AOD ?

[Harndog]

Drove the stang to the house today. Was a little nervous as the AOD was only set by setting it up at WOT did not have a pressure gauge to check it. It shifted good and pulled really strong. The drive was only about a mile. I plan to take it to a trans shop to have it adjusted but wondered if I could do some damage by driving it 15 to 20 miles? Is Pulling the throttle to WOT and having that be when the cable is pulled all the way ok? What will the tranny do if not set right? it's just for kickdown or passing gear right?

 

[Tim65GT]

Harndog AOD ?

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I plan to take it to a trans shop to have it adjusted but wondered if I could do some damage by driving it 15 to 20 miles? Is Pulling the throttle to WOT and having that be when the cable is pulled all the way ok? What will the tranny do if not set right? it's just for kickdown or passing gear right?

Yes, you could do damage

No, it's not just a kick down

Here some info from Bauman:

If you plan to install or upgrade the original AOD instead of the electronically controlled AOD-E/4R70W, you will have to pay close attention to the Throttle Valve (TV) control linkage. The TV linkage or cable is used to tie the engine throttle to the throttle valve, located in the transmission valve body. The hydraulic circuits in the valve body use both Throttle Pressure (from the TV Valve) and Governor Pressure (proportional to vehicle speed) as the sole inputs to control all transmission functions. TV pressure is used to effect shift scheduling, but its most important purpose is to control transmission line pressure. Proper line pressure is critical to transmission durability and shift feel. It is important to adjust TV pressure properly and, for retrofit applications, TV linkage or cable fabrication must be completed correctly as part of the transmission installation. Failure to set up the TV system properly will produce one "deep fried" AOD. Owners of 1987 or later factory AOD vehicles should update the nylon TV cable bushing at the throttle body with the updated bronze part to protect their transmissions from the same fate. For more information about TV adjustment and linkage or cable fabrication, please read the section concerning

Here are some links how to adjust.
http://http://www.tciauto.com/Products/Instructions/instructions/431000_inst.htm

http://http://www.becontrols.com/tech/tvlinkage.htm

I just bout a $20 mech oil press gauge to verify mine.

 

[Harndog]

From the Baumann article it sounds like he is saying the cable should be tight at idle no slack. Is that correct? If so then the WOT setting I was told is incorrect. Also So you just bought a oil gauge hooked the plastic line into you TV pressure testing port and watched the gauge as you drove? Sounds simple enough and since I do not have carpet and such in yet I could just run it through the shifter hole and set the gauge right beside me. is the 5 psi at idle and 30 psi on take off accurate while using a oil pressure gauge? What fittings did you have to buy to hook the gauge into the trans?

 

[chromedog]

i set mine by baumanns procedure, also, and it has about 8000 miles on it with no problems. no slack at idle is the way i would describe it, too. if it feels right shifting,(doesnt slam your head off the back window) and doesnt over rev in any gear you are really close, but it doesnt hurt to check the pressure.

 

[Tim65GT]

Also So you just bought a oil gauge hooked the plastic line into you TV pressure testing port and watched the gauge as you drove?

You do not have to drive while checking it, just sitting in neutral. You use a tool about 5/16" thick (My Lokar cable came with one - it has a slot cut in it so it slides right over the cable)
First, you check at idle (after warm up), then insert the 5/16 gauge between the cable ball and the bracket. What this does is pull the TV lever a bit to simulate acceleration. The pressure should go up to 30-35 psi.

I had my car on jack stands and tied the plastic line up so it would not touch the exhaust. The guage came with a 1/8" NPT fitting that fit in the TV port. It's a good idea to remove the plug and hook-up the gauge while the engine is cold. It takes a while to warm the transmission, but you'll be real close to the exhaust, if you try and hook it up while hot. The fastest way to warm up the trans is to put the parking brake on and let it sit in drive at idle. It takes about 10 min.

This is the gauge I got:

 

[Harndog]

Thanks Tim I am going to give it a shot.

 

[Harndog]

I am having some trouble getting the pipe port out so I called many of the local shops to see what they do and all of them said they do not. They advised to set it up with slight tension at idle (where it just starts to pull lever) Then drive it if it shifts out of first around 15 to 20 mph and then 2nd at around 30 to 35 and into OD around 45 or so it should be ok. Even the shop that everyone goes to does there AOD's this way. So I am at a loss.

The pipe bolt started rounding off on me and I did not want to strip it.

So I did drive it and I have to let off the gas for it to shift to second at around 20 mph. Then it seems to slip. I took it back to the house put more tension on the lever and it did not seem to help.

To those that have set these up. when they are doing as described is less tension or more needed?

 

[car_kent]

2 comments

If the shifts are late and firm, the cable is too tight. If you are getting early and sloppy shifts plus a harsh downshift from OD, the cable is too loose.

Also, you need check that the lever on the carburator is the correct length - not all are. With the correct pressure at idle (about 2-5 psi) the kickdown lever on the AOD should be at full travel, no more or less, at WOT. More simply, the travel length of the levers on the carburetor and the AOD need to be the same.

This is from my experience with a lentech AOD, lokar linkage and edelbrock performer carburetor. I am hobbyist, not a professional - but my car runs and shifts great.

Good luck,
Kent

 

[Harndog]

Nice Ride Kent! Thanks for the info as well. I have the Lokar TV and Throttle cable but a Holley 600 vacuum sec and Jasper AOD. Also have 2600 stall but it is still a lock up. I am not sure the travel is the same I will check for sure in the morning but I think it is off a bit. I know right now the cable is to tight from the info you have provided as it is waiting a long time to shift. I have to let out of the gas to get it to go ahead and shift. At that point it seems to go to 3rd as it takes a bit for it to start pulling again. Makes since as to much pressure could cause it to skip a shift. ( at least I think that makes sense) I will check it again in the morning a see what I can get done.

If I can get this figured out she is ready for the road! Can't wait

 

[chromedog]

your mounting point for the lokar cable needs to be 1 1/8 inch, and directly below the throttle shaft. i set mine up with no corrector linkage, and it works fine.

 

[paulrodg]

problem with tv adjustment on 85 aod.

I think I have burned my tranny. By the time I collected enough info and correct carb parts, when I installed pressure gauge to tv port, i get zero readings. no pressure reading at any adjustment of tv cable. Any comments?

 

[dodgestang]

It was silly of me to actually respond to something from 2 yrs ago because a spam bot brought up the thread and I didn't notice