Question for anyone with AOD and 4.10's
 

How are your shift points?

I recently had my transmisssion overhauled, and the unsuspecting and unknowing tranny mechanic removed the JB weld from my valve body that was my shift pattern modification. (just my luck)

It used to shift 1-2-3,4 and it wouldnt stay in third gear for long under part throttle (around 2-3 seconds, but it would hold third under full throttle), but there was 4 distinct gears and you could feel all the shift changes.

Now it is back to the factory shift pattern of 1-2,3-4 and It shifts from 2nd to third so fast, that it feels like one shift. I can barely feel the 2-3 shift most of the time at all, and thought I had valve body problems, but occasionally I can feel the 2-3 shift, and when I do, it stays in 2nd gear for about .005 seconds before shifting into third.

Anyone else have this same experience with a factory shift pattern AOD and steeper gears in the back?


I am considering mailing the valve body back to where I bought the tranny (I called them and the AOD guru told me he would put it back the way it was, so I could hold second gear), or installing a Baumann shift kit that gives you some control over WOT shift points.

Suggestions or recomendations?

I would suggest you get a Lentech Street Terminator valve body instead. It is much better then a shift kit. The shifts are very firm. Plus when in drive it shifts for you, but when you shift the lever from 1-d-o it gives you full control over the shifts. It also changes your shift pattern to 1-2-3 with an eltronic overdrive so you don't have to do the 1-d-1 shuffle.

Im familiar with the lentech valve body. I dont really care for the electric overdrive lock out feature, and dont see the need for it. The 1-D-1 shuffle can be eliminated with out the need for locking out OD electrically. (as mine was previously)

I would consider the lentech unit anyway, as I believe in their quality and thier proven record , but it costs $370.00, and funds are an issue at this time.

I was interested to see if anyone has the extremely quick shifts between gears caused by the increased rear end ratio, and how they feel about it?

Anyone?

just bought my 91 lx. It already had the 4.10 pin in the rear. OD comes in at 35 mph or so. I heard it should come in later at around 45mph. I figure its the gears. The only time I had a quick shift from 2nd-3rd was when I put in the B&M tranny fluid. Scared the hell out of my. My luck with auto tranny's suck. Blew 3 727 torque flights in my duster. I went back to standard fluid and it shifts normally now.

Question: does the TV cable need to be set differently with the 4.10 gears? Like I said it comes in at 35mph or so at part throttle. This ford stuff is new to me, but I love the car.

This is an absolute necessity for anyone that likes to drag race and wants to keep their OD intact. It is the safest method of not hitting overdrive under full power and breaking it, as the OD is the weakest link in an AOD.

Yeah, about 35 is where mine hits also. Im surprised you dont have the quick 2-3 shift?

You should set your TV cable like normal. You always want 0 TV pressure at idle, and TV pressure to increase immmediately upon throttle increse.

I disagree, and maybe you can tell mw why you think its a necessity?
Ill tell you why I think its not. Your car shouldnt shift into OD until the throttle is released, so it wont shift into OD under full power when drag racing, or anytime else. This is the way the valve body is designed to work originally, and my valve body (when previoulsy modified) worked this way. I could hold second, then shift to third, then after going through the traps, ease off the throttle, and only then would it shift into OD, as I was coasting to the turnoff road.

I talked to one of Lentechs tech guys on the phone, and he told me it would shift into OD under full throttle, and also that driving the car with the TV cable disconnected shouldnt have hurt my transmission as quick as it did. Both not true and really made me wonder about Lentech. Who knows, maybe this particular guy didnt have a clue?

All I can say is go with Lentech!! It is well worth the Money.:D