Auto tranny question(s)
 

How much hp/torque can a stock 5.0 automatic transmission take? What all would be recommend to help it perform better? It's in a 91 GT. Could it hold up to high twelves in the 1/4? What rear gears would you recommend being a daily driver w/highway mileage on a regular basis? I"m thinking about 3.73s. The car is stock (for now) http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/biggrin.gif.

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1996 Mustang GTS

Well, as to how much an AOD can take, I've been told 400hp, but on a stocker, I just don't know. The best mod I did was install the B&M shift improver kit. They give you a towing/RV and then a high performance option in the kit. All it envolves is drilling a couple of holes in the separator plate, and the kit basically makes shifts harder and more crisp, not such a "slide" as the stock setup is.

You could go with a higher stall torque converter, say 2000-2400, and still retain the lockup feature. B&M's and PI's are the best, IMHO.

I'm running 3.73's right now, too. The mileage is still 22 or so, and it hauls off the line. My buddy with a stock geared '91 GT - manual trans - can't keep up with me.

Will it hold up to high twelves? Um, I'm going to find out this spring, I guess. High 12's require about 300 horse. The best thing you can do in the meantime is bump up your TV (throttle valve) pressure. This is done by moving the little plastic block that snaps into the throttle lever on the throttle body. Go to Baumann Engineering to find out what I mean. This is THE best site for automatic transmission information and upgrades.

Just keep in mind that throttle valve cable is NOT a kickdown mechanism. It affects shift points AND shift firmness. The only inputs the AOD has are the TV cable and the governor on the tailshaft. Hope this helps, and good luck. I'll let you know if mine holds up! BTW, I'm doing a complete performance rebuild. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/biggrin.gif

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Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online
1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73
1987 Mustang LX Notch http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net3/wink2.gif

Most everyone who is still delusional about the AOD will say "auto's always go faster" and "the AOD is strong"
I had a '90 GT that i bought brand-new.
I had it for 5 years and went through 3 trannies.....and the car only went mid-14's and 100,000 miles on it.
From past experiance, and present experiancethis is my .02
Get a T5 or C4.....
If you keep the AOD don't spend any money on it...Save up for a Lentech or something.
And use the 4.10's.....3.73's minimum....
I got 3.73's in my old car and regretted it the day i drove it home.
I also had the "low gear set" $500,TCI 2200 stall converter, and transgo shift kit.
I wouldn't gat a converter w/ any less stall than 3000 if i did it again(which i never would) I'm only telling you my experiance that i had which was very bad.




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4.10's,long tubes & 75 shot...Goes 12.50's
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