I am studying which automatic trans to put behind my Ford 302? Its in my hot rod that weighs 2600 lbs with the Ford 8.8 rear end. The motor is basically stock except for a small comp cam. What it has now is the AOD but its just not getting the job done and the tv cable is a pain to adjust. Any suggestions?? Sent from my LG-M210 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
A shift kit and a B&M convertor makes a big difference in an AOD . TV cable is not that hard to adjust . I put them in quite a few small block Ford hot rods. They work better with a 3.70 or 4.11 gear. They kind of suck with a 3.00 or taller gear.
Check out these videos And from a HAMB member using a pressure gauge (best way) Get the boost valve kit (AOD weak link) and this shift kit http://www.becontrols.com/aod.shtml
AOD's are set with a pressure gauge to work properly, even a 3:50 rear end ratio is too high, 2000 stall converter is a must. I love my AOD, nothing wrong with it at all.
You won't get a better ford automatic than the AOD, but it's got to be set up right. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for all the reply so far guys. I guess my next move is to see what the rear gear ratios are. All I know about the rear is its out of an expedition but its not a disc brake rear. Sent from my LG-M210 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
When assembled at the factory, your 8.8 had a metal tag attached by one of the rear cover bolts. That tag will tell several things about that axle.....the ratio and whether it is a limited slip or not. An example of the ratio info looks like this " 3 L 73" ....meaning it is a 3.73 with a limited slip. If the 'L' is absent, it is not a limited slip. The most common ratios I have seen with Explorer/Mountaineer axles are 3.73 with a few 3.55 and 4.10 models. If you have an Expedition, I would think it would be in the same neighborhood. AOD automatic equipped 5.0 Mustangs were commonly 3.27 ratio, but also had relative 'short' tire diameters which, of course, are part of the overall gear ratio calculation. Ray
This has a wealth of info on the 8.8" rears. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Ford-8_8-axle.shtml
My Morris Minor was originally built with a 3.00 gear and would lug the motor under 55 mph. I would have to pull it out of overdrive around town and even on some country roads. Went to a 4.10 gear and it really cured all of my issues and did not hurt the gas mileage . My 5.0 had a .512 lift hyd roller cam and an air gap with an Edelbrock carb. at weighed about 2500 lbs. I had 295/50's on the back. 3.73 is as tall as I would go.