Oh, we heard ya, but your theory is full of holes. You stated that modifying your transmission didn’t make it an AOD anymore?!? I've got a built AOD (4R70W actually) and it consists of a lot more than just the use of a shift kit like your average Stanger has. One doesn't even need to remove the transmission from the vehicle to install a shift improvement kit and it can be done right there in your driveway. And even then, that's considered "minimal" or even "essential" mods. Once you get into a serious aftermarket piece with a manual valve body, modified pump, trans-brake, hardened input/output shafts along with a host full of other goodies....all this while the case itself is wrapped in a steel scatter shield, then you can consider your transmission...."Modified" or “After Market”….and I haven’t even gotten into torque converter selection. Hell, I've got more work and money into just my torque converter than most AOD owners have into their entire transmission.
Like I said, a shift kit and a transmission cooler it's no more considered a serious modification on an AOD, than a 5-speed with an aftermarket shifter and/or heavy duty clutch! It's just common practice. If an owner wants to consider their or someone else’s transmission “built” because it’s got a shift kit in it, I’d say it was more for bragging purposes than anything. Yes a stock AOD sucks from a performance aspect, but so what…..a stock T5 sucks too! A lot of components on Fox Mustangs, or Mustangs in general suck, that’s why we hate ‘em and love ‘em at the same time! It gives us something to play with and bitch to our buddies about on one hand and also gives you that sense of accomplishment and pride when you swap it out. C’mon….don’t tell me I’m the only guy here who thought swapping out a
K&N filter into his car as a first mod was a really big deal at the time.
