tranny issues/interchangability - Ford Forums

Crown Victor · 09-16-2007, 11:34

i searched, but couldn't quite find what i was looking for. so,... anyway, i have a
1988 CV LTD and the tranny is about gone. my question is what years are interchangable? can i change to an AODE, or do i need to stay with the AOD. should i just consider a rebuild? just looking for options and opinions. thanks in advance.

**Nathan in MN** · 09-16-2007, 12:32

Have you checked the adjustment of the TV cable? What usually happens is that the plastic bushing on it disintegrates after all the years of engine heat, and then the transmission defaults to the lowest throttle pressure setting. That'll burn up the trans real quick if it's not taken care of, and I'd bet that's what happened to yours. It's a very common problem. So your tranny may be bad, but before you put a new one in, you'd better check that bushing so the same thing doesn't happen to the new tranny. Ford sells a brass replacement for it, which won't go to pieces the way the plastic one did. Part number is F3SZ-7H303-B.

To answer your initial question, though, AOD became an option in 1980 and standard in 1981. So any AOD from a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis from 1980 to 1991 will work. You can use a Town Car tranny too, but you'll have to swap the tailhousing out because the TC has a slightly longer tailhousing than the CV or GM trans.

The AOD-E isn't swappable for your car. The bell housing pattern is different because it was made to fit the 4.6L V8 instead of the small block Ford.

Your best bet is to get a boneyard transmission, or, if you can afford to do so, have your current trans rebuilt.

Crown Victor · 09-16-2007, 16:00

Thanks for the info Nathan,..very very useful! I'll check green leaf and the area boneyards first and see what I can come up with. i needed a starting point. Thanks for the heads up on the TV cable too! Again thanks!

**Nathan in MN** · 09-16-2007, 17:31

You're very welcome, sir. Let us know how it turns out.