Properly gearing my truck for more Acceleration

[CbiScuT]

Ok, to start off, I just rebuilt my AOD in my '69. We did the B&M shift kit, with a 2600rpm stall, extra clutches, etc. But once installed and running in my truck, to me, it still felt like a dog outta the hole. This thing has tons of top end, but it barely spins the tire off idle. So, after spending time jetting the carb, and curving the distributor, I feel like the last things to address are the gearing in the AOD, and the rear gearing. It is my understanding that 1st gear on an AOD is:
1st=2.40
2nd=1.47
3rd=1.00
4th= .67
This is really a tall gear set for first, especially considering that (From my experiences with 5spd Mustangs) manual 5spds have nearly a 3.35 1st gear ratio.
So what I'm getting at is this, I'm purchasing a new 3rd member for my 9" with a 4.33 ratio and I'm on the lookout for a 4R70W core that would have a good gear set in it that I can install in the AOD (4R70W's have a lower 1st gear ratio; 2.84 I believe). Once this is completed, we'll see if I need more stall speed. I'm not too worried about the low low rear ratio, because after doing some calculations, I'm gonna be right at 2800 rpm in OD @ 60mph, if I put the 4.33 in the rear, plus it's not my daily anymore; now just a toy. If I plan on taking any long road trips, to me, it is nothing to change out 3rd members, so no biggie. My current truck motor was formerly installed in my '92 EFI Mustang, and that was good for 12.85's @ 104mph with a 5spd. So I am hoping to eventually repeat that type of performance in my truck. Honestly, my truck is heavier than my Stang( not much), it has a power robbing Auto, and I cannot manually shift this Auto, since I'm not willing to put a floor shifter in this truck, so if I could just get close to the #'s that my car put up, I'd be happy. My question is this, am I overlooking anything, provided that I already have the carb and distributor lined out?

[spartman]

Sounds good to me.

Most of what I would have suggested you plan to do anyway.

The only thing I would do different would be to put a lower speed stall converter for more lockup but I would be shooting for mileage.

I think the first gear ratio might be 2.46 but not sure about it.

[CbiScuT]

Yeah, as far as mileage is concerned, I want a little bit of mpg, but it is not my hybrid 87 octane cruiser, so I'm willing to compromise. BTW my converter is a nonlockup 3rd gear, so I don't have that bog when it shifts into 3rd. As far as 2.40 or 2.46 for the 1st gear, it's somewhere in the 2.4 something range, and either way it's still too high for my liking. If I was not concerned about mileage at all, It'd prolly have a C4 in it.

[Big D's 69]

Why can't you manually shift it on the column? We do it all the time in my buddies 460 powered bronco. No problems with it. It ran a best of 14.50@95 mph. THat was in a heavy 4x4 with a c-6 and 4 inches of lift on 35x14.50-15's. I would think that the 4.33 would be a little too steep. A rule of thumb on the GM side is an auto use 3.73's and they run the best. Just my 2 cents.

[spartman]

I know there are places where you can get the really low first gear stuff.

I can't think of them right now, but I think they were improved versions of the EAOD or the 4R70W out of a lincoln.

Try these guys:

http://www.becontrols.com/products/aodcat.htm

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techar ... smissions/

http://www.ford-aod.com/

[CbiScuT]

Why can't you manually shift it on the column? We do it all the time in my buddies 460 powered bronco. No problems with it. It ran a best of 14.50@95 mph. THat was in a heavy 4x4 with a c-6 and 4 inches of lift on 35x14.50-15's. I would think that the 4.33 would be a little too steep. A rule of thumb on the GM side is an auto use 3.73's and they run the best. Just my 2 cents.

AOD's cannot be manually shifted on the column in a conventional pattern like a C6 or C4, meaning 1st, 2nd,3rd... The shifter pattern for the AOD is Park, Reverse, Neutral, Overdrive, Drive, and Low. The AOD does not have a conventional C6 or C4 manual second gear position. You can hold second manually, by pulling the shifter back into manual low after it has already shifted to second. If you are going above 20 MPH pulling the shifter into manual low will put the AOD in manual second. This is the factory intended method for holding manual second with the AOD. To me, that's a lot of work and possible miss-shifting. So I wanna put it in "D" (not OD) and floor it. I have modified the gov, to allow the tranny to stay in gear longer than 4,800 rpm's so that it will automatically shift closer to redline. This is how I am trying to overcome not having to manually shift the column. As for the 4.33's you are right about them being too low if I had a C6 or C4, but since I have OD and I normally run 1700rpms on the highway with my current 3.50 ratio I think my calculations of 2800 rpms @ 60mph with a 4.33 are fairly correct and acceptable for a stoplight brawler that will see limited highway use. What was once a daily driver is now a toy. So I can justify such a low ratio. Plus the AOD 1st gear is way tall so you need multiplication.

[xxxtina63]

You need a shift kit.

[CbiScuT]

Uh, I got one...It's called a shift improver kit made by B&M.

[lightning_msd]

transgo is better for the AOD's

[CbiScuT]

Well, everyone sticks with what works for them, and I have not had a single problem with B&M, so... But that's not my question. I just wanna know if besides what I've already described, is there anything that I might be overlooking?

[lightning_msd]

so this is a bump your putting all of this in? is it a SWB or LWB?

[CbiScuT]

SWB, I have a pic of it in the photo section.