Oooops! AOD owners take note..
 

I just got my engine back together (ported the heads and new intake manifold) and was running it in the garage, setting idle speed, TPS voltage, fuel pressure, timing, etc.... and I made a mental note to myself to attach the tranny TV cable after all these adjustments were made.

Well, I forgot, and the next day I took it for a test drive. Good news and bad...the good news is the motor feels a lot stronger, revs faster, much more responsive....

The bad news, while I only drove the car around .25 mile to the main street where I could get on it a little, thats all it took to cook my tranny. Third and fourth gear were both gone that fast. I drove another .25 mile, stopped, connected the cable, drove again...no dice...3rd and 4th were totally smoked..

So there goes my built tranny....smoked in less than 1/4 mile of disconnected TV cable driving.

AOD owners, do not make the same mistake.

Now a couple questions..

1. Im thinking about overhauling the AOD myself and was wondering how difficult it is and if any special tools are required?

2. who makes a good rebuild kit with high performance clutches and bands at a reasonable price? Level 10 has a rebuild kit for $402.00 that they say makes a '"bulletproof" AOD. I already have a one piece input shaft and a non-lock up converter. Anybody use Level 10 stuff before? Its pricey, but supposed to be very good.

Chris, I wish I could help. :(

I do have a question for you though. I am swapping a spare T5 for a rebuilt AOD, and was thinking of putting it in my car. The tranny is stock, and not an AOD-E. The shift kit I can do myself, then I need a converter. I guess something with around a 3000 stall speed.

Is it worth doing in your opinion? I could easily do the swap in an afternoon, but I don't want to spend whatever it costs for a good converter and end up switching back in a week.

Thanks, Rob

Yeah, 3000 stall is good range for you.

Is it worth doing? What are you after? I like Automatics myself, no problem sitting in traffic, can have girlfreinds head between your ---- without having to shift all the time, can have beer in one hand and a joint in the other while driving, can be made to perform well, no missed shifts, faster shifts, can be more durable, less shock on drive train parts, etc...

A good converter for the AOD is around $650.00 (dont go cheap) and with a one piece input shaft and a performance rebuild they are very strong and durable.

It really comes down to your preference. It is worth it? If thats what you want, sure its worth it.

I still think a 5 speed car is quicker than a AOD car even with extensive tranny mods soley because the AOD uses a lot of power to turn, power that could be going to the rear wheels.

Performance wise it might be a step backwards, but it would be an easier driving car, and yes my wife would like to drive it.

Thanks,

Rob

Could it be possible that your tranny was going before you did the stuff to the engine? It doesn't seem feasible to cook 3rd and 4th just after .25 mile of driving?? I have a friend who drove a lot longer then .25 of a mile without the TV cable hooked up and the tranny still works fine. how long did the car sit for while you were working on it?

Yeah, I didnt think it would cook that fast eithier. It sat for 2 months, and the tranny was great before that.

Now it wont even start...when it rains, it pours....:(

before my old AOD went it sat for about a month. i knew it was going though cause second gear would stick till it warmed up, and the front pump was whining. well after a month i took it out and only just about ever gear was gone. still drove, but reved out pretty bad and couldn't go above 20 MPH. maybe the time it sat combined with the tv cable had something to do with it. thats just a weird thing to have happen hu?

I'm putting a AOD in my car now and i'm going with the PA transbrake VB and I was told I do not need the TV cable at all. I don't see how the TV cable not being hooked up fried 3rd and 4th.

Personally I feel that there's a bracket of time that a manual is faster than auto. Stock, manual is faster, but say once you get into the low 12's or 11's switching to an auto should gain you a tenth or more in ET, but I guess you'll loose a couple mile per hour. Then when you get to the 7-8 second range the strip only manuals will be faster.

exgmguy, I would'nt waste your time with shift kit. Go VB. From what I hear you don't need one piece input shaft w/non lock-up converter. Lentech sells an outer shaft that is stronger than stock.

Because the TV cable increases pressure to the clutch packs when you are accelerating as far as I understand it. Without increased pressure, you have slipping clutches, that burn up VERY fast. I still have 1st and 2nd though? Any tranny experts out there?

Some aftermarket valve bodies use a constant pressure, and therefore dont need the TV cable because the increased pressure is always there, and you dont need the TV cable to increase the pressure as you accelerate, as the factory set up works.

[/B][/QUOTE]
Personally I feel that there's a bracket of time that a manual is faster than auto. Stock, manual is faster, but say once you get into the low 12's or 11's switching to an auto should gain you a tenth or more in ET, but I guess you'll loose a couple mile per hour. Then when you get to the 7-8 second range the strip only manuals will be faster.[/B][/QUOTE]

I agree with that, but I dont know if an auto will pick you up E.T. in the low 12 range, maybe 11's or 10,s.

Damn! Sorry to hear that man!

Lentech also sells a kit, give them a call.

I am going to write a big note to myself, ATTACH TV Cable!!

Ian

Yeah, hang a red streamer off that cable that says "attach before flight"!

I looked at Lentechs web page, and they just had tranny and valve bodies listed, no rebuild kits. Are you sure they sell the rebuild kits?

If you go under the "Price List" there are prices for Strip Rebuild and Street rebuild. You would have to call them to see exactly what is included with the kit.

I am going with a Lentech tranny later this year, as I am not sure if my trans will hold the power.

Give them a call, they will help you out.

Ian