Revisiting Old Idea
The past month have started to notice my original AOD with about 90K is starting to show its age. It still shifts decent, but have noticed it's starting to shift 2nd to 3rd to quickly and on the manual downshift from 3rd to 2nd acts like it slips before grabbing 2nd. Since its still driveable im not in a hurry to do repairs anytime soon. Thinking about going to to a built C4. If so, would it be a direct bolt up to the HO motor. Has anyone done this swap? How hard would it be to rebuild the AOD. My vic is not a daily driver.
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2011 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate Edition
Dual Exhaust w/ AP XLerator mufflers and 3 1/2" tips, Eibach 1" rear sway bar, Pioneer Head unit and speakers, 17X8 Drag DR-72 wheels
RIP 1984 2Dr Crown Vic "The Millennium Falcon"
Carbed 5.0 HO w/nitrous , Performer RPM intake, GT40P heads, E303 cam, FRP Shorties, FRP 9mm plug wires, Off-Road H-pipe, Magnaflow round mufflers, 2000 rpm stall
NA-15.78@91.21, 80hp shot-14.48@96.21 -
I would imagine it would bolt up no problem since that trans was available originally equipped, but I'll let somebody else confirm this. Might be a good idea to go c4 for less weight and power loss through the trans, since you race your car and overdrive is less of a priority, i'm guessing...
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you need the proper flexplate, though I disremember which one it is. I think the crossmember needs to move upward as well, but there may be a second set of holes already for it. The shift linkage is a problem, apparently the column shift bits are all different. 87cp did this with one of his cars, so he can fill you in on the specifics. If you have a floor shifter or something, then its not a concern.
Personally I've never thought the C4 was worth a damn, but thats just me. I hate how they shift, and I've never been impressed with their supposed durability. I've seen more of those things roasted than AODs.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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If i did the c4 swap i would go with a floor shifter set up. Think it would really be cool with a B&M mega shifter. Doesnt the engine balance determine the flexplate? Have also heard that if the kickdown is not connected on the c4, it will not hurt it.
2011 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate Edition
Dual Exhaust w/ AP XLerator mufflers and 3 1/2" tips, Eibach 1" rear sway bar, Pioneer Head unit and speakers, 17X8 Drag DR-72 wheels
RIP 1984 2Dr Crown Vic "The Millennium Falcon"
Carbed 5.0 HO w/nitrous , Performer RPM intake, GT40P heads, E303 cam, FRP Shorties, FRP 9mm plug wires, Off-Road H-pipe, Magnaflow round mufflers, 2000 rpm stall
NA-15.78@91.21, 80hp shot-14.48@96.21Comment
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[QUOTE= Have also heard that if the kickdown is not connected on the c4, it will not hurt it.[/QUOTE]
No it dosen't hurt it but you get more line pressure with large throttle openings and later WOT shifting. Comment
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you can run one with no kickdown, but it shifts early and won't downshift. It won't break anything, but they suck to drive that way. You can wire it to some fixed position to tune the shift points how you want, but that gets annoying for street driving. Friend of mine had one with a busted linkage, and he had it wired in position. I think he ended up with it set to about the 1/3 throttle point so it was drivable. He tried it wired full open all the time but it wouldn't shift out of first gear under about 20 mph.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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you can re-use your flexplate, but then you need a big bell (164-tooth) bell housing, if you go with a small bell then you need the 157-tooth (IIRC) flexplate. you use the forward pair of holes for your crossmember. Im using a B&M Pro-Stick for mine. you can re-use your driveshaft alsohttp://secondhandracing.com/Home.aspx
http://secondhandradio.com/
R.I.P. Jason P Harrill 6-12-06
http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=5634Comment
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Could you rig up something and have a lever in the car that you could adjust this on the fly?Originally posted by gadget73 View Post2000 Grand Marquis LS
2000 F150 XLT 6 inches of lift.
1987 Bill Blass Mark VII - Sold
1985 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park- SOLD. to a little old lady
Mercury Owners Group member
Save The Whales, Restore an Old Station Wagon!!Comment
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Originally posted by gadget73 View Post
In my case, when I purchased my C4 I had them give me a converter that bolted up to a flexplate with 11.4" bolt circle (think the shop called it a "12 inch converter"), which is the same flexplate used on an AOD car. They didn't have a bellhousing, so I reused my old one, which I'm left to assume is of the "big" design.
My headaches on the '81 two-door were almost entirely with the shift linkage, as I wanted to keep the column shift. The crossmember moved to the forward set of holes, and I went ahead and used the driveshaft I'd taken from my original C4 car, though on inspection it's barely any longer than an AOD driveshaft and uses the same slipyoke.
Of course, I still haven't figured out (haven't had anything like time to conduct a hands-on investigation) why my 5-year-old (~2 years actual use), low-mileage C4 made crunching noises this past Sunday morning and wouldn't go forward in "D" or "2". The car ran and drove perfectly on Saturday, and it shifted just as nicely as it ever did.
Obvious (i.e. near-free) course of action is to replace it with a 6-year-old (maybe 2-3 years actual use?) AOD with similarly low mileage on it, provided I have the time.Last edited by 1987cp; 12-23-2010, 02:55 PM.2012 Mazda5 Touring | Finally working on the LTD again!
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I suppose, but the original setup allows the gas pedal to adjust this on the fly for youOriginally posted by 85MercPark View Post
86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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Just weighing the options, a built TCI c4 is about $800 and the TCI AOD (rated 450hp) is about $1500. Of course after getting the shifter and other odds and ends will probably be about the same cost.
2011 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate Edition
Dual Exhaust w/ AP XLerator mufflers and 3 1/2" tips, Eibach 1" rear sway bar, Pioneer Head unit and speakers, 17X8 Drag DR-72 wheels
RIP 1984 2Dr Crown Vic "The Millennium Falcon"
Carbed 5.0 HO w/nitrous , Performer RPM intake, GT40P heads, E303 cam, FRP Shorties, FRP 9mm plug wires, Off-Road H-pipe, Magnaflow round mufflers, 2000 rpm stall
NA-15.78@91.21, 80hp shot-14.48@96.21Comment
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Is it my imagination, or do I recall hearing negative things about TCI?2012 Mazda5 Touring | Finally working on the LTD again!
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That comment reminds me of a box vic completely stripped with only a drivers seat, random toggle switches for all lights, and a choke style lever to adjust the TV pressure. And the phrase "That transmission will shift when I damn well want it to." Comes to mind...Originally posted by 85MercPark View PostComment
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