Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Drivetrain Tech => Topic started by: kewlbird08 on March 15, 2006, 12:10:00 PM

Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 15, 2006, 12:10:00 PM
Well, my tranny let go!  Yea last night during a power-brake burnout....*pop!*...it revved way up and I was towed home.  SO, I need a beefy AOD for my Turbo Coupe...are there any other automatics that will work behind our 4 cyl's?  I'm running 15lbs of boost...I'm fairly positive thats why she let go.  I don't want to go to stick because I'll have to change the pedals, and then when I go to my 351 I'll have to change the pedal assembly AGAIN.  Or is it easy to go to 5-speed?  Let me know what you guys think...
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: Billyf17 on March 15, 2006, 01:33:52 PM
2.3's had A4LD's not AOD's.  You could get a C3 but give up OD.  They aren't much stronger but mine held up without a transcooler and 18 psi doing a burnout through 1st and 2nd in the middle of summer.  A 5-speed conversion isn't that easy for a first timer...but I know that the pedals are the most time consuming part.  So I'd advise not converting to 5-speed then converting the pedals back later.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 15, 2006, 02:22:20 PM
Well, I'm not exactly a "first timer", I was wondering because of the hydraulic clutches on the TC's.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: slowfoxbird on March 15, 2006, 05:51:12 PM
Early T/Cs use the same cable system as a Fox Mustang.  Same part numbers, so I would assume that all of the provisions are already there?
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: shame302 on March 15, 2006, 06:13:36 PM
Quote
I don't want to go to stick because I'll have to change the pedals, and then when I go to my 351 I'll have to change the pedal assembly AGAIN. Or is it easy to go to 5-speed?

im pretty sure you dont have to run the hydrolic setup. the provision for the cable clutch should still be there. the pedal assembly is actually easy to do if you have a little patience. just do yourself the favor of removing the seat and collumn and its a snap. mine took less than 2 hours....
 
i assume you are going to run an automatic with the 351. well, if that project isnt all that far away than i wouldnt bother swapping in a T5.
 
personally, id run the T5 conversion, save your pedals from the auto-loader and try it out with the 351. if you dont like it then switch back to an auto then....
 
on a similar note...any reason why you couldnt run an AOD on the 4 banger? what am i missing?
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: Billyf17 on March 15, 2006, 06:22:21 PM
AOD has a different bellhousing and isn't removable....well you can cut it...but that defeats the purpose.  There a couple more differences that can't be modified...I'm pretty sure the torque converter is too big and won't bolt to the 2.3 flywheel...and the 2.3 TC has a different spline than an AOD TC...don't hold me to that.

A few years back I asked the same question on here...it was on the old forum so I can't search for it.  But I know the bellhousing point is accurate...the rest I forget.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: CougarSE on March 15, 2006, 08:11:08 PM
Well I've heard of guys building up A4LD's with 4.0 explorer internals as they came with an A4LD as well.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 15, 2006, 08:17:30 PM
Quote from: CougarSE
Well I've heard of guys building up A4LD's with 4.0 explorer internals as they came with an A4LD as well.

I've heard of that too...
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 15, 2006, 08:23:39 PM
Quote from: shame302
im pretty sure you dont have to run the hydrolic setup. the provision for the cable clutch should still be there.


Anyone want to second that?
 
Quote from: shame302
i assume you are going to run an automatic with the 351.


Actually I was planning on a T-5 or a Toploader or something.  Definitely NOT another automatic.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: shame302 on March 15, 2006, 08:35:05 PM
well then swap in a T% man... seems like the best solution.
 
all of the tbirds right through 88 have the provision for the cable clutch. look by the brake booster, its there. its about 1 1/2 or 2 inch rubber bung. every tbird including my current sport had it. the earlier turbo coupes used a cable clutch....
 
as long as the turbo coupes T5 and hydrolic setup never had any sort of a computer involved with it you should be good to go. the hydrolic pedals and the cable pedals mount the same way. im pretty sure its just the arm for the most part that is different. id get one out of a fox stang or an 86 turbo coupe if those were cable....
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 15, 2006, 09:05:20 PM
Does anyone know what years used a clutch cable?  I know '87s and '88s used hydraulic, but I don't know anything else.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: Beau on March 15, 2006, 09:12:48 PM
Just find a Mustang somewhere with a T5, and loot it of the clutch cable! LOL
I'd rather swap in pedals anytime, opposed to messing with a heavy-assed AOD, and them py cooler lines...but that's just me, real, manly, preformance-type cars SHOULD be stick tranny only, auto's are for little girls, school kids, and gramma...
But that's my opinion, and I'll admit to having drove an auto 'Bird for the past year, and before that, my first '88, and the '89, as well...but they've all been bent 6 cars, till now.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: shame302 on March 15, 2006, 09:16:15 PM
well...fyi, there ARE differences in clutch pedal asys....some of them will move your steering wheel slightly too the side...you can see it in the trim...other than that, get one of those, and an adjustable cable and aluminum quadrant....
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: CougarSE on March 15, 2006, 09:54:52 PM
Quote from: kewlbird08
Does anyone know what years used a clutch cable? I know '87s and '88s used hydraulic, but I don't know anything else.

 
83 to 86 bird/cats used the cable.  And every fox mustang.  Hell even up to 04 used about the same setup.  The cables will all interchange, but the pedals are different.  You can use pedals out of an 83-86 t/c without modification and out of a 79(if they where standard that early) to 93.  94 and up the pedals hanger had a different means of bolting to the dash.  If I remember correctly the old fox pedal hanger also holds the stearring colomn.  The 94 + does not.
 
 
I'm pretty sure that you can use the 87/88 TC pedals by changing the arm on the end of the clutch pedal to a quadrant.  The TC had a clutch master cylinder where the cable passes through.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 15, 2006, 10:50:59 PM
I guess this is my main question right now:  If I put in a T-5 from a Turbo Coupe, will it work with a Mustang 5.0 pedal assembly?
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 15, 2006, 10:58:43 PM
As long as you get the bellhousing from the Mustang (or an 83-86 Turbo Coupe) it will work...
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on March 15, 2006, 11:36:21 PM
you could swap in a c-4:)


BTW i have a 2.3 t-5 direct pull bellhousing. if interested.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: 302Fairmont on March 15, 2006, 11:38:55 PM
speaking of which... I just ran across this today - http://atlanta.craigslist.org/pts/142060352.html
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on March 15, 2006, 11:46:07 PM
Quote from: 302Fairmont
speaking of which... I just ran across this today - http://atlanta.craigslist.org/pts/142060352.html



thats a killer deal...assuming it is a c-4 the bell alone will go for 100-200.00
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: 302Fairmont on March 15, 2006, 11:54:11 PM
Yeah thats what I figured - from what I've heard theyre super rare.  The ad also says C-3 - but would a C3 have been in a 74 pinto?

Should I pick it up and resell it on ebay?  :evilgrin:
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 16, 2006, 10:47:04 AM
Quote from: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87
you could swap in a c-4:)

I actually considered that, but now that the opportunity has presented itself....I want a 5-speed!

Quote from: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87
BTW i have a 2.3 t-5 direct pull bellhousing. if interested.

Thanks, I'm going to the j/y this weekend, they should have what I need but if I can't find what I'm lookin' for, I'll PM you.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 19, 2006, 08:29:14 PM
Ok, just got back from the pull yard...And I am the proud owner of a '86 Borg Warner T-5, clutch, cable, pressure plate, pedals, bellhousing...basically EVERYTHING I need for the swap, assuming everything is ok, for $300.  Even so, the only thing that might be bad is the clutch, which I've located on the net for shy of 100 bucks.  Thanks for the info, everyone.  See you on the road :).
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: shame302 on March 20, 2006, 08:07:21 PM
awesome man....id play it safe and get the flywheel resurfaced and go with a new clutch/PP. id also go with a new adjustable cable and aluminum quadrant.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 20, 2006, 09:34:47 PM
Yea, I'll probly go with the cable and quadrant...I'll have to look at the flywheel/clutch/pressure plate.  I'll only be driving it like this until about November, and then March to May, perhaps?  We'll see, I'll keep you guys updated.  Hopefully we'll pull it this weekend. I'll let you know...
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: 88cat on March 20, 2006, 10:30:06 PM
Are you sure its your tranny can you start the vehicle now? Because I thought that my tranny had also kicken the bucket but it was the flywheel. The flywheel had had seperated, you know how there is a small ring in the center where you bolt it to the crank then the big outer part where the starter engages well it had seperated. I could no longer start the vehicle and when that happen it just reeved.
Title: Beefy TC AOD?
Post by: kewlbird08 on March 20, 2006, 10:42:01 PM
Yea, it starts just like normal.  All I have is "Park", everything else revs as if in Neutral.  I'd rather have a 5 speed anyway!