The Box History to End all Box Histories

[1987cp]

The 2 on the C4 makes it start out in 2nd as well? Interesting.

Yep, I have trouble with that on the C4 a lot of the time when I reach over to put it in Drive with my left hand and manage to get in in "2" instead of "D" and then wonder why it's accelerating even more slowly than usual. Reading this thread, I suddenly felt silly for not taking advantage of that this winter while starting out on ice.

My AOD downshifts to Second when you're driving and move the gear selector from "D" or "OD" to "1" and then downshifts again to First without touching the selector at all when your speed dips below about 20 or 25. As I recall, starting out in "1" it starts in First and stays there until you put it in "D" (overdrive lockout), and then you can put it back in "1" real quick to keep it from shifting to Third. As I understand it, the weird P-R-N-OD-D-1 shift pattern is to make the AOD work with the old P-R-N-D-2-1 pattern, and AODs really aren't intended to be shifted manually.

Maybe I'm not following the string of conversation quite correctly ... is the claim that in addition to my P-R-N-OD-D-1 shift pattern there are also AOD shift patterns that go P-R-N-OD-D-2 and will start out in Second?

[Tiggie]

Maybe I'm not following the string of conversation quite correctly ... is the claim that in addition to my P-R-N-OD-D-1 shift pattern there are also AOD shift patterns that go P-R-N-OD-D-2 and will start out in Second?

Yup. The PRNODD2 was optional on police cars. The PRNODD1 was for everything else. And the pulling it down in 1 if you are over 20-25 works like you said. It even works on my AOD without second (the only way to get to second gear in it).

[Nathan in MI]

Maybe I'm not following the string of conversation quite correctly ... is the claim that in addition to my P-R-N-OD-D-1 shift pattern there are also AOD shift patterns that go P-R-N-OD-D-2 and will start out in Second?

Yes. And it doesn't just start out in second, it STAYS in second forever. That's the way mine is.

[1987cp]

Yes. And it doesn't just start out in second, it STAYS in second forever. That's the way mine is.

I thought your car had a C4 kickdown rod going to the VV carb?

[Nathan in MI]

I dunno what the rod is...it's the same as a CFI rod as far as I know. But when you put it in "2", there's no shifting that happens whatsoever. In Drive or Overdrive, it functions no differently than any other AOD.

[1987cp]

I don't think I've heard of a "CFI rod" ... would something like my Haynes manual have info on that?

[Nathan in MI]

Umm...it's just what the CFI and carbureted cars used in lieu of a TV cable. Any '79-'85 or 351W panther should have one.

[marquisman]

i love the sound of my merc when taking off in "2" since its like a load on the car...anyone want a FMX 3-speed?lol

[1987cp]

Umm...it's just what the CFI and carbureted cars used in lieu of a TV cable. Any '79-'85 or 351W panther should have one.

Interesting! Especially since in a retrofit, a rod seems like it could sometimes be more convenient than a cable. I guess it would make sense that the cable became necessary only because of the funky location of SEFI throttle bodies. And I didn't think I was going to learn anything today.

[Nathan in MI]

Interesting! Especially since in a retrofit, a rod seems like it could sometimes be more convenient than a cable. I guess it would make sense that the cable became necessary only because of the funky location of SEFI throttle bodies. And I didn't think I was going to learn anything today.

Wish I had a picture I could post...wait....maybe I do.

Ahh, here we are. Yes, I was too lazy to scale it down:



See the rod coming off the side of the carb there? That's teh CFI/carb replacement for a TV cable.

And you're right, a rod would be more convenient than a cable, but it doesn't work since the geometry gets screwed up. The advantage with this system is that when that bushing goes bad, it makes the tranny default to max TV pressure instead of min, so you won't explode your tranny when it falls off.

[marquisman]

looks like someone has a broken gromet! ha, yup, the carbed cars that have the AODs use a rod!

[Nathan in MI]

looks like someone has a broken gromet! ha, yup, the carbed cars that have the AODs use a rod!

Yep, she's hanging on by a thread. Suppose I should do something about that.

[Tiggie]

Here's my rod (lol):

[marquisman]

and your grommet is backwards, lol, i guess this is where i show my rod?lol

[Tiggie]

and your grommet is backwards, lol, i guess this is where i show my rod?lol

Tell Ford, they put it that way. Apparently it works better that way, because it's the original and I've never messed with it!