My C4 has been on its way out for a long time, and its really the only thing holding the car back right now. My origonal plans we're to have my C4 rebuilt and then I'd put a kit in it. But a freind of mine has been urging me to look into an AOD 4 speed. particularly the AOD Dominator Jr. I just want something that is going to make the most of the power my 302 is putting out. But I also dont have a buttload of money. So I may just end up having my C4 rebuilt Any advice you guys can give I'd really appreciate
i'd think about what you want for a final result. are you going to drive it for fun, or in a lot of traffic. are you going to bracket race with it. determine what your intentions for the car are. if your not in traffic a lot, banging gears is fun. if your going to bracket race the automatic is the most consistent. i am impressed to go to a national event and watch a super stock car with a 4 peed. there definitely are some guys that can shift.
I just want something that shifts good under WOT I drive the car two months out of the year, and I drive it hard in those two months....
If you only drive it hard, avoid the AOD. heavy, weaker by design and expensive to make fast. I plan on driving mine regularly, at least when I'm off the clock, and I'm considering going back to the C4. Week to week, I change my mind between a Tremec, an AOD and a C4. I'll make up my mind when I put the tranny in there.
Take it from a trans builder- keep the C4, the aod is a good trans, but it will never perform like the C4 even with a shift kit. The reason for this is that the aod is only controlled from the position of the throttle, where as the C4 is controlled by vacuum. Vacuum is a much better guage of the engines status and needs than the position of the throttle. The AOD is great if you'll be doing only highway driving, you'll get great milage and run low RPM in OD, but if you want to keep your car fun to drive, keep the C4. This is something Ive tried and been successful at, the AOD shifted good and hard and seemed to do what it was supposed to do, but the C4 still performed better.
I'd bet Len From Lentech would have a different opinion on the aod performance capabilities. Len? You still coming around here? http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=9297&highlight=lentech
yea, but Lentech doesn't use close to stock parts either. Highly modified, and they will be who I buy from should I stick with the AOD. I do believe they have an AOD with a highly modified valve body and vacuum modulator, but I could be wrong. Its been a year or so since I researched it.
c4's the cheapest way out.AOD's good if you're going to drive alot w/dragrace gears,but much MUCH more $$$$.
Thanks for the info, after checking it out, I still say stick with the C4 unless youre doing 60% or more freeway driving. The Lentech is still throttle pressure modulated like a stock aod or a torqueflight. They work well but never like a vacuum modulated trans.
the price tag on that AOD was $1770 bucks....personally i would take that money and find a c-6 in a junk yard car and use $1000 to fix it up and put the other 700 bucks or so into the rest of the car..... i had my c-4 rebuilt for almost 700 bucks and i was told it could handle anything up to 400 HP in it just my $.02 good luck
I don't have much experience on this, so I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I will just say what I have been thinking about for MY car. From what I have seen, the C-4 is ONE of the best trannys ever built. They are very tough, and can handle some major abuse. (Don't believe me? Come ride with me..... ) Get a good C-4 and a good ratchet shifter and let the fun begin. However, I have really been thinking about swapping to a five speed. Good gas mileage on highway, pretty tough, and you can choose your lower ratios for racing if that's what you want. I am REALLY thinking about this for myself. Anyway.....just my two cents Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!! Preston
