1990silverlx5.0

I have a 90 lx 5.0 with an AOD, what would be the benefits to purchasing and installing a shift kit? I have never had an automatic tranny equipped stang before but I couldnt pass up the deal I got on this one. Since the car only has 62,00 miles on it is there anything I need to do to the transmission to prolong the life of it? (aftermarket cooler, special fluid) I am planning on installing 3:73 gears as soon as this damn Missouri weather lets up. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Andy

69mach1377

Shift kit will change the way it feels immensely. It will shift faster and harder and at your command, I highly recommend it. Even better would be one that corrects the 1-2,3, od pattern to a 1,2,3-od pattern so you don't have to do the shuffle that so many complain about. If you have an auto, you should have a shift kit...

bobby

what do u mean by that?

69mach1377

It's my understanding that for the AOD in stock form, you can't really keep it in 1st for very long without doing some weird shift trick that leads to premature failure of the tranny. Lentech originally, and now others have reworked the valve body with a shift kit that somehow takes care of this. Since I don't have one, I may not be describing it correctly, but those who do should know what I'm trying to say. A little help from the AOD guys...?
Check out the Lentech website.

bossman351

I dont ave one but Ive driven a few.the tranny doesnt have a selection for 2nd gear only 1, D and OD. you can hold 2nd gear by shifting form 1st to D then going back to the 1st selection after it shifts into 2nd. By going back to the 1st position it forces the tranny to hold 2nd gear.

luckythirteen13

^^^^bossman is right. you have to shift it down to 1 while in second if you want to hold it. my trans shifts at 5200 every time so i dont ever shift it manually.

if you do the shift kit, do a high stall converter. i have a high stall with a custom shift kit, and it hits the gears hard when it shifts. the shift is also instantanious!

roundman

I would definitely get a shift kit and a good large tranny oil cooler and install it too as heat the is the big enemy of auto trannys. then change the fluid and filter in it every 30,000 miles or so and it should last a good long time.