And does it matter? After a medium-long story my son delivered an AOD fresh from a wrecking yard 45 miles away. It will be paired with an '87 5.0 HO mustang engine from the same place (not the same donor vehicle). How will I make this dude shift without a computer controlled engine?
AODs are not computer controlled, they connect with the carburetor via a TV cable. They are avaliable from Lokar, and a few other vendors. Good thing you grabbed the dip stick, they can be hard to find. Any tags on the transmission?
Can you tell if this is an AOD or an AODE in the pics? This one does not have the TV cable linkage (if I have figured out where it was supposed to be).
Looks like the AODs I've had. The TV cable attaches to a lever that attaches to the shaft in the Center of the shift lever.
What is the electrical cable going to the shifter area if it isn't the shift control wire? This is straight out of the donor vehicle. I will ask the guy what it came off of, but left hand knowing where the right hand got it may prove a problem.
AND if you try to operate the trans without a TV cable you might as well plan on scrapping or rebuilding, as it will slip badly destroying the clutches for 3rd gear as well as the O/D band... The E3 number on the case indicates a '83 casting number but doesn't necessarily mean it's a '83 trans, could be later if they used same case multiple years... I have what I know are '88(x2) & '89 AOD, I'll check the casting number on the ones I can get access to... BTW there were no AODE prior to early '90s...
So the TV cable hookup didn't make it to my house with the transmission? TV cable kinda' sounds like a different subject.
it was nice that you got the...pigtail... for the lights/safety switch... I don't think the stock TV cable setup would have worked... TV/TC bracket - SRK-4000 - Throttle Cable-TC1000U TV Cable - KD-2AODHT ......
Well that answers your question... Not one of the desirable ones(at least in stock form), but should be OK assuming it's healthy... I'd pulling the pan to check for clutch/band wear... BTW my '89 AOD has a E9 number on the case... Here's a pict of TV cable, this one is for a EFI setup the older ones often used linkage or a combo of linkage & cable... Levers on the earlier one were generally straight instead of curved...
Are you going with the AOD because it was cheap/free or because it is a better choice for your intended use? I only ask because a free AOD can easily end up costing you as much or significantly more money when all is said and done compared to going with a C4. It depends on what you may or may not have on hand i.e. flex plate, converter, TV cable, cross-member, versus a working C4 you may have on hand. How much horsepower you will be making also is a consideration as a bone stock '84 AOD does not like lots of HP. I have an AOD and I am sure I could have saved 500 bucks or more had I gone with a C4 setup. No regrets here, I'm just saying you should do the research and make sure this is what you want before you commit to this project. If you have done the research, I apologize, but I assumed based on your "computer controlled engine" remark that you haven't. Then again, the wife says I overanalyze everything, so take that into account now that you have read my babbling.
Good point on the supporting parts... AFAIK all AOD used a 164 tooth flexplate, so assuming one came with the 5.0 engine that would be covered... For a C4/5.0 combo, you'll likely need a 157 tooth 50oz flexplate(I don't think any Mav C4 used the 164), that's a aftermarket piece only as Ford never used that combo from factory...
My son delivered the transmission and he didn't mention the bucket of parts he'd already put in the garage before I got home to help him unload the tranny. The bucket had all the parts I thought I was missing. The reason I wanted the AOD instead of a C4 was gas mileage. As far as cost, both of the C4s I have would have to be rebuilt before installation. This one may last longer than the engine on needing a rebuild. Who knows how many miles are on this 37 year old engine. All I know is that it was running well before it was pulled from a wrecked mustang. If I can get a year out of it before a rebuild is necessary, I'm ahead.
That's what I'm trying to do now. With some success, thanks to you and the others who have replied. I already knew where the flexplate and torque converter were, now I have the TV cable and the rest.
