AOD problems, any ideas?

[Gilgaretch]

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated..

87 GT 5.0 automatic. A few bolt-ons to the motor/exhaust, otherwise all stock from block to rear wheels. Fellow slowly pulled out in front of me on the highway, so I jumped on it to pass him...felt a sotp clunk, and began losing power..

I've changed the tranny filter / fluid, no change. Fluid had no metal shavings, and wasn't burnt, though it was fairly dark with sediment.. I'll try to describe what's going on: First seems to slip a bit, but it'll still move. The shift to second is so mushy I can't really feel it, and second feels like it's slipping even more than first. Not sure if I'm using the right word - by slipping, I mean that the acceleration doesn't seem to line up with what the motor is giving.. It'll hold around 38 mph, at about 2000 rpm, without downshifting. At roughly 45mph/2600rpm it loses all power completely, almost as if it's in neutral with zero resistance against the motor...I =think= it's shifting to third there, because it stays powerless until I bring it back down to about 15mph or so..

Plan for the weekend is to drop the tranny out and dig into it, with a couple friends who are much more familiar with transmission concerns than me. I'm pretty damn ignorant on them. Any ideas about what we might look for? Also, any links that might help me get a crash course in how the AOD + torque converter actually work? I've got roughly zero idea what's going on inside there, and Chilton isn't terribly helpful in that regard..

 

[notchback]

I'm pretty damn ignorant on them. Any ideas about what we might look for? Also, any links that might help me get a crash course in how the AOD + torque converter actually work? I've got roughly zero idea what's going on inside there, and Chilton isn't terribly helpful in that regard..

i can tell you now that the tranny is toast, and needs a complete rebuild along w/ a new convertor , you may want to seek a tranny shop for this and not "experiment"

you can't flush the old one, and most (if not all) the hard parts are destroyed.

i went through 3 of these so i know what your talking about.

i'm surprised you actually have all gears...usually you lose reverse and od

then sometimes 2nd

 

[Red00vert]

Check you tv( throttle valve) cable under your throttle body. I think you just roasted your aod. Mine did that. My cable was actually hanging out of the hole.

 

[sgarlic]

You lose connection on that sucker and you're looking at some serious damage.

 

[Gilgaretch]

My wallet is feeling lighter already..

 

[Gilgaretch]

Well, local shops are suggesting 2-3 grand to rebuild it to stock condition.. Doesn't sound terribly appealing....

Any input on:
TCI StreetFighter # 431000 ($1300'ish)
TCI Sat. Night Special # 432700 ($300'ish)
B&M Hammer Shifter # BMM-81002 ($200'ish)

Then doing it ourselves? Any particular quicksand traps that we'd run risk of hitting?

 

[RYC CUKR]

get a custom converter from edge www.edgeracingconverters.com or precision industries www.converter.com. In the long run it will be a better fit for your car and will probably make you happier than an off the shelf converter.

If you are going to have it rebuilt do a search, there are plenty of threads about what needs to be done to strengthen the aod i.e. alto redline clutches instead of stocks stuff like that. It will give you an idea on what to ask for in the rebuild so that the trans will stand up to some power. Or you could just go all out and get a Lentech or Art Carr trans put your converter in it, bolt it up and go racin.

Lots of options. Personally I am going to rebuild mine myself and put a custom converter in it. It has already lost OD so I know that is my next big expense.

 

[Red00vert]

change it to 5 speed.

 

[davs5.0]

Well, local shops are suggesting 2-3 grand to rebuild it to stock condition.. Doesn't sound terribly appealing....

Any input on:
TCI StreetFighter # 431000 ($1300'ish)
TCI Sat. Night Special # 432700 ($300'ish)
B&M Hammer Shifter # BMM-81002 ($200'ish)

Then doing it ourselves? Any particular quicksand traps that we'd run risk of hitting?

Give www.lentechautomatics.com and check out their warrantied trannys. Will hold all the power you can throw at it. Edge makes an awesome converter, go with a 3000 stall and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Gilgaretch]

Bump... I'm in the process of putting the new transmission in. A friend helped me take the old one out, and the TV cable is making me feel like a serious noob - where in the world does it connect? Shifter linkage wraps around from the rear of the car to the little swing arm on the driver side (and brackets to the tailhousing studs), and I see where the TV cable bracket bolts to the bell housing (one bolt, one stud)...but I can't tell where to attach the elbow at the end of the TV cable..

Anyone have a picture or a good description for me?

 

[5.0tbirdguy]

I rebuilt mine with 4r70-w parts. You could find a good low mile '99 up 4r70-w for $250-$300. If you want to save money reuse the clutches. The '99 up Ford drums, band and clutches are stronger than those junk alto's or other funky brands.They should be like new in a later model.

Factory aod parts are JUNK!

My tranny cost $1100 in parts but it will never break. In that figure is a big cooler, MerconV fluid, Lentech vb, 1pc input shaft and a 245mm 3000 stall TCI non locking converter [$100.00 ebay special-nib]. The 4r70-w gears need a low speed governor or it will never shift into 2nd w.o.t.

I bought the Lentech vb from Ford [$253.00] and it banged 2nd so hard it left 20ft black marks. Had to go back in and modify the stage3 street terminator to stage2 specs. Couldn't be happier with it.