AOD and torque converter questions

[PSB]

I have very little experience with autos, but I'm putting an AOD in my Cobra due to a bad left knee. I'm going to run an EFI 408W with 3.27 gears.

Here's the questions I'm trying to answer:
1) What transmission to get (Lentech, Art Carr, PA, ect)
2) What stall speed torque converter
3) Lockup or non-lockup converter

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Pete B

[COBRA9268]

Hey , the aod is an excellant way to go in a FFR or any cobra for that matter. Im running one in my car, with a supercharged 306 built to 495 hp, and very happy with it. Trans is based on a lentech and lock-up set up. The converter is a lock-up 3500 stall and 4.10 gears on an aurburn. There are many reasons for this setup so first the trans. Get a stock aod and have it gone through by a good reliable person who knows the upgrades, like the better cluthes and the bigger OD band and so on, much less expensive than a lentech complete, but you will need there valvebody (375.00) and a good converter (450.00-500.00) TCI makes an awesom converter, comp lockup 3500 (jegs). From there you can get a shifter. The reason for the lockup is that 1 and 2 are non lockup and 3,4 are lockup. The car onyl weighs 2200 lbs so it can have the best of both worlds. The lockup runs cooler and in third gear i can cruse at 3000- 3500 rpm with the converter locked up and the power band is awesom. 1 and 2 will come on like a rocket and by the time you hit third at 6000 the lockup will not affect the torque bad enough to dissapoint you. Once on the e way or good strech of road the O/D can be used at crusing speed. Im at 3000 rpm at 80 mph, at mpg. OD is not a gear that can be wide open throttle, it is a cruser only. The gear ratio can be 3.73 or 3.55 but no lower cause the converter needs some help. Lower converter lower stall, everything must go together..... Also needs a trans cooler in the nose. Good luck, ive had 3 combos in my car to get it right, please dont make the same mistakes i have, very costly, and remember, 2200 lbs dosent put much strain on a trans.........

[blykins]

Hey Pete,

Like Cobra9268 stated, I would just go with a rebuilt AOD from a Mustang or from a 3/4-1 ton truck. It should be able to hold the torque of that small block. One thing I would advise is that if you're planning to do a lot of street driving, don't use a too-high stall torque converter. You'll hate yourself for it. That 408 will make lots of torque down low anyway, so there's no use in revving the piss out of it just to get moving. A 1000-1200 rpm stall would be fine. And yes, locking converters would be better...more efficient...less loss of power.