Beefing up my AOD, Edge converter, solid input shaft, need some help though.

[StreetDreamsGT]

Ok guys, so i'm a little confused most people have said they got a Edge racing converter that stalls at 3200, is this one custom? Because they offer the Mild Street which stalls 2400-2600 then the Street Edge which stalls 2200-5600. Also what input shaft do most of you guys go with, does the company really make a difference quality wise? And finally any tips on a good tranny cooler? I've already decided on the trans go Hp shift kit. Anything i'm leaving out?

 

[StreetDreamsGT]

no one?

 

[Nopantz]

StreetDreamsGT I have also been asking alot lately about beefing up my AOD....from what i know I thought the edge converters were pretty custom. If this helps at all I am planning on going with a TCI Street Fighter Converter(It claims to have a stall speed about 1500RPM over stock), TCI Input Shaft, TCI Trans Cooler, and a Lentech Street Terminator Valvebody.

I have heard good things about Edge, Stallion, and TCI Converters. Tranny cooler wise I heard B&M is real good. I am going with TCI because all the other parts are TCI minus the Valvebody. If you really want good answers you may want to check out http://www.clickclickracing.com. The guys over there know there stuff

 

[davs5.0]

Edge's mild street converters are restalled stock size converters. The higher stall street edge are the custom done 9.5" converters. IMHO the street edge is the better way to go. Smaller diameter means less rotational mass to get moving making the car accelerate faster. The smaller diameter will hold less fluid so a trans cooler is a good idea (good idea on any aod). B&M makes a very good cooler. Try to stick with the stacked plate style as they seem to be more effecient. I run a Lentech 1 piece input shaft because I'm non lockup. They also make a hardened input shaft for guys going lockup.
There are good converter comapanies and bad ones. Stay away from B&M, most people I know that run them are not impressed with the performance at all. TCI, Lentech, Edge all make good stalls and for a not too bad price. If you are able in the future, a Lentech street fighter valvebody is a good idea. It will allow you to use all the gears instead of the stock 1-d-od you get 1-2-3 and electric switch to engage od. Way better setup for the street and track.

 

[StreetDreamsGT]

Thanks guys, yea I wanna go with a lentech valvebody down the road. And yea I know to stay away from B&M. Thanks for the help though, that's exactly what I needed to know.

 

[$uperstang]

Get the Edge converter you will not even need a different input shaft if you stay lock up. Call Edge Racing and ask for Andre is is a huge help!

 

[GearHd6]

How do you tell if you've got lock up or not? Is it a manual or electronic lock up? I replaced the valve body and there was no wires in there.

 

[Swarzkopf]

Edge Racing is a GREAT company and I whole heartedly recommend them.

ALL of their converters are "custom"...YOU specify the stall speed within the range that they allow. 2200-5600 is the range of stall from which you can pick...most mild 5.0s go between 2800 and 3200. Mine stalls at 3000 and I think it's perfect.

I agree with the earlier expressed sentiments about going with the Street Edge over the Mild Street Edge...the Street Edge not only has less rotational mass, but is also considerably tougher.

I'm not sure with AODs, but with an AODE like mine the input shaft really only comes into play for hard downshifts. It really isn't a consideration for drag racing, but if you're planning on downshifting hard from 3-1 or OD-2 you may want to consider upgrading it.

 

[Swarzkopf]

How do you tell if you've got lock up or not? Is it a manual or electronic lock up? I replaced the valve body and there was no wires in there.

I'm not sure what you mean? The torque converter is what "locks", not the valve body...a lockup sytle converter "locks" at whatever the stall speed is, creating a 1:1 input-output ratio.

 

[GearHd6]

So you could install either a lock up or non lock up converter? Im used to TH-700R4's where they're electronically locked up and you couldnt just put a non lock up converter in it. So I could go either route? Lock up it what comes stock?

 

[macx]

Wellll - the AOD is a little bit of a different animal in the lockup dept.

The converter isn't where lockup occurs.
Rather, in an AOD, lockup, or more accurately described as direct drive, occurs in the direct clutch pack.

All that's in the converter that deals with lockup is a small inside splined hub that's mechanically attached to the front of the converter, and that's what drives the little inner input shaft which in turn drives the direct clutch pack. SO - when the direct clutch applies, you have "lockup". That's stock, so unless your trans has already been modified, you have a "lockup" setup.

The way AOD's are rendered "non-lockup" is to remove the little inner shaft and replace the hollow turbine shaft which is driven by the converter with a solid, stronger input shaft. Then with a diff VB, you have "non-lockup" in all gears incl direct & OD. In other words, the fluid drive in the converter drives all gears.

There are a raft of other things you can do to an AOD to make it stronger.

Here's some info on beefing it up to various levels of horsepower/torque capacity and abuse tolerance.

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00111.html

here's some other related info

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00080.html

 

[GearHd6]

How much HP can the lock up set up handle? I dont think my trannys ever been touched. Whats an approx. cost on an Edge 9.5" custom converter?

 

[davs5.0]

go to www.edgeracingconverters.com they've got the street edge listed at $495.