4R70W in a shoebox Ford?

I've got a 1950 Ford that I'm putting a 5.0L HO motor in. I'm torn between rebuilding the AOD that came with the motor, or putting in a low-mile 4R70W. All-in, costs would be about the same. I have to enlarge the ****** tunnel for the AOD, so cutting a bit more for the bigger 4R shouldn't be that big a deal.

Has anyone put this transmission in a shoebox? Hanksville Hot Rods makes a mount kit for it, so somebody has to have done it. Any tips, pointers, pics or any other input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Do you know that a 4R70W needs a computer to shift it and control main line pressures? That will add to costs involved

 

The 4R70W is bigger then the AOD. There is a controller made for swaps but it runs about $400. There is also other controllers that run as high as $1,000 and yet they don't work much better then the $400 one. The controller requires programming from a laptop.

 

Thanks, yep I know about the controller and factored it into the cost.

 

I happen to like the 4R70W a lot. I have owned two of them and they held up real well. IMHO they are pretty hard to destroy.

 

4R70W is a better trans, gear ratios and they handle more torque but do you really need the extra h***le??? Do you plan on racing the car??? I have a built AOD and it has lasted years of N20, mid 11 second p***es and I drove it everyday.

 

Thanks, I guess that's part of the question - is it that much more h***le than rebuilding and installing an AOD?

It's not going to be a race car, just a really fun occasional driver, but extra strength/reliability and the programmability is attractive. Cost will be about the same, maybe even a bit cheaper with the 4R since it won't need to be rebuilt and I should be able to use the stock torque converter. I won't need to **** around with a TV cable, and potentially chew up the ****** if I F it up. I will, however, have to set up and calibrate a throttle position sensor.

The car is completely stripped down, and body will be off the frame soon. I'm going to have to replace some of the floor, and cut the trans tunnel to fit the AOD anyway, so cutting a bit more is not really any more h***le. There will be some additional fitment with the trans mount and trans crossmember.

If you were starting from scratch, which would you choose?

 

I've got 170K on the 4r70w in my OT DD. Be sure to use an external ****** cooler with it, but that's the case for ANY Ford AT with OD.

 

TV cable is an easy deal. I understand the cost issue. I HIGHLY recommend a hardend input shaft for the AOD should you choose to go that route. Also look at Precision industries for a torque converter.

 

I'd personally go with the 4R70W. It's just a better transmission. It's stronger, easy to work on, the ratios are better, and you won't have to worry about the governor sticking. The fact that you can adjust it via programming is a great plus. Do use the biggest trans cooler you can use.

 

Yep, and that all = $$$. Costs work out equal before getting the hardened shaft and expensive converter. Not to mention, upgrading the OD servo and OD band. That makes the decision easier...

 

You can learn a lot about both here: www.clickclickracing.com

 

I've been drilling through there quite a bit. Actually, that site is what got me started thinking about the 4R.

 

i vote for the 4r70w. i am a tech at a ford dealership and do some trans work. the 4r will outlast an aod, its just how it is.

 

So for the transmission experts - 61falcon and blue57ford - I can get a 19k-mile 4r70w, out of a 2002 Mustang 3.8 V6. I've read that the torque converter from the V6 may actually work out well, in terms of giving me a slightly higher stall due to the increased power/torque of the V8. Do you think I'd be good with that TC?

 

Here's another question - how can I tell if it has the drive gear for a speedo cable?

 

Most 4r70w do not have gears for speedo drive the best way to teel yould be to look at the VSS and si if there is a provision for a cable. Back in my mustang days I installed an ART Car(I belive this is who it was) AOD that had been reworked using 4r70w parts to get the gear ratios better and they really were a great set up.

 

I have the 4r70w in my henry j and have put 56,000 on it.
the only parts I have changed is the nuetral saftey and the 1/2 switch in the ****** it was broken when i put it in the j if you know somebody who can program it to change the shiftinghthat helps to and a cooler also

 

You can have your cake and eat it too...
The internals of a 4R70W will fit into an AOD case. You get all the benefits of the wide gear ratio and beefier bands without having to go to an electronic trans. I have a local builder who does these transmissions regularly, you should be able to find a shop locally who can do one for you.

 

The 4R70W's output shaft had the splines to drive a speedo gear machined in the till 2003. The 2004 and up models no longer had the splines on the them. If the transmission didn't have a vehicle speed sensor on it, it had a plastic, yellow plug bolted in its place.

 

That's great info, thanks! I'd heard that they started changing over in 2002, so it could be either way, but didn't know where to look to verify. My local wrecking yard has 2 '02s and an '03, all with low miles so I ought to be able to get one that will work for me.