4R70W transmission swap

[BubbaZanetti]

Good Evening all, has anyone in the community swapped out their original transmission for a modern upgrade like the 4R70W? We are considering this as an alternative to the Gear Vendors C6 overdrive. Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Good Evening all, has anyone in the community swapped out their original transmission for a modern upgrade like the 4R70W? We are considering this as an alternative to the Gear Vendors C6 overdrive. Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Hello Bubba,
I haven't done the swap, but have been considering either a 5 speed manual or AOD swap. But I've been talking to a transmission rebuilder and he says he doesn't even want to mess with AODs anymore. Not strong enough (we weren't even talking high hp/tq) and not a real 4th overdrive. He said the 4rw70 is a much better choice even though you need a controller.
And say hello to Johnny the Boy...

 

[AcesArneson]

I am in the middle of a rebuild with the 4R70w swap. I decided on the swap because I have been on a mission to go EFI on my Cleveland. Something I have always wanted to and the stars lined up for me. I find driving modern fuel injected cars such a pleasure and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
I am using an EEC-V controller from a 2004 crown Vic to run the SEFI with coil on plugs. Crown Vic’s also have 4R70W transmissions so it’s the perfect way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. You have to be careful in selecting your tranny though. There were only a couple years where the Crown Vic had the right bellhousing pattern to fit a SBF. Your best bet, according to Joe Persad, the resident expert on the swap, is to find a 4R70W from a 2003 Mustang V6. He can fill you in on many of the particulars but the Essex Bellhouse pattern is the main one. I followed his advice and even found one with the option to run your old speedo cable for your speed gauge. The 4R is a tad bit longer than my old FMX was but Joe has an answer for that too. He builds and sells a cross-member tranny mount with a shifter rod so you can use your old shifter.
Other than that you can use a newer 4R and get a bellhousing adapter kit but last I looked it’s at least $1K extra. If you aren’t interested in Ford ECUs to run EFI and/or your transmission your can buy a simple tranny shift controller that will do it all for you.
Congratulations on peering into the rabbit hole. I been down here for a couple years working on my rebuild and the 4R is one of the cornerstones.

 

[Hemikiller]

Some good info in this thread

https://7173mustangs.com/threads/4r70w-current-day-swap-info.34967/

Joe is @InjectedMach

 

[InjectedMach]

Some good info in this thread

https://7173mustangs.com/threads/4r70w-current-day-swap-info.34967/

Joe is @InjectedMach

Thank you for your kind words sir!

 

[raydav]

My 65 convert has an AODE - the close ratio version of the 4R70W. It is behind a well built roller cam, rail injection, 427W.

The trans, at my door, was about $1500. The triple disk converter was another $800 - kinda rare.

The trans has a Baumman controller. That gets me four, switchable on-the-fly profiles - town/freeway, sensible/drag, flat land/mountain,,.

I am going to try to stuff an E4OD in my 73. Behind a 532.

 

[EdM]

Hello Bubba,
I haven't done the swap, but have been considering either a 5 speed manual or AOD swap. But I've been talking to a transmission rebuilder and he says he doesn't even want to mess with AODs anymore. Not strong enough (we weren't even talking high hp/tq) and not a real 4th overdrive. He said the 4rw70 is a much better choice even though you need a controller.
And say hello to Johnny the Boy...

I just completed an AOD install on my car (73) built locally by a guy that asked HP/TQ numbers as he builds them to 1000 HP. My 427 Windsor makes 470HP and 560 ft-lbs of torque. Lentech makes a valve body that eliminates the 3-4 shift making a true 1-2-3-OD transmission. I have been driving it some, weather dependant, and it is a joy. I was out with it today. It replaced my Tremec 5 speed.