Common AOD swap platforms?

[91merc]

What are some common swaps for the panthers to go from an AOD to a different automatic? I was considering either a 4r70w or E4OD since the trans went out in my 91 GM and it’s hard to find a rebuild for under $2000

[gadget73]

You know those are electronically controlled right? The 4R70W is the better physical fit but without a controller they don't work. You'd also need one from a 5.0 or 3.8 car so it bolts to a 302.

E4OD is a chunky thing, I don't think it will fit.

[Arquemann]

Depends on how much more than that 2k you want to spend... Or you could go with a junkyard C4 for pennies, but you don't want to lose overdrive.

4R70W, AODE and E4OD all need transmission controllers. E4OD is pretty heavy duty compared to an AOD, it's about the same length IIRC, but the case is bigger.
If you want to go 4R70W, you need one from specific applications that have the SBF bolt pattern, alot of them have the modular engine pattern.
You could get a TH700R4 and an adapter plate, but you need something for the TCC.

WIth whatever else than the AOD, you get to figure out the trans crossmember, tailshaft length (and maybe yoke), speedo cable, VSS and all the wiring from scratch.

[91merc]

If I were able to find an AOD from a 2wd pickup is it just a matter of swapping tail housings and linkage, or would it be more extensive?

[Arquemann]

If I were able to find an AOD from a 2wd pickup is it just a matter of swapping tail housings and linkage, or would it be more extensive?

The output shaft is also a different length, and swapping it out requires full disassembly of the trans. Changing the linkage requires dropping the valve body.

[91merc]

Another question, would an AOD from a fox body car be fairly similar do one from a panther or no?

[Arquemann]

Another question, would an AOD from a fox body car be fairly similar do one from a panther or no?

They should be identical, but the shift linkage might be the wrong way around

[gadget73]

Ford and Mercury car AODs fit. Lincoln AOD do not. I don't know about trucks.

Column vs floor shift linkage is different, I don't know about rod column vs cable column setup. Its not that hard to change the linkage over but an eyeball will tell you if they don't match, and a tape measure will tell you if its the right length transmission.

[91merc]

Side note, I verified the TV pressure and made sure it had adequate fluid level, but when you put it in gear it doesn’t feel like it’s engaging, I can get it to barely creep up to 10mph on a flat surface. Reverse is still fully functional but forward gear feels like neutral regardless if it’s in 1, D, or OD. I imagine it probably has burnt clutches. How hard is it to rebuild one of these? I’m a mechanic but I haven’t gotten too deep on automatic transmission internals

[gadget73]

sounds like the forward clutch smoked. Only other thing that can cause this is the gasket on the filter missing, but that would require having just done a filter change and it doesn't work after that.

Losing the forward clutch loses 1-3. OD doesn't need it, but since you don't have the first 3 gears to get it going fast enough to engage overdrive thats sort of irrelevant

if it lost the direct clutch you'd have 1-2 and no further upshift

if it lost the OD band you'd have 1-2-3-neutral

[DerekTheGreat]

Whatever you do, don't put an E4OD in it.

...I have a love/hate relationship with the one in our F-150.

[gadget73]

they are, uh, "something"

I know people love to shit on the AOD but I've had OK luck with them. Other than the one that died after I caught the car on fire.

Then again my other major transmission experience is GM's 4L60E, which is not exactly the most beloved thing either. I blew one of those up backing out of my driveway.

[sly]

E4OD is basically a beefy AODE. The AODE is the first 4R70 and the E4OD is the first 4R100. Electronically controlled thing that has solenoid harness wire issues until they went to the PCB version. Those have issues if you overheat them as the PCB may start to delaminate (among other things coming apart from the heat). E4OD likes a good 20+ plate aux cooler if you're doing towing or spirited driving or just lots of hills with the thing. It's also a pig of a transmission and yeah... not gonna fit in a panther without some trans tunnel modifications.

[FordMan77]

Gotta ask, how long do you plan on keeping the 91? If the answer is many years then I would honestly pony up for a quality rebuild and call it a day. Sure, you may score one from another car for cheap, but how many times do you want to be under it ripping it out/installing if it fails shortly thereafter? I understand that $2K for a rebuild seems steep, but in the end it's really not out of the normal realm for a rebuild.

I went through this exact dilemma recently on my 4t65e for my GP. Hit all my known sources and everyone came back with at least $3000 for the build I wanted, and that wasn't including shipping/core charges. Even buying all the parts myself was going to run me $1800 and then I had to find a shop to assemble it. As my last hope I spoke with a local shop from my home town and he got me one fully rebuilt w/ converter for $2700 shipped. Has a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty on it too. I finally had to accept that price and pulled the trigger just to get my car back on the streets again. It's been sitting for a year now because of this... I just want something that is going to last so I don't have to worry about it again. That $2700 is peace of mind to me and will likely outlive the chassis at this point.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for swaps to better drivetrain/powertrain but when the mods to make something newer work far exceed just making what it came with stock function properly again then that seems like time/money lost unless you're going for an all out build on something. You could always add a shift kit/cooler and whatnot to the AOD and just run it.