Skip to main content
Topic: Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull? (Read 2771 times) previous topic - next topic

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Got a dyno run scheduled for Tuesday, my first one and the car's first too I imagine.  Anyway after reading it on coolcats I started running my AOD in Drive rather than Overdrive unless I'm gonna be on the highway for a while.  In Drive I've found the car feels much stronger, I don't know if that's by design or if my overdrive band is just screwed.  My first instinct is to make this run in Drive but I've never really pushed the car to the limit in Drive before, should I have any reservations about it?
1983 Thunderbird-302 HO, Holley 650 CFM 4150 DP, Weiand Stealth Intake, Dual-Snorkel Air Cleaner,  Holley Fuel Pump, Procomp HEI Distributor, B&M Holeshot 2400 Converter, Custom 2 1/4 duals with no cats and BBK shorties, Taurus Fan Conversion, FMS Grill, much more to come....


"In the future, I plan on taking more of an active role in the decisions I make" - Paris Hilton

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #1
yes, OD would give the tranny a 1:1 ratio, for the numbers to be accurate.
1979 Ford Fairmont
[/B]
5.0L/4R70W/8.8"/5-lug/3" Exhuast


Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #2
Quote from: 32VFoxBird;179854
yes, OD would give the tranny a 1:1 ratio, for the numbers to be accurate.

I'm not 100% positive, but OD would actually give you <1:1 ratio since it is OVERdrive, where Drive is 1:1.
 
One more thing that I'm less sure of since I've never been on a dyno before, but I'm not sure it would matter if you had it in OD anyway since I doubt it would ever shift up to OD, especially since you would be pushing it at WOT.
 
Hopefully someone else will chip in and tell me I am correct (or completley refute me :)
2000 Jaguar XK8 Convertible - 4.0L DOHC V8 (AJ27)
2018 Ford Explorer - 3.5L DOHC V6 (Duratec 35)
1999 Mercury Grand Marquis - 4.6L SOHC V8 (Modular)
1987 Mercury Cougar LS - 5.0L V8 (Windsor) [SOLD in 2009]

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #3
I believe final drive for OD gear in the AOD tranny is a .75:1 ratio not 1:1
 
Seems it’s 1:1 in drive and .75:1 in OD… I’ll see if I can find the info someplace
 
From" http://www.thepontiactransampage.com/transgears.html
"
Ford AOD 4-spd automatic

2.40, 1.47, 1.00, 0.67
"
 
From: http://realbig.com/detomaso/1998-02/266.html
 
"If better acceleration is the goal, a ring and pinion swap may be in order.
The beauty of this swap is that the AOD's 0.67:1 overdrive ratio can make
a
"
 
 
And finally from: http://lists.twistedpair.ca/pipermail/classic-mustangs/1996-December/000644.html
"
                      Ford Transmission Ratios
                      ------------------------
 
    Stock  Stock  WR    Stock  WR    E4OD
    C4    C6    C6    AOD    AOD
 
1st  2.46  2.46  2.72  2.40  2.84  2.72
2nd  1.46  1.46  1.54  1.47  1.55  1.53
3rd  1.00  1.00  1.00  1.00  1.00  1.00
4th  ----  ----  ----  0.67  0.70  0.71
"
 
I was off... .67 not .75  but still not 1:1
:birdsmily:   Objects In Mirror Appear to be Loosing  :birdsmily:

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #4
Quote from: SSX;179855
I'm not 100% positive, but OD would actually give you <1:1 ratio since it is OVERdrive, where Drive is 1:1.
 
One more thing that I'm less sure of since I've never been on a dyno before, but I'm not sure it would matter if you had it in OD anyway since I doubt it would ever shift up to OD, especially since you would be pushing it at WOT.
 
Hopefully someone else will chip in and tell me I am correct (or completley refute me :)


correct, i was wrong. trans needs to be in 3rd gear. OD is a 0.67:1 ratio.
1979 Ford Fairmont
[/B]
5.0L/4R70W/8.8"/5-lug/3" Exhuast


Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #5
Quote from: Jim_Miller;179861
I believe final drive for OD gear in the AOD tranny is a .75:1 ratio not 1:1

Seems it’s 1:1 in drive and .75:1 in OD… I’ll see if I can find the info someplace


http://www3.telus.net/cbradley/Drivetrain_Ratios.html
1979 Ford Fairmont
[/B]
5.0L/4R70W/8.8"/5-lug/3" Exhuast


Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #6
Great info, thanks guys.
1983 Thunderbird-302 HO, Holley 650 CFM 4150 DP, Weiand Stealth Intake, Dual-Snorkel Air Cleaner,  Holley Fuel Pump, Procomp HEI Distributor, B&M Holeshot 2400 Converter, Custom 2 1/4 duals with no cats and BBK shorties, Taurus Fan Conversion, FMS Grill, much more to come....


"In the future, I plan on taking more of an active role in the decisions I make" - Paris Hilton

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #7
NO O/D on the dyno!!! EVER!!!

Most older design trannys are very weak in O/D, usually the owners manual even says not to tow using O/D... Now you know why...

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #8
Not to hijack,but should I have the tranny in Drive instead if oerdrive most of the time,like "in town" driving?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #9
It's mentioned on Coolcats that experienced tranny guys recommend keeping it in Drive unless you're going to be driving it at high speed for a length of time.  It's actually better for the transmission and fuel economy.  I started doing it a while ago and I find the car more responsive.  Try it.
1983 Thunderbird-302 HO, Holley 650 CFM 4150 DP, Weiand Stealth Intake, Dual-Snorkel Air Cleaner,  Holley Fuel Pump, Procomp HEI Distributor, B&M Holeshot 2400 Converter, Custom 2 1/4 duals with no cats and BBK shorties, Taurus Fan Conversion, FMS Grill, much more to come....


"In the future, I plan on taking more of an active role in the decisions I make" - Paris Hilton

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #10
Quote from: vinnietbird;179942
Not to hijack,but should I have the tranny in Drive instead if oerdrive most of the time,like "in town" driving?

Too hi jack even further.. I do that.. if I'm in town I always put the car in drive instead of overdrive.  Especially on the older non electronic AOD's.  I turn off the O/D on my Mountaineer too in town.
One 88

 

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #11
Basically if youre in town chances are youre gonna be cruising at around the speed it shifts into OD, and if youre hovering around there its probably gonna be constantly shifting between 3rd and 4th, so you might as well save the trans a lot of work and keep it in 3rd. Also allows the engine to stay at an rpm where its happy speeding up and slowing down.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #12
Quote from: bhazard;179957
Basically if youre in town chances are youre gonna be cruising at around the speed it shifts into OD, and if youre hovering around there its probably gonna be constantly shifting between 3rd and 4th, so you might as well save the trans a lot of work and keep it in 3rd. Also allows the engine to stay at an rpm where its happy speeding up and slowing down.


I agree. My Titan has a five speed auto in it and I keep it out of overdrive unless I am on the freeway. Or a road that doesn't have many stops. Trans coolers extend the life of a transmission as well.
Brian

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #13
My '88 won't shift into O/D till about 50mph... With 3.73 gears, thats perfect(good thing, I have no way to lock it out, D is 1st & 2nd only)... That ed '95 thinks it has to be in O/D at 35mph, with the 3.08 gear that sucks, so yup It's generally off in town...

Should I put it in overdrive for a dyno pull?

Reply #14
My 83 and 88 (when auto) would shift into O/D at about 35mph..  The speed limit in town is 35mph so I would be in and out of O/D constantly so I saved the transmissions and kept them in D.
One 88