DeTomaso Mailing List: February 98, Message #205
     



From: 	"Craig Cline" <Craig_Cline@smtp.rc.trw.com>

Subject: Re: Them thar' 2V heads, AO

Date: 	Wed, 4 Feb 1998 13:18:08 +0000



Hi Kirby,



It looks like Dan Jones has added most of what I knew about the AOD issue.



I can probably clear up a few things though.  The 1st gear that Asa is talking about (if it's still available) will only help the take-off with your current C-6, it will do nothing to improve high speed rpm.  



The AOD not only has a lower 1st gear than your current C-6 (like Asa'a gear), but it is also an overdrive trans with a 4th gear that is about a 30% overdrive (don't know the exact gear ratio but somewhere around 0.70).  Summing this up; lower 1st gear + extra overdrive 4th gear = much wider gear spread.



The AOD is basically an updated C-4.  Hence it is not quite as strong as a C-6 can be, but with a good rebuild with high quality parts it is more than capable of handling a mild 351C, and probably even a very strong 351 as long as your treat it nice.  There are lots of supercharged 5.0 Mustangs running around with AODs.



If you are worried about the strength you could go with the even beefier E4OD, which is an "updated" C-6.  However this trans is mondo large and electronically controlled.  It is used only in trucks behind 351s and 460s.



The AOD has the same bellhousing as any small block Ford V-8 (including the 351C).  It is longer than the parent C-4 (to hold the extra gear).  But then the C-6 is also longer than the C-4.  I guess what I'm saying is I don't know exactly how long it is compared to your C-6.  It may require a driveshaft length mod to fit, along with rear mount and shifter mods, but otherwise it should fit with no problems.  I don't remember what the AOD shift pattern looks like, but I think it only has 3 forward selections so you shouldn't have to change your shifter (if you do there are plenty of better aftermarket auto-shifters available).





Craig Cline

'74 #7352 - da Green One