Is there any auto tranny better than a c4?

My new 5.0 is being built as we speak and I wonder if my c4 with 100k+ miles will last long behind the new power plant. Is there a auto tranny better than a c4 that will bolt to a 302? Any with more speeds, heavier duty? Someone mentioned a c6 to me but I cant find any old posts on it, does it exist and if so, what are the specs in it?
Or, mabe its time to start thinking along the lines of a manual tranny. I know that I need the pedal assembly from a manual mav. Is it very difficult to hook up the cluch and all?

PS Just thought I would let you all know how much I love this message board and really appreciate allthe help I've gotten over the past couple of years!! Not many people in my community work on cars and I've become kind of famous working in my driveway and cruising around in my mav thanks to this board!!

 

The AOD has an overdrive gear in it, but is probably not quite as strong as a well-built C-4, and i believe requires a different torque converter. swapping from manual to automatic is simple, but going auto to manual involves a lot of work and parts acquisition such as clutch linkages, shifter locating, adding a clutch pedal under the dash. can be tricky finding the right parts and getting them into the car properly. rebuilding the C-4 is the simplest route. get at least 4 clutches each in forward and direct (5 in each is highly preferable). a well built C-4 with 5 clutches in each, a heavy input shaft, and a six pinion planetary survives well behind some strong 460 motors.

 

What Dave said!! Shawn Simpson and his father both have AODs in thier cars I believe, and the AOD can be built strong but it takes a much deeper pocket to build a strong AOD than a c-4. there is a "baby" c-6 that will bolt up to a small block, but the wieght difference and the space it takes up would not be worth it, just my opinion.

 

Stick with the c-4. I have a very good friend running a 70 Mustang with a 302 stroker and c-4 with nitrous. This car is running consistent low-10's and an occasional high 9. The c-4 keeps on going but like someone else said...it has to be well built.

 

The AOD is junk - stay as far from them as you can.

The C-4 properly prepared is capable of handling anything that a 302 can handout. You will need to use the thinnest pressure plates and piston plates that are available. You will use these to make space for the most plates that can be fit into the clutch packs. The intermediate band should be the steel band with the steel strut supports. The low / reverse band should be the double wrap-around band. You should modify the valve body using the "Transgo" street - strip" shift kit. Both drums should have holes drilled and chamfered on the outside of the drum in at least four points near the middle of the drum and the space of the teeth should line up with these holes when the packs are assembled. (if the lined plates don't have skip spaces then grind off the appropriate teeth) You can plan on using a large cooler (external to the radiator) and relocate the vent to the firewall with fittings and fuel or brake line. The proper fluid to use (despite what may be recommended) is Ford type F.

If you want to spend a bit more money than it will cost you to set up the C-4 you might be able to find a "small-block" C-6 from a 351 C powered Ford but they are extremely rare and expensive if you do find one. If you are going to use the C-6 plan on constructing a girdle to sandwich between the pan and case. It should be made of T-1 steel and at least one inch thick. It should have a bar welded to each side that is connected to subframes or side rails. The pick-up will have to be spaced down the same thickness as the girdle to provide oil pick-up. The reason for this girdle is to prevent the case from twisting due to its large open pan area. The C-6 won't need any special prep but its price will be much higher than the prepped C-4.

PaulS

 

The AOD is a very good tranny and there are some very good shops that build a very strong AOD. The AOD is the child of the C-4. If you intend to drive your car much on the street with any kind of gearing, the AOD is the way to go. An AOD will make a 4.11 gear act like a 3.00 gear on the highway. If you are not going over 500 HP, consider the AOD.

If you want to get very technical, consider an AODE and use the programming setup from Bauman Engineering (http://www.baumannengineering.com/). You can use their computer to program where you want the shift points and to work with a carburetor. My engine builder has one in an Edsel with a supercharged four-cammer 4.6. That is a nice setup.

You are going to get a lot of opinions on this subject. Once you decide your engine build-up and what kind of driving you intend to do, then you can make your choice.

 

What Hawkco said.

I guess some people have had bad experiences with AOD's. In order for them to be realiable, they have to be built right. I have a 'built' AOD in my Mustang and have put over 100 hole-shots with 200 H.P. Nitrous launches on it (~600 h.p. total). Never had a problem. Of course I paid out the patoot for it, but it was what I wanted (street/strip use with 410 gears).

The C4 can also be built to last - it's lighter than the AOD and C6. It just doesn't have that 4th gear for highway cruising.

The 5-speeds, unless built to take it (like ANY tranny), will grenade on you too.

All it takes is money!


Gluck

 

Not only can a strong AOD be built, but a C-6 is a tough fit into a Maverick.

 

Lots of great info here, I'm learning alot.
I think I'll ultimately go for the "built c-4" but I leaning more about the AOD, mabe I'll end up there...who knows.
But for now...what I'd like to know is what if anything can be and is worth doing to the c4 in my car now to beef it up and prolong its life. The c4 is stock and has 100k+ miles but shifts perfect. When done, my car will have about 300hp and no more than 3.55 gears, used for street. A shift kit? Something else? or just save the cash and put it straight into a fresh tranny?
Thanks

 

Put a shift kit into it, you will be glad you did. After that, save your money for a good aftermarket AOD.

 

Will do, thanks Max!

 

trans ???

First off, a C-4 is a very tough trans and can be made tougher. More HP on a old trans=trans rebuild. If you're driving mostly on the street with some steep gears, 3.90s+ AOD is the way to go. My son's Mav uses a 300HP 302 with a AOD and 4.10 8" posi. Loves it. Smokes them on the line and then they can't catch him down the road. Even gets good mileage, when he keeps his foot out of it. OK now for AODs, early ones 81-88 are weak but can be made tough. Ones to get are the 89+ truck and van ones. Bigger sevros and more improvements. You will need to get/make a new crossmember. I made his, and it was no big deal. And now the part everyone runs from, the TV linkage. I used one from the early AODs which is a rod and not a cable. Then I used the kickdown linkage on the Holley DP 650 adjusted for the rod. You have to get the right lever on the trans, and they did use several ones. and after 3 years, never had a problem. Plus the 50oz flywheel, which I had rebalanced for the 28oz damper. The convertor holes were the issue. Just have to find a shop that knows how to balance correctly. No big deal. The C-6. They have them for SBFs but they are heavy and absorb HP to spin them. 60 compared to 25-30 for a C-4. Trans tunnel will require some hammer work, but they fit. Not a real need for one. Ford used the C-6 in heavy duty small block apllications because there is less chance of it breaking.

 

Lets see, an AOD built for competition goes for $2500+ and I can get C-4s for free, spend $180 and two days getting it ready. another $125 for a convertor and I have a transmission that will accept 450 Ft lbs of torque and servive the rigors of strip and street in a car weighing up to 3700 pounds. A minimum life of five years on the street with hard driving and at least twelve runs down the quarter mile.

Let me consider the options:
$2500 - $3000 for an AOD
or
$305 for a C-4

Umm..... I think I will stay with the C-4!


PaulS

 

Me Too! Running a strip only car, and using the C4 for more than a decade, I can tell you it will handle 400HP and a lot of torque just as Paul said. Full manual valve body is another plus and fun to drive if used on the street too. The stock parts in a rebuild are as good as any if done right with a "Big Cooler" and good brand of Type F fluid(Castrol is my choice). Trans brakes, monster motors and "silly gas" would warrant a higher quality of internal mods etc.

 

Old Guy; you mentioned fluid. I use Dextron/Mercon ll in my C4, since that was what the rebuilder suggested. What difference would it make to change it, and how do I drain the converter? Thanks,

Earl