DONE: Think I can break into 13s? (maybe mid 13s?!?)

[silver_pilate]

Yeah, for that AOD, you're going to need some serious work. I've got a good bit done to my car, and you can see by my sig that I'm trying hard to get into the 13's....of course, I'm at significant elevation, and I've been plagued by some tuning and tranny problems.

For an AOD to run like it should, you need to invest in a quality torque converter from the likes of Precision Industries, Performance Automatic, or Lentech. Get a stall speed of around 2500-2800, and you'll be absolutely thrilled at the difference it makes. Of course, decent converters go from $500-$800.

Also, in order to correct that horrible shifting of the stock AOD, you need in the very least a quality shift kit (Transgo and Baumann make nice kits). These kits generally run at or below $100, and they'll give you great shifts on the street and strip making your car much more enjoyable to drive. If you've got the spare change, go all the way and get a Lentech valve body. These units allow fully manual shifting without the AOD shuffle and without having to anticipate shifts by 500 rpm. The shifts are callibrated specifically for your combo and your preference, and OD is engaged electrically via a toggle switch. I ordered mine yesterday ($414 delivered + the wiring and toggle switch which you can pick up at Radioshack).

On top of these, get a tranny cooler to help you tranny live a bit longer.

With these mods, your AOD will jump off the line quicker than most 5-speeds (who are typically spinning like crazy), and it will be more consistant than any stick driver.

Of course, if all of this sounds like a hassle and you like stick shifts, pool your resources and swap a 5-speed if that's what you want.

--nathan