Carburetors and Ford AOD transmission

[mgm82]

Hello, guys and gals!

I would greatly appreciate any and all help with this topic. I have a street-driven 1982 Mercury Marquis with a small block 302 and a Ford AOD transmission. I am currently upgrading the carburetor (no more VV) and stock intake manifold. I am inclined to use an Autolite 4100 carburetor and an Edelbrock Performer 302 intake manifold.

Is the Autolite 4100 a good carburetor to use with the Edelbrock intake manifold? If not, which carburetor would you select from either Edelbrock or Holley? The 4100 has very good reviews but I'm concerned about its compatibility with the Ford AOD transmission.

Also, I keep reading that a Lokar SRK-4000 bracket/cable must be used when combining an aftermarket carburetor with a Ford AOD transmission. However, I don't understand why! Does an SRK-4000 have to be used with an Autolite 4100 or just with an Edelbrock or Holley carburetor?

Can someone please help clarify all of this for me? Many thanks!!

[1987LTDmasta]

it has to be. linkage is different.

[P72Ford]

SRK 4000 is just a bracket with return springs. If your car has a TV rod, it would be wise to switch to a Lokar AOD TV cable. I believe the PN is 2K AODHT, or something like that. It is easy enough to locate, and retails for about $60. The nicest setup is to run a Lokar throttle cable, TV cable, and that return bracket (they are all made to work together nicely). People have been able to use the factory TV rod, but if the geometry isn't just right, your trans. will cook from improper TV pressure. The $60 aftermarket cable is cheap insurance, and very easy to install.

I recently did a carb swap on my '90 P72 w/ 351 and VV. I chose to use an Edelbrock 1406 carb, and I must say it is a fabulous piece. Its operation is smooth, it is easy to tune, and it is just all around user friendly. I also used the performer intake.

As a total package, the Lokar stuff is probably going to run about $100; thats the bracket, the TV cable, and a 24" throttle cable. They are very well made, and easy to adjust, and I would recommend them for your swap.

[mgm82]

Hey guys,

Thank you! The bracket/cable fog is beginning to clear.

[Tiggie]

You can use an Autolite 4100 as long as it has the highlighted lever in the attached picture. Most do not have that lever, the ones I've seen with it are usually off 1965-1966 Full-Size Ford/Mercs.

I examined the possibility of using a modified TV Rod with the conventional Ford automatic transmission kickdown lever. On the 4100 I looked at, the lever floated for a while and didn't immediately respond (not good for AOD). I also examined two different Holleys with the Ford lever. The geometry was off ever so slightly. By the time I adjusted the "float" out of the lever, WOT wasn't possible do to interference. It's possible it could work with some more work.

Short story - the sure-fire way to get a successful setup is to use a Lokar setup.