were PO'd that their new cars trans had self destructed in a matter of weeks. If you had to deal these ppl while they were going ballistic...like I did, you'd prolly agree that the AOD was the worst POS!

Dealers got around the crappy A4LD's by not ordering new Rangers, Bronco II's with this POS A/T. They ordered them with 5 speeds, instead.

But dealers were stuck with the AOD, cuz it was the only A/T available.

A major limo company had the dealer I was working at back then, convert over 100 of their Town Car limo's from AOD's to C6's.

Since there was no application for the C6 in these cars, figuring out what would work, was a time consuming...royal PITA.

 

That doesnt sound fun at all. Though weve had two vehicles with the AOD and 3 with the A4LD, The towncar has 202k and hits 2nd a little hard but is fine, while the 150 was overhauled in 93 (78k) and now has 268 with no problems, but like you said aforehand, we use the little trans-saver button on the dash anytime under 45 or pulling a load. The A4LD's were all in explorers, and all went belly up under 100k. Our 94 eddie was 6 months old when we went playin in the snow a little. Something smelled hot all of a sudden, check engine light came on and there was no foreward.... drove 30 some miles in reverse to get back to the ranch.

 

A4LD's were originally installed in Rangers, Bronco II's. The dealer I was working at, sold these vehicles with 5 speed manuals only, because it was a toss up if the branny new...just sold Ranger or Bronco II w/an A4LD would make it off the lot!

Ford told the dealers circa 1985 to pass onto customers this caveat inre to the AOD: STAY OUT of O/D in heavy stop and go traffic!

Ford also told the dealers, that when overhauling the POS, to install the largest external trans cooler available.

AOD: The warranty costs by 1985 had EXCEEDED all the previous warranty costs for all the A/T's COMBINED back to 1951!

 

Thanks,
__for the respond N.D.
The rod/link I'm talking about is the one that connect's the steering column to the transmission.
(sorry about not being clearer about that. didn't mean to say "shift/link". poor choice of words.)

As for the AOD. I plan on perchasing one from Monster Transmisson.
Monster Transmission & Performance | 800-708-0087 | Fast FREE Shipping!
They have a good reputaion as well some history of building soild transmissions.
That & they test-drive every transmission they sell.
As for those weak parts they relace them something much more solid.
Heck, if they can build a transmission to survive big block 4x4 pounding it.
I say it can be built to tow. But it will be awile before I get the cash to do this.
Untill then, I just want to get the install bugs out. So when I get the transmission,
I can just bolt it right in. & be back on the road.

So, thanks for all the tech input guys.

 

All I can do is list the part numbers, because the parts catalogs usually do not list the length's of these shift rods.

Since the AOD wasn't available until the 1980's, what rod from what A/T are you planning to use?

 

P.S.,
__ ok guys. Most trans with OD in the hands of an uneducated driver (which is most of the US.) it's guaranteed to die a early death anywho.

I myself have limped a trans that was on the way out, (slipping bands, & broken sun gear.) for about another 600mi when it should have died at 100mi. of when the first signs the trans was going south.
I'm not trying to brag. It was a nessary evil, till I was able to get my car up & ready. (at a cost of -car-$300 vs.-truck-$3500 one can see the need to do so.)

Heck, shifting down into Drive is one of the first things one learns about towing.
I still drop down when going up a long steep hill. I mean why punish the OD to go up a long hill?
Second thing I've learned, always ALWAYS, run your tow rig with a cooler. Just better to have it, than to be on the roadside. (it doesn't hurt to install a trans-temp gage too.)

 

Well, I've got a 302ci, with a C-4HD.
I'd like to be able to use that.

PS do you think I could use my stock drive-shaft too?
or will it be too long?

 

Well,
__it's been some time since I've been here.
& as far one can see here, no one has been able to help me answer this Q of mine.

So if anyone has the time, please go over this thread & come back with an answer if you have one.

Thank-you.

 

Are you referring to the 'stock drive shaft' question? If so then the answer is maybe. I was able to use my stock drive shaft without any modifications, but your experience may differ. Just take some measurements of what you have now versus what you are planning on using and then see if you are close.

 

If the transmission you want to use is longer than the one you are replacing, then that means a shorter drive shaft will be needed. The crossmembers are adjustable ,forward and back, even if it means drilling new holes in the frame. I just removed the standard trany in my 79 and replaced it with an early c/4. I found out the 79 c/6 from a F-150 s,c. had a crossmember that dropped down more than the 79 F-100 standard crossmember did. The standard one worked for me. I used the column and c/6 shifter from the 79 c/6 and had to extend the rod and the transmission shifter arm to get the correct positions on the shifter to show up . I have been thinking about the AOD to replace the C/4 I have now.

 

Ok,
__Q to be answered.
How long are the two transmissions?
Do they share the same universal-joint size?
Is the trans-mount the same part for both transmissions?

 

1) don't know
2) yes, mine did
3) yes.

I had a new rubber mount for my truck before I bought the AOD and it bolted right to the trans and dropped onto the cross member, not problems.

visit the link I posted in my first response for some of the little details but with all of the time we have spent talking about this you could have it installed already.

 

NumberDummy, you obviously have had more experience in dealing with the AOD than any of us on this board. But I have to ask, if the AOD was such a "POS" as you called it, and cost Ford so much money in warranty claims, why did Ford use the AOD transmission in so many of their vehicles for what, FIFTEEN years?

 

Because,
__why pay for retooling & refitting when you can use what you have.
& just make the owner pay for what the warranty won't cover.

 

Will the AOD bolt up to a 73 390ci?

And will it handle the bigger motor.

My truck is a F250 xlt camper special - no camper