5.0FoxBody

Ok...I'm new to this forum..just got an '89 5.0 Mustang LX... I'm pretty stoked about gettin it...and I wanna jump in and start modding it..(I'm used to a '95 v6 Camaro..that you can't really 'mod') But anyways..I wanna put a shift kit in..to get a good hard shift through each gear... I don't know what transmission I have though..I actually know Nothing about the 5.0 mustang...so any info would be helpful...can ya'll tell me what transmission I have? and maybe what gears I have? it's an automatic... and would a stall converter be hard/expensive to do? what would be the benefits of each of these mods??

5.0FoxBody

Any information would be helpful..and greatly appreciated... Anyone?

fastfox86

If it's auto then you have the Ford AOD. I would get a new valve body though if I were you instead of messing with the shift kit.

5.0FoxBody

so there's no specific name for the transmission?? just a 'Ford AOD'? and whats a valve body...? what does that do...as opposed to a shift kit? Also...do I have an 8.8 rearend? or a 7.5??

5.0FoxBody

anyone else wanna chime in?

w8less

since its got the 5.0 in it i would assume that u have a 8.8 in it and the gears are more than likely 2.73's i think or 3.27's which i doubt but a possibilty

Crazyfast50stang

stock gears should be 2.73 And there is a specific name for the tranny but I cant tell you since I'm not sure on your year.

nitrous_bob

that is the specific name for it. AOD which yes stands for automatic overdrive, later replaced by AODE which is electronically controlled.

anyway, the valve body is the correct way to do a shift kit, a shift kit just modifies the normal operation of the tranny by increasing oil and and chaging spring tension to produce higher shift points.

w/ a valvebody replacement, you can eliminate the "worst " part of the aod, the inabilty to shift manually through 1-2-3 gears.

the shifter only has 3 positions and 4 speeds, so you have 1st then 2 and 3 together, you can hold 1st but then after the 2 shift, it will shift to 3 at about 3500 rpm.

there si a way to get by that called the "aod shuffle" but will destroy your trans. after it shifts to 2 , you pull back to 1, then shift back to "d" whenb you want 3rd.

a converter will help greatly, don't go lower than 3000 stall. it requires removal of the trans, i would recommend doing the whole exhaust at that point since getting the old exhaust off (if it's still stock) is the hardest part of the project.

and 4.10 gears are the bigest gain you will notice from your car for the least amount of money.

if you look in your door tag on the drivers side, under "ax code" there will be a letter and it means m=2.73, z=3.08 or e=3.27
the 3.27's were only available on aod's

it is an 8.8 rearend, 7.5's were 4 cylinders and pre'86 5.0's

OneFine89Mustang

gears is the best bang for the buck get 4:10 you wont be disappointed

5.0FoxBody

Thank you very much nitrous_bob...a lot of great information. Mine does have 2.73...and I was thinkin of gettin 3.73...would 4.10's be a better idea? even if I still want some top end torque? Also...how much is a valve body replacement? and will it help more than Just a shift kit?? Many Thanks!