Projects Fordomatic to AOD Swap

I’m going to make hard lines from nicop line I have on hand.
Planning to use a large external cooler I have also.

 

I pulled the steering wheel off to look at the detent plate.
It doesn’t really have one, there are notches cut in a plate that is part of the collumn, not not a removable plate like I’m used to.
The notches are worn out and it won’t hold park.
I’ll have to stare at it for about two beers worth of time then sleep on it and make something tomorrow.

 

Can't wait To see what you come up with. I have an AOD in my 55 and I can only get P and R to align. The detents in the AOD are to close together.

 

Im going to make it work at the column like factory, then I’ll adjust the range with the lokar shift arm at the transmission.
This transmission has 3 forward position even though it has 4 gears.
The collumn has two forward positions so I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to put it in low or just drive and overdrive.

 

I don't think you will any issues, especially with the aftermarket bellcrank. My set up with the modified factory floor shift works perfectly in all gears. I did my own mods to the shift lever length, which, of course, was different than your column shift. I had planned to also modify the shift indicator but have never gotten around to it because it seems unnecessary to me, now. I know where the shift points are just out of familiarity and I'm the only driver anyway.

 

Pretty sure you will run out of trans detents before you will column positions. I have a cable accelerator pedal that goes through the floorboard and is in the way of the Lokar shifter. My shift arm is homemade to get around the pedal protrusion. So like y'sguy, I just got usr to where they are and am the only one driving it

 

My wife cant drive a car without functioning gear position display.
She just cant remember basic prnd21 pattern, which always makes me think why she can remember what i did or say 20 years ago.

 

Here’s the new detent plate,
I think it will end up with P R N OD D
That should be enough and not having low will discourage me from entering the burnout contest.

My wife drove the wagon with the fordomatic and knew that drive was after neutral, but she’s a particularly good driver and grew up driving beater cars.
When we met she had a bonneville that only the drivers door opened and you had to hold the stock up or down to use the turnsignals. She also knew exactly where under the hood to tap on with a snow brush to get the heater to work
If she can handle that she can handle my woody.

 

Very productive night last night!
Last night was the night of many small but important things.

Shift linkage is hooked up and can shift in to all gears. I need the file the detent plate I made just a little bit so it will go in to park smoother. I need to borrow a needle file from my dad for this, which will require a glass of scotch and a chat about the good old days and an admonishment to make sure I return his tools.

TV cable is hooked up and working. I’ll need a friend for a second set of hands so one of us can work the carburetor linkage and the other can adjust the transmission end. This will require a sixpack and a chat about how to make racecars faster.

Dipstick tube is modified and installed so it doesn’t touch the firewall.

speedometer cable is installed. A stock cable for a ‘65 mustang was a perfect fit. I’m sure the speedometer gear I used is not the right one, LMR website has a calculator to identify the correct gear, then I’ll have to order one. When I order the new gear I’ll also be ordering a set of headers for my mustang. I’ll then trade the stock exhaust to my friend’s kid who’s working on his first car. Have to figure out how much lawn mowing exhaust manifolds are worth.

 

Good work on the detent plate. I hope for your sake of all the work you CAN manage to find low. It makes the swap that much more useful. I have a quick shift kit and a rear gear combination that allows me to travel in and around town and pop into OD whenever I get on the expressway or traffic gets faster. But having low is something I would recommend seeking out a solution for. It may just require fine-tuning the bellcrank and detent as you proceed with the project. I use it on road trips in the MTN areas on the twisty downhills and it really makes the car more fun and versatile.

It's looking good.

 

Did the Lokar shift linkage allow you to align the column indicator to the correct gear?

 

In WV stock exhaust manifolds go for $25 apiece. Figure that into lawn mowing by the area you have and now you have it. Then you can explain to the young individual about how important it is to stay in school. Explain how important algebra and calculus are. If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance baffle them with your bull $hit.

 

Test fit the new rearend, looks like it’s going to work perfectly.
This is a 7.5 from a ford ranger.
Same bolt pattern, 3/4” wider.
It has 342 gears which are not exactly optimal but easy to change if I’m not happy with it.