Learn me Ford transmissions

I'm a Chevy guy but I'm wanting a little strange. I know the basics about Ford V8s but I know nothing about the transmissions. Which ones are strong and which are weak?  When did they go to electronic control?  OD? 

I know this.   I have one from a 99-02 Crown Vic w/TQ that I have no need for.  So If you want it it is yours, It is for sale but for you and or any GRMer that wants come get it. Or if it makes you feel good I will take 150 for it. It's for sale so no I won't bring it to the Challenge.

C4~TH350

C6~TH400

AOD~700R4

Toploader (non OD)~Muncie M20/M21/M22 (big input Toploader)

WCT5=WCT5

I think that covers the common stuff, I don't know about the newer electronic and mod motor stuff. Ford were also weirdos and had multiple pushrod V8 bell patterns, so look out for that. 

Ford circled the problem for you.  

When installingan aod, make damn sure the converter is far enough back or you break it.

Longbed 70s trucks had a fixed yoke output shaft on the 3 speeds.

Theres no cheap floor shifters for ford 3 speeds anymore.

Sn95 v6 mustang t5 and bell supposedly bolts up to a 302.

They like lots of timing with gt40 heads.

About all i got.

The aod-e started in 85-86, had more issues then the original Aod. C4's are getting hard to find in the north because just about everything 80's and up ran a varient of the aod. C6 is overkill for most things but like to drop reverse. The wct5 likes to break input shafts.  The (t45 iirc) used behind early mod motors is a peice of E36 M3. Ford transmissions lock into a gear and dont down or upshift without command. Manually shifting an aod with 3 position shifter involves shifting from first to drive and pulling it back too first to lock in second after the shift.  

Mod motors are a bit fancy for my liking so i dont know alot about the 4r70 etc.

The 4r70W automatic trans is a good one with a few easy mods like the latter rubber coated servo and a drilling of the separator plate (look up J-mod) so named for it designer Jerry. he worked on the trans at ford then came up with simple mods to keep it working in top shape.

Ford transmissions are impossible, there's a gajillion different variations of every single one, it's almost as difficult as mix and matching V8 parts. For instance, I have 4 C4 transmissions that are within a few years of each other from V8 cars and they're all different. 

Disclaimer, I grew up in a Ford family and to this day my Ford parts and projects far outnumber anything else I own, but my god Chevy's are easier to work with in terms of compatibility and commonality.

In reply to CLynn85 :

After reading the responses I think I'm agreeing with you. 

CLynn85 said:

Ford transmissions are impossible, there's a gajillion different variations of every single one, it's almost as difficult as mix and matching V8 parts. For instance, I have 4 C4 transmissions that are within a few years of each other from V8 cars and they're all different. 

Disclaimer, I grew up in a Ford family and to this day my Ford parts and projects far outnumber anything else I own, but my god Chevy's are easier to work with in terms of compatibility and commonality.

It didn't help that Ford had so many engine families at the same time and they almost all used different bolt patterns. The 302/351 Windsor had one pattern, the 351 Cleveland had another, the 351M/400M was just a tall deck Cleveland but used the 429/460 bolt pattern, The 352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428 FE-family used yet another.

Don't forget the weirdo FMX 3-speed automatic that Ford used for years that was kinda-sorta C6 guts in a C4 case with a removable bellhousing but not really and no one makes any parts for or will rebuild

Dusterbd13 said:

Theres no cheap floor shifters for ford 3 speeds anymore, but you can make a 4-speed shifter run a 3-speed.

 

 

Fixed that for you. 

NickD said:

Don't forget the weirdo FMX 3-speed automatic that Ford used for years that was kinda-sorta C6 guts in a C4 case with a removable bellhousing but not really and no one makes any parts for or will rebuild

The FMX was actually more of a melding of two of Ford's older transmissions. It was essentially the larger MX guts in a smaller FX cast iron case. It was intended to be tougher than a C4, but not use the power that a C6 used. 

Dusterbd13 said:

Ford circled the problem for you.  

I'd be insulted, if not for the fact that Ford couldn't make an overdrive trans to save their lives.]

I love Fords but the best trans mod you could do would be an adaptor to bolt up a GM trans.