Ok so heres what I came up with browsing around on C4's and AOD's C4 info on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C4_transmission AOD info on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AOD_transmission I know Im looking for a C4 AOD but this says C4's are not an AOD. What are you guys all using in your cars? I have a 1986 5.0 302 that I want to hook this up too. any info would be awesome. thanks mucho
2 completely different animals and they look very different. Google Ford AOD or Ford C4 and you will find a wealth of information.
the AOD is the 80s version of the c4. Im goign by mustangs here.. As stated they are completly different. C4 has no overdrive. AOD does. it was the newer technology for trannys, they went to AODE then 4r70w. parts dont interchange, a AOD is WAY BIGGER also, pretty heavy trannys, the AODE is heavier to, i got one in my garage right now. suckers a beast.
so then Why does everyone talk about gettin a C4 AOD transmission if it doesnt exist? also wouldnt the AOD be better?
So Everyone is using a AOD in their cars? what are the pros and cons of both the C4 and AOD? Will the AOD fit in my merc bolted to the 302 with not modifying anything but the rear mount?
yes it will fit with minor changes drive shaft needs to be shortened trans mount needs to be moved about 3/4 inch the biggest differnce that i had was the shift pattern is reversed from a c/4 getting the kick down is difficult to adjust (minor movement makes big changes) took awile to get it right for me if you run an aod put a shift kit in it helps the shift points a lot
The AOD is about 150lbs compared to the C4 around 100lbs. If you go with an AOD, get one made 1988 or later. The overdrive is .67. The TV cable can be a bitch to set up with some carbs, it's best to use a pressure gauge to be sure of your adjustment, if it's out you can frag the tranny in a days driving. Flatman
What he means is that the shifting in an AOD is controlled by a throttle valve (TV) inside the trans. It is connnected to a cable that attaches to your carburetor or EFI throttle body. The TV varies the line pressure inside the trans; pretty much like blood pressure, this affects everything- shift quality, timing, & so forth. The cable and its bracket must be carefully installed & adjusted, so that when you accelerate or decelerate, the AOD understands what you are doing. This is not a difficult task, it just takes PATIENCE, and the correct bracket (available from Lokar & other places). If you don't do this right, it's pretty easy to wreck the AOD, quickly. It's nothing to be scared of, it just takes PATIENCE. As Flatman says, a line pressure gauge is your friend, although it can be done without one. If you have doubts, a good trans shop can adjust it for you, assuming you have installed the bracket & so forth. The AOD is vaguely related to the C4, but very little interchanges & they don't have much in common. If you plan on a lot of highway driving, I'd look at the AOD seriously. If it's going to be nothing but a toy/town cruiser, a C4 might be just as practical for you. Since you can't plan ahead completely, & people always end up doing things with their car that they didn't intend to, I'd give the edge to the AOD.
A true C4 is a three-speed, with high gear being 1:1 (no overdrive). If it has OD, it is not a C4. Conversely, if it's a C4 (or derivative), it has no OD. Hope that clarifies. The two most common Ford OD autos are, with their successors: AOD- AODE- 4R70W (very, very vaguely based on the C4, originally) E4OD- 4R100 (based on the C6) These are truck transmissions & are monsters, way too big for much of anything. The AODE, 4R70W, E4OD, & 4R100 are all electronically controlled & need a separate add-on "box" to work. The boxes are NOT cheap.
It is possible that you have a C-5 transmission. That has a lock-up convertor. That is a variation of the C-4. The AOD has the planetaries from the old FMX transmission, but nothing in common with the C-4. The AOD is a very dependable trans when set up correctly--getting the line pressure T.V pressure set right
I am in the middle of a C4 to AOD swap on my 50 Ford. This is what I know. Hope it helps: It was recommended you get a 1988 or newer AOD, however I think that might actually be 1987 or newer. I think 1987 is the year that lubrication to the speedo shaft was improved vs. 1986. The AODE is a stronger transmission. That said, I am running an AOD in my car, avoiding the electricals. As stated, the C4 used vacuum modulator, the AOD uses a cable or cable/rod to control shift points, line pressure. If you are running a carb, you should look into a specialized bracket for the throttle and kickdown cables. I have a Holley 4150 and the bracket I bought for the swap is supposed to prevent the TV cable from being pulled out of proper adjustment, by setting the proper geometry through all ranges. The AOD mount to the crossmember is just about 2" further back than the C4. In my case I need to move the trans xmember back. The frame is wider there, so I need spacers between the xmember and the frame, and need to drill new mount points. You'll need to shorten your driveshaft. An AOD from a Lincoln has a longer tailshaft, so beware of this. The mount point for the starter on the AOD bellhousing is further out than on the C4, so you will need the AOD flexplate (I can't remember the number of teeth, but it is much bigger than the one for the C4). The torque converter cover (back plate) will not fit on the AOD, so you will need an AOD back plate, or make one yourself. The in/out ports for the trans cooler are in a different location than the C4. You can order a line pressure gauge for about 30 bucks from your local parts store, unless they're idiots. There's a special block gauge tool that (supposedly) makes setting up the TV much easier. I bought mine from OTC... also about 30 bucks. The AOD is MUCH bigger... I had to cut the floor/tunnel in my Ford to get it to fit.
I need some help too... My wife's son is an idiot. He's destroyed 3 standard transmissions in 3 different trucks in less than 6 months. The last one was a 5 speed in a 94 Ford Ranger. He can't figure out the business end of a wrench so I'm the one doing the work. The Ranger was fixed 2 weeks ago and he's already grinding gears and popping the clutch. When it goes, I'd like to change it over to an automatic. He's got a 4 banger 2.3. I've looked around in junk yards, but I can't find an AOD or a A4LD. All the 4 bangers are stick trannys. Will a C4 or an AOD/A4LD from a V6 bolt up to his engine?
The C5 is, however, still a three-speed trans w/out OD. If it truly is a OD auto, it's either an AOD or one of the others mentioned....or it could possibly be one of the C3 descendants below. The AOD original design was vaguely based on the C4 architecture, though fluid routing, VBs, & so forth are nothing alike. A few very minor pieces, nothing major, are the same part, or at least are swappable- nothing like valve bodies & so forth. FWIW, there is also a C3 (not following the Ford casting/parts coding where C4 stands for 1964, C6 for '66, the C3 is from the early '70s...Ford strikes again!). The C3 was a very light duty 3-speed auto, which morphed into the A4LD four-speed auto, then to the 4R44E/4R55E, & finally to the 5R55E five-speed still used now.
What excactly will the gauge have to read, I can't find any specs in the Haynes book, and were is the port, to attach the gauge to, on the transmission.
Lakota, So far as I know, the 2.3 always used the A4LD or 4R44E in the Ranger, & the C4 was never offered in them. Before the OD transmissions were offered, the 2.3 used the C3 for a three-speed auto. Your wife's son's '94 would have had a A4LD originally if it had been an auto. I don't know of any auto bells that would have the 2.3 block pattern, and bolt to either-style C4...the C3 & C4 are two completely different units...the C3 was a French-sourced unit originally. Bottom line, if you can't find a A4LD, look for a C3.
Ford made a C5 THAT WAS A c4 WITH A LOCK UP torque converter which gave a direct drive with no slipage,,,if you put a shift kit in it it would lock up the torque converter and stall the engine every time you stop,,,I know,,,,I did this and it is exactly what happened,,,,,If you use a big ford overdrive you can put 3;50 or 3;70 gears and have great hole shot and excelent highway cruising without over reving..
solo 909 did you do a search here for threads on C4 and AOD transmissions? or online-lots of info available.
Some good info here and some false as well. As has been straighted out, there is no such thing as a C4 AOD. C4's are 3 speed auto's and AOD are Overdrive 4 speed auto's with nothing in common. Now that we are past that, there is no such thing as a kick down on an AOD. There is a Control Cable, sometimes called a TV cable. This is critical to transmission shifting and life. Get it wrong and you can burn one up quick. With practice you can get them to work fine without pressure gauges, regardless of what the "Experts" say. I have done a couple without a gauge and combined they have over 100,000 miles on them. The linkage is NOT reversed compared to a C4. I have hooked them up to stock Mustang shifters and the only difference is you do not get control over all the gears, in other words you get Drive (which is all 4 gears) 3 (which closes out OD) and 2 which is 1st and 2nd. You just can't put it in 1st and hold it there. The 2.3 motors DID come with C4's (late Pinto, Mustang II) but the bell housing's are quite rare and you will pay a pretty penny for one. As for starter location differences that is only partially right - there are big Bell housing (164 tooth flywheel) and Small bell housing (157 tooth) C4's for small blocks, both are common, AOD uses the 164 tooth. Shook - Yes that's impossible.
I believe [please dont quote me here] that the 2.3 pinto and the 170-200 I6 use the same bellhousing bolt pattern.
I really hate to ask this, but from what I have read, the c4 is a 3 speed auto and the aod is a 4 speed. My question is this... I've got an efi 302 with an auto trans. Not sure of the year, would guess mid eighties. By you guys' notes this would make it an aod. Is there a way of knowing for sure whether it is an aod aode or c4? My assumption is that I can move it's shift linkage and count the amount of gets it's got. If it goes p. R. N. 1. 2. 3. It would b a c4 but if it goes past the 3rd then it would be the aod, and if it's got a wiring harness on the trans it would be the aode? I hope I don't sound like a complete newbie. Thanks in advance guys!
The Jalopy Journal
