Ford AOD Transmission - History

History

In 1962 Ford began working on a new type of automatic transmission that would emphasize fuel economy and driveability. The new transmission was built around the Ravigneaux planetary of the "X" transmissions. Where many transmissions had a fourth gear added on as an afterthought, Ford's new transmission was designed with a fourth gear integrated into the gearset. Because it was based on the X transmissions, its gear ratios from 1-3 were the same with the fourth being .67:1. The transmission featured a split-torque application for third gear as well as a lockup in the torque converter. The XT-LOD was initially abandoned in 1966 but design began again in 1974 as a result of rising gas prices. The project was shelved with a design that lacked a dampener in the torque converter but after the project was revisited a dampener ultimately made its way into the final design. The transmission was introduced when Ford started to downsize its full size line in 1979. Initially called XT-LOD (Extension Lock-Up Overdrive) its name was changed when revisited in 1974 to FIOD (Ford Integrated Overdrive) and then to its final name in 1979, the Ford AOD transmission.

Applications:

• 1980–1986 Ford LTD
• 1980–1993 Ford Thunderbird
• 1980–1993 Mercury Cougar
• 1984–1993 Ford Mustang
• 1980–1986 Mercury Marquis
• 1980–1987 Lincoln Continental
• 1980–1983 Lincoln Mark VI
• 1983–1990 Ford Econoline
• 1983–1991 Ford LTD Crown Victoria
• 1983–1992 Mercury Grand Marquis
• 1982–1993 Ford Bronco
• 1981–1992 Lincoln Town Car
• 1980–1987 Lincoln Continental
• 1980–1983 Lincoln Mark VI
• 1984–1992 Lincoln Mark VII
• 1992 Ford Crown Victoria
• 1980–1986 Ford F-Series