After many years of filling my Ford with Chevy engines, I've seen the light. I am hooking together a mess of parts that will eventually become a '40 Ford pickup. I am working on a 302 engine and want to bolt it to a Ford AOD tranny. I'm told that they will hook up but I'm not sure what year AOD I should be using. Can someone advise me? Thanks!
Early AOD's weren't computerized, (don't know the changeover year, but someone will) from what I hear later AOD's where built stronger. I have a late 80's AOD (non computerized) behind a 289 that is going in my T-bucket, I'm not to worried about strength in such a light car.
I have an 84 302/AOD from a 70,000 mile car in my 53 F100. I have put quite a few miles on it with no problems at all. Joe
AOD is the non-computer controlled version. It is basically an FMX with overdrive. It was made from 1980 to about 1995. Different models switched to the AODE (computer controlled) in different years. I think that you will find the AOD to be stronger than a C4. First: 2.40:1 Second: 1.47:1 Third: 1.00:1 Overdrive: 0.67:1
Good for you for keeping a Ford in a Ford. I think you may be the first one to "see the light" but it's a good start! And just a friendly reminder... be sure to have the TV cable adjusted correctly on that AOD or you'll burn the transmission up in a matter of minutes. -Chris
I have a 302 in my 40 with a c4. I would like a AOD. I hear thy are bigger then a c4. My cab is channeled and I made the floor to fit a c4.
What year 302? Early 302s had a 28 ounce balance, while later, I think '81-up, had a 50 ounce. It's important to use the correct balance flex plate with your AOD, you can get them both ways. X2 on the TV cable, it has a small range of adjustment but it's right when the trans feels like it's shifting at the right time, not too late or early. -KK
The AOD is indeed bigger than the C4, but about the same length. My roadster needed a new floor when we switched based on the increased size of the bellhousing and trans case. Rear trans mount is also a couple of inches further aft. On your '40 pickup, the X-member will probably need to be massaged to fit the AOD. We needed to do that for my '40 coupe. Having said all that, the advantages of the overdrive are substantial, and worth the effort.
i have a 302 ford for my bucket but dont get into the ford in a ford thing. hotrods from back in the day never did. seems like the ford in a ford is a street rod thing to me. guess im to old! lol.
can,t see why you needed a ford in a ford i always put what i like in the car guess i,m old school but we did what we wanted unless you are a restorer nothing wrong with a ford motor but when people say put a ford in a ford or a mopar in a mopar or a chevy in a chevy thats not hot rodding just boring my 2 cents
Well said, what next, keep it stock? I always thought the best thing about rods and customs is doing your own thing, and run what you like. Wonder why you never see anyone arguing to keep a Chevy in a Chevy???
The best AOD for a donor core is from 1988-1993 these are non-computer and have all the factory upgrades to address the earlier model bugs and weak points.To gain the most knowledge on the AOD click on this site: www.clickclickracing.com and www.becontrols.com
Find out what is needed to stuff that motor in too. They are longer, so you have to deal with that, and the oil pan/pickup/pump wants to be where the crossmember is. As for the side issue, I don't have an issue with the other stuff, just a SBC in a Mopar. A SBC in a Ford was done right off the bat and is traditional. The SBF didn't come out until the 60s, and was harder to install than a SBC in 32-48 Fords. It's a bit more work to install a SBF, so you will have more interest in your car when it's done.
why would you want to put a ford in a ford??? Just kidding thats the right thing to do! I hate seeing chevys in fords
Correct. This site has info on that plus an adapter to give you the correct geometry for the TV cable. I am using a Lokar cable. http://www.transmissioncenter.org/ Good luck.
Hallelujah! I heard a new messiah had arrived & change was on the way, now I'm a believer! Fords in Fords might be boring but not as much as SBC in a -----, or SBC in that -------...... But seriously, good for you, I'm sure it'll be a challenge but worth it when done.
i have a full 5.0 efi motor and aod swapped into my '71 f-100 part hauler. best combo ever. aod is pretty easy. hardest part was adapting the column shifter to the linkage. other than that it was fine. oh, and the rear tranny mount moved back an inch or two.
I have a 302/AOD in my 27 tub. The overdrive makes for a nice driver. Just make sure you use the correct flex plate for the AOD. Lokar makes a nice tv cable with brackets to make adjustment easy, and the adjustment is critical. The best part of a Ford in a Ford is how sweet they sound with a set of smithys, way different than all the chevys everybody is used to hearing - but that would be a different thread.
I'm using a 302 (351 heads) with an AOD. I had the AOD beefed up to shift harder. I was raised in a Ford family, my dad and his brothers has 30's fords and granddad raced on the beach at Daytona back in the day. I have learn to except those other engines in hot rods but it still makes me a little ill. It is harder to fit it in there but that's the fun part! I'm just a Ford guy with a Ford wife and a Ford driving son. Oh ya, my little girl's name is Shelby. My build, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324514&showall=1
Putting a chevy motor in a Ford is the same as transplanting a pigs heart in a human. Both my 32s have 302s in them. The panel has a AOD behind it and the coupe has a computer run AODE. Both combinations are fantastic. Good luck with your 40.
I'm going with a stroked Lincoln motor in my model t. Like makin love in the country...Gotta keep it in the family.
In todays world going Ford is not much of a problem. I see a lot of post stating there longer and hard to install. I say bullshit there no harder than any other motor to line up in your chassis. Hard or difficult is a cad in a 49 chev or 49 ford. Now thats tight. Advantage today is there are thousands of small block ford motors available and any place in the country there is a parts supply if needed. I use to use a lot of 327 chev's and now there rare as hen's teeth to locate. With all the traveling todays rodders do you really need a supply of parts where ever you may go. The SB 350 chev are also very available so its a personal decision to make. Either way when finished you will have fun on the road and thats what its about any way.
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