kolb02

I just bought a 1988 LX 5.0 with AOD in it. My question is what should I do to make this tranny a better street/strip performer? Is there a shift kit to get?

1ATony

I have a TCI street fighter and it's to much for the road. My advice would be to go to a well know tranny shop in your area and tell them what you're looking to do.

If you just go to the track once in a while I'd just do a mild shift kit and call it a day.

ford1991mustang

yeah a shift kit would help out. I would suggest also getting a transmission cooler. I had a B&M hammer shifter for my AOD and it makes driving alot more fun.
A new valve body or higher stall converter will make your trans more aggressive but is more costly.

enix187

trans go, you can pick how stiff you want it to shift, allows you to shift into overdrive at full throttle, and you can hold out the gears longer with it in low. Also it allows for a more instantaneous forced down**** (moving from d to l). I would recommend that if you're not familiar with tranny work you get a shop to do the labor, its difficult to install the new valve body springs and if you want the full kit you have to drill the valve body too. Its a great upgrade with a rebuild. 1 shim=kind've harder shifts 2 shims= noticeably firmer shift (this is what i ran, with the line pressure turned up it would bark the tires on the second shift) and three shims, well I've never run three so i don't know. We've had this kit installed in three different transmissions two aod's and one th350, its a great kit.

micus

i think the b & m stage 1 kit can be had for around 45 dollars, all you have to do is drop the pan for the install. i ran out of love for my AOD = t5.

FLcracker9

Transgo or Baumann Electronics for the shift kit, stay away from the B&M for the AOD. Also another cheap upgrade is an A or A+ servo. Both the kit and the servo can be installed by most in a couple of hours at home.

Gator

heres what i did, spt-1 stage 2 from here http://www.silverfoxtrans.com/silver...om/VB_AOD.html
call and talk to Dan he will suggest the best for what youre trying to do, and can set it up how and where you want it for shift points firmness etc.

Great product support here also
I installed my valvebody myself, i have never been inside a transmission, and know nothing about them. comes with easy to follow instructions, no drilling needed its already done, comes ready to bolt in and go

check here for AOD tech forums http://www.clickclickracing.com/forums/forum.php

nitrous_bob

imo you have only 2 options

1) lentech aod http://www.lentechautomatics.com/
2) t5 swap

i spent way too much money in the past to have an inferior trans too many times to even consider an aod for anything

but if i fell off the high dive, broke my head and thought about it for a minute... i'd go lentech

and it's not just the shifting thats an issue... and a shift kit wont fix all of the issues

the biggest issue is gearing. an aod is 2.40 1st compared to a 3.35 in a t5, the shift points will be raised a little a shift kit, but the 2-3 shift will still come in way too low and since the aod had 3-4 in the same spot... you cant lock out 2 without doing the "shuffle" and that will smoke the trans due to some clutches being engaged when they shouldnt be because the trans thinks it's in 3rd when it's really in 2nd.

the converter flashes way low... even a 2200 will feel stock so if you do a aod... go 3k or bigger... or dont bother cuz you will feel dissapointed.

they are also susceptible to heat more than your typical automatic so make sure you get a cooler on it too

considering all that.... price a lentech, compare that to an $1800 rebuild for a STOCK AOD REBUILD and you'll see where im coming from

len can electronically delete the 4th gear so you can manually shift 1-2-3 in the 1-d-od positions... then hit ta button for od to come on in normal driving

whan i talk about the "shuffle" i mean going from 1-d-1 to lock out 2nd.... dont do it unless your planning on throwing that trans away anyways in the next 6 months

sixtyninestang

I fully agree. The shift kit in my car makes it klunk going into overdrive if you don't have your foot into it. I can't stand it, but it's great for the strip, where you're wide open.

foxbod90

my aod goes klunk into overdrive as well. i dont think it has a shift kit but, maybe it does!