It's similar but still huge compared to the C6. Agreed. the biggest downfall to the AOD is the lack of manual second. I have read about a cure for this and would probably do it if I were to switch to one.
They do make one http://www.advanceadapters.com/prod...utomatic-transmission-adapter-plate-assembly/. Thought about going this route but its just added cost
Not that I know of... About anything can be upgraded but unless you're going to continually beat on it, probably isn't necessary... I have over 700 drag strip passes on the one that was in my Bird when it had the Trick Flow headed 5.0, cept for a hardened input shaft(orig broke 2nd pass at track), and Trans-Go shift kit it's stock... The replacement is a fresh rebuild I bought from a friend, came with Lentech valve body and 3500 stall...
For the price of that conversion you can buy a shift controller to use a 4R70W, other than transmission mount there are no other custom pieces necessary...
I have had great experience with C6's long ago for handling big torque motors and really impressed recently with the performance and efficiency of a 4L60E in our Astro van behind a w code 4.3L it weighed 4400 lbs on the city dump scales with me in it. we got 5k tow rating and 28 mpg with the air off and cruising around 65 when empty. It had 3.42 rear gears. I just want an automatic overdrive with no computer or electronic controls for a light old Ford. I'm hoping the trans man doesn't tell me anything really bad about this AOD after he checks it out for me.
the 700R's and 4L60E's were like the AOD and 4R70W, they were evolutions of an earlier design but the GM's had .70 OD's
AFAIK all the popular automatics have from .67 to .70 O/D, it's the 3.07(thereabouts) 1st gear that makes 700R4 desirable... Still a 4R70W with 2.84 1st isn't that far behind, surely better than Fords three speeds and AOD at 2.40...
Make that a A4LD... I believe it stands for Automatc, 4-speed, Light Duty Were commonly found in Rangers, Aerostars, '87-'93 4cyl Stangs and '87-'88 Turbo Coupes... Basically a POS in stock form, few made it past 100-125K mi...