i'm not gonna read all these... i'm gonna give my advice after having 2 aod cars and going through a total of 4 transmissions

get a lentech... don't even rebuild your current aod, that or do a t5 swap

if you do go AOD : get a 3000 or more converter(trust me.. it is NOT too big... if you go any smaller you'll be disappointed and still lose to 5-speed cars)

if you rebuild your current AOD : trans cooler, "a" servo, wide ratio kit (this will have the redline clutch paks and just about everything you need including gaskets.. also will have a lot of the hard parts you'll need to replace anyways like the od shell and everything else that failed and is all scored up) synthetic oil , and then start to save up to rebuild it again about 2 years

 

I too went through 3 AOD rebuilds (local shop), before finally getting one that works the way I need it to. One of the rebuilds had the 4R70W low gear set in it (it lasted 3 months, and it's sitting on the floor of my shop, builder went out of business). I saw an add on the internet one day, for a place in Tampa (I'm in West Palm Beach, Fl) that specialized in Mustang trannies. I called them and we discussed my needs. After speaking with the actual builder, I was fairly confident he knew what he was doing. I placed an order and made the 2-1/2 hour trip to pick it up. He was actually still working on it when I arrived, and he was able to show/explain the mods he made. My current build consist of an A+ servo, alto red eagle clutches, kolene steels, kevlar band (I still have the 1-1/2" band) and a hardened inner input shaft. This tranny backs up a midly modified 351W (320hp +/-) in a mud truck, that gets the crap run out of it. It's also a daily driver. 2 years and no issues so far, and it still barks 2nd gear, even with 37" tires. I had this tranny built for $1069, including the 2800 stall converter. The only thing I would do different is I'd go with the stamped steel drum vs the cast, and the 2" band. It hasn't been an issue on the truck, because it doesn't see WOT shifts into OD. If you do the build yourself, you can build a pretty stout AOD for less that $1500. It's not the easiest tranny to build for the first timer, and you'll need a few special tools, especially the lip seal protectors (about $120 for the set). I'm building one (1st timer) as we speak. Broader Performance and Baumann Electronic controls are 2 good references for parts. They have everything you need to build your AOD.

http://www.broaderperformance.com/

http://www.becontrols.com/products/aodcat.htm

 

a friend of mine just got his aod rebuilt to handle 450hp with a year warranty. It was cost him like 700 bucks parts and labor. Two weeks later he ripped through the input shaft.

that reminds me, he wanted me to check on an input shaft. I guess Lentech??

 

stamped steel drum, thats the other mod i did to my aod. i always for get that one.

anyways, i agree, they are very similar. thats why i would spend the money to do the sway. id either build my aod (which i did) or go bigger to something like a c4

 

I'm only $200 shy of getting my loaded C4 from Redneck Performance. I'm also in the middle of rebuilding a AOD myself (1st timer). I don't know what I'll do with the AOD when it's done, maybe keep as a spare for my Son's truck.

 

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