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  •  » AOD in my 66 V8 goes through the gears very quick!

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    7/02/2026 3:51 AM  #1

    gkm24
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    From: Winchester, Hampshire, England
    Registered: 6/08/2013
    Posts: 126

    AOD in my 66 V8 goes through the gears very quick!

    I am finding that my 66 with 302 and Aod goes through the gears very fast and there is no kickdown. The overdrive does work when selected. I originally adjusted the TV pressure to 32psi and have since adjusted to 38psi but it made little difference. I have checked the cable and it is getting full travel at full throttle. 
    Two things im wondering... The trans was rebuilt and was in dry storage for 6 years before being fitted and also my rear drive is standard 8" for a 66 289 Auto. Would these be a contributing factor?
    Any advice greatly appreciated, Thank You.

    Bullet Bob equipped car,
     

    7/02/2026 5:26 AM  #2

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 8,004

    Re: AOD in my 66 V8 goes through the gears very quick!

    IME with transmissions of all makes and models, and despite a lot of bad advice you will get from people in person & online, adjust the TV cable to factory specifications and leave it alone.  I've yet to see monkeying with the TV cable that was properly adjusted fix anything with a transmission.  I have seen improperly adjusted ones turn a trans into junk though.

    When it goes through the gears, is it hitting the RPM desired before each shift (i.e. 6,000RPM, etc.)?  If not the issue is probably the governor is set for that original application of the trans and needs to be recalibrated.  The engine, vehicle weight, etc. can all factor in to how the governor needs to be set up to shift at a certain RPM, and typically its going to take some trial and error.  

    The rear end ratio shouldn't matter, except that if the gears are numerically high (i.e. 4.10:1) engine RPM will rise faster relative to road speed than with numerically lower gears (i.e. 2.70:1).  

    If the trans is shifting at the correct RPM under WOT then everything is as it should be.  You could still have bad part throttle shifts, but to change those you typically have to make changes to/in the valve body.  

     

    7/02/2026 3:34 PM  #3

    rpm
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    From: Bakersfield, Ca
    Registered: 9/17/2013
    Posts: 3,955

    Re: AOD in my 66 V8 goes through the gears very quick!

    AODs are famous for quick shifts, and what brought about the AOD shuffle.

    The "AOD shuffle" is a manual shifting technique for the Ford AOD (Automatic Overdrive) transmission. Drivers use it to hold the transmission in second gear at higher RPMs by shifting from 1, up to D, and immediately back to 1. This stops the transmission from upshifting to third too quickly.

    Bob. 21.5 freeway MPG 69 Mach 1, 5.0 GT40P heads, SMOD Toploader, Armstrong  steering, factory AC
     

    7/02/2026 4:01 PM  #4

    6sally6
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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 7,022

    Re: AOD in my 66 V8 goes through the gears very quick!

    MOST AODs (I tink) are designed for "mileage" more so than 'scoot'. Playing with the governor
    (guv-nuh if you live down south) !  I suffer with an old OD tranny in my S-10 partz chaser. I get shifts into second gear around 10-12 mph !!(2nd to 3rd isn't much better. The whole design idea is to get you into top gear and OD as quickly as possible.
    I'm into convertor lock-up and OD by 40 mph.... Since the old truck has over 250,000 miles on the engine and I use it for my main around-town stuff...I chose to leave well enough alone.
    I did install a shift kit and a Corvette servo and some beefier parts when the tranny took-a-dump several years ago.
    'Let-sleeping-dawgz-lie'........ is my thinking (for now).

    6sal6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    7/03/2026 4:56 AM  #5

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 8,004

    Re: AOD in my 66 V8 goes through the gears very quick!

    6sally6 wrote:

    MOST AODs (I tink) are designed for "mileage" more so than 'scoot'. Playing with the governor
    (guv-nuh if you live down south) ! I suffer with an old OD tranny in my S-10 partz chaser. I get shifts into second gear around 10-12 mph !!(2nd to 3rd isn't much better. The whole design idea is to get you into top gear and OD as quickly as possible.
    I'm into convertor lock-up and OD by 40 mph.... Since the old truck has over 250,000 miles on the engine and I use it for my main around-town stuff...I chose to leave well enough alone.
    I did install a shift kit and a Corvette servo and some beefier parts when the tranny took-a-dump several years ago.
    'Let-sleeping-dawgz-lie'........ is my thinking (for now).

    6sal6

    I'm guessing its got a 700R4 in it.  They have a big gear ratio drop between 1st and 2nd.  I had to play with the governor when I went from the 305 to the 350 in my Blazer to get it to shift at 5,500RPM.  I never did mess with it when I went from the 350 to the 383.  The way I have it set up I can just hold it in gear manually wit the shifter if needed.  My oldest wants the truck, so I will probably leave it alone.  A 16 year old boy with 500HP probably isn't a great idea.  If it shifts 1,000RPM before it should it probably cuts it down to 400.  Maybe I'll swap engines for the dog 350 from my IROC...

    Thanks for making me think about this stuff!
     

     

     

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