replacement for my c-6

[cowmilker]

I have an '85 f-150 with a 351w (4bbl), 3.50 gears and a c-6/208. My question is, is there a Ford trans that would bolt up between the 351 and 208 that has overdrive so I can get better gas milage. I was thinking maybe about an AOD, or is AOD electronicaly controled? I know it is probably not as strong as a c-6, but I don't wheel in this thing. Would putting in an overdrive pull my rpms down enough to make a difference? Would pulling down the rpms take the engine out of its "power range" making it lug down and get worse milage?
I know of people who have repaced th350's with 700r4's on their Chevy's, but can you do that with Ford.
Tell me what you think!

 

[mbryson]

.......... Would putting in an overdrive pull my rpms down enough to make a difference?

Yes

..........Would pulling down the rpms take the engine out of its "power range" making it lug down and get worse milage?

Probably not esp. if you are still running 'stockish' tires.

..........I know of people who have repaced th350's with 700r4's on their Chevy's, but can you do that with Ford.
Tell me what you think!

THAT is what's wrong with you Blue Oval boys....... Who CARES what mfg. plant the engine came out of? Chev/GMC have all the same bellhousing pattern Milner will know for sure. I bet you can get an AOD out of a 351 or 302 W truck (I'd just grab the transfer case too to make it easy, maybe even the drivelines) and bolt it to the back of your Windsor motor.

 

[Milner]

Oh Kincade.....Where are you??

Kincade on here is the most knowledgable about this....Yes you can put a 700r in it. Aod/a4od also. Ford trannies take more to build strong, but the 700 requires adapters.

 

[mbryson]

Oh Kincade.....Where are you??

Kincade on here is the most knowledgable about this....Yes you can put a 700r in it. Aod/a4od also. Ford trannies take more to build strong, but the 700 requires adapters.

Oh, you disappoint .....

 

[Milner]

Oh, you disappoint .....

I'm tired

 

[cowmilker]

Yes I am running stock-ish tires (31's).
I didn't want to run a 700 in it I was just asking if you could do with a C-6/AOD what you could do on chevy's with th350/th700r4.
One of you mentioned A4OD, is that one electronicaly controled?
Taking the trans/transfercase/drivelines makes good sense, then it wont matter about input saft splines, and as long as it came from a Windsor motor it should bolt up (I guess I would want to take the flywheel from the doner truck too).
Thanks for the input guys!

 

[Milner]

Yes I am running stock-ish tires (31's).
I didn't want to run a 700 in it I was just asking if you could do with a C-6/AOD what you could do on chevy's with th350/th700r4.
One of you mentioned A4OD, is that one electronicaly controled?
Taking the trans/transfercase/drivelines makes good sense, then it wont matter about input saft splines, and as long as it came from a Windsor motor it should bolt up (I guess I would want to take the flywheel from the doner truck too).
Thanks for the input guys!

A4OD is somewhat electronic, but there are harness to make it work in any rig. Yes it will bolt up (as long as it is from a W block). There is alot of info on the net about the A4OD's....give google a try.

 

[cowmilker]

THAT is what's wrong with you Blue Oval boys.......

I am not one of those "Ford is better", "Chevy is better" people; as long as it is not a Dodge you are O.K. in my book!

 

[Rick B]

Well Ford never put an AOD behind a 351, for good reason, it's a light duty transmission better suited to being in a car. It will bolt up to a 351, but there may be flywheel issues, and it will require a crossmember & driveshaft changes because it is a different length than the C6. I don't know of anyone who has done it but they may exist.

You can look at the E4OD, but it is an electronically controlled tranny & the later years ('95 on) are the best, the earlier years have weaknesses that are well known amongst Ford people. So you would have to invest in a computer to control the transmission in addition to the mechanical changes. The big problem with the E4OD is that it is very expensive to fix, typically around $2K. Again you would also have to change the crossmember & driveshafts because of the different length of the tranny.

So putting an OD tranny in your truck is technically possible, but has a few issues that must be addressed. The big thing you have to decide is whether it would ever actually save you any money. If you spend say, $2K (and I personally think this is a low figure for this type of swap to be properly done) in swapping to an OD tranny how long will it take you to save that much in gas with the added MPG you'd be getting? Personally I think you'd never break even on it.

 

[cowmilker]

Well Ford never put an AOD behind a 351, for good reason, it's a light duty transmission better suited to being in a car.

So putting an OD tranny in your truck is technically possible, but has a few issues that must be addressed. The big thing you have to decide is whether it would ever actually save you any money. If you spend say, $2K (and I personally think this is a low figure for this type of swap to be properly done) in swapping to an OD tranny how long will it take you to save that much in gas with the added MPG you'd be getting? Personally I think you'd never break even on it.

That is the type of info/advice I was hoping for! Thank You.
Maybe I should become a "Chevy is better" type guy, then I could just go get a 700r4.
You are right about the cost thing I could buy two $1000 beater comuter cars for that price and probably get a smoother ride.

 

[mbryson]

.............Maybe I should become a "Chevy is better" type guy, then I could just go get a 700r4...............

Way to read between the lines


(that said, it'll take a LOT to have my next truck be a newer Chev)