Correct Flex Plate for AOD swap

Yellow351C · Monday at 8:41 PM

Hello,

Hope you guys can help.
I have a 1971 Ford Mustang Coupe, it has a 351 Cleveland.
It originally had a C6 but i swap it with a AOD.

So currently im having issues where where i tighten the torque converter bolts
to the flex plate, it pushes the torque converter in and damages the pump.
The original C6 and a different flex plate that i found both push the torque converter in.
Does anybody have the correct flex plate part number to use with the 351 Cleveland?
I tried newer flex plates from a fox body's with AOD but same issue.
Any help is highly appreciated.

Thank you all!

Fabrice · Tuesday at 6:43 AM

I've done the swap, fmx to AOD, and while the imbalance is 28oz for my case it should be the same i believe for a c6.
But one thing you say makes me think it has nothing to do with the flexplate : "it pushes the torque converter in and damages the pump." This should never happen IF the torque converter is engaged properly. For a C6 you have to push/turn the torque converter so it engages on 2 gears. Once in, if you put a ruler on each side of the trans body, the converter should be like +-1/2 inch behind that line at the pilot. You may have done so while on the ground, but it's very easy for the converter to slip back out one gear, causing what you describe. I suggest you disconnect the c6 again, re-engage the converter, turn it so it's more or less match the bolts/hole pattern on the flywheel/engine and make a ball of an old rag and squeeze it at the bottom between converter and trans body to secure it in place...

Hemikiller · Tuesday at 7:32 AM

An AOD will use the same flexplate as a 164-tooth bellhousing C4 and the FMX. The C6 has a deeper "dish" and will cause damage to the pump.

The original 164 tooth C4/FMX flexplate was C5AZ-6375-T, which was superseded to E0AZ-6375-A, which was then used in the AOD. The only caveat with the aftermarket flexplates is some come with an 11 1/2" converter bolt circle, when the OE was 11 7/16". You'll need to open up the holes a bit to clear the converter studs.

Aftermarket flexplate part numbers:
Dorman - 04352
ATP - Z105
Pioneer - FRA205

As for the converter depth, as Fabrice noted, you should measure before you assemble. Measure from the face of the converter with the studs to the bellhousing face. Then, measure from the block face to the surface of the flexplate where the studs bolt in. The converter should have around a 1/8" gap when it's installed fully, before tightening the nuts on the studs.

giantpune · Tuesday at 7:55 AM

These guys covered the depth stuff. The balance is also an issue. The one you tried from a fox body, if it was a 302 would not have been correct due to them being 50oz imbalance. If it was a 351 fox body, it should have fit. All 351s from ford were 28oz.

There were a number of cars that came with a 351 and an AOD. A lot of the online stores don't do great when searching by part number, but are designed to search by vehicle. One vehicle to use is a 1984 crown vic. It was available with a 351w and an AOD.

MOTORCITYBADBOY · Tuesday at 1:00 PM

giantpune said:
These guys covered the depth stuff. The balance is also an issue. The one you tried from a fox body, if it was a 302 would not have been correct due to them being 50oz imbalance. If it was a 351 fox body, it should have fit. All 351s from ford were 28oz.

There were a number of cars that came with a 351 and an AOD. A lot of the online stores don't do great when searching by part number, but are designed to search by vehicle. One vehicle to use is a 1984 crown vic. It was available with a 351w and an AOD.

This is good to know. So the 84 Vic 351W AOD and flex plate will work on a 351C?

Correct Flex Plate for AOD swap

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