Performance Guide Chapter 1
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Alphabet Soup
The Past 35 Years of Ford Automatic Transmissions
In past 35 years Ford has produced many different rear-wheel-drive automatic
transmissions, most of which have been introduced since 1980. The following
list outlines a brief chronology of Ford Motor Company’s modern automatic
transmissions followed by descriptions of some of the more complicated
members.
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The FMX/Cruise-O-Matic three speed evolved from the 1950’s Ford-O-Matic
and was used until 1980 when the AOD was introduced.
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In 1964, the C-4 was introduced, providing a lightweight
and durable three-speed automatic which is a favorite among racers today.
The C-4 was produced until 1982, when it was replaced by the C-5.
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The C-6 appeared in 1966 as a heavy-duty unit primarily
used behind big-block engines or in large vehicles. Internally, it is much
like a scaled-up C-4. The C-6 is still used today in certain truck applications.
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The French-built C-3 was first used in 1974 in the Ford Pinto and remained
until the Merkur XR4TI was dropped in 1989.
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The Automatic Overdrive (AOD) transmission was
introduced in 1980 as Ford's first four-speed automatic overdrive transmission
(a.k.a. AOT or FIOD in some literature). Internals are loosely based on
the FMX. The AOD was finally replaced by the AOD-E/4R70W in 1994 for all
remaining applications.
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1982 brought the C-5 which was essentially a stronger C-4 with a centrifugal
torque converter lock-up clutch and an enhanced valve body for smoother
shifting. It was produced through 1986 and was completely replaced by the
AOD.
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The A4LD four speed overdrive transmission was
introduced in the 1985 Bronco II/Ranger and saw use behind many 4 and 6
cylinder engines until the 1995 model year when it was replaced by the
4R44E and 4R55E electronic transmissions. The A4LD was the first Ford transmission
to use an EEC-controlled torque converter lock-up clutch and later became
the first to use electronic shift control (via a 3-4 shift solenoid). The
French-built A4LD was created by adding overdrive to the front of the C-3
three-speed unit.
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Full-size trucks first received the huge E4OD
(Electronic 4 speed OverDrive)
transmission in 1989. Internally, it is essentially a C-6 with overdrive
added to the front (such as the A4LD is to the C-3) and an EEC controlled
valve body.
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The AOD-E transmission first appeared behind
the 4.6L modular V-8 engines in 1992. Essentially a beefed-up electronically-controlled
version of the AOD, the AOD-E also includes a new and stronger wide ratio
model (the AOD-EW or 4R70W) which was introduced
in the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII. The AOD-E (in both standard and wide ratio
versions) completely replaced the old AOD in 1994 with a new case that
mates to the 5.0L and 3.8L engines.
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For 1995, the 4R44E (4 cyl. - light-duty) and
4R55E (6 cyl. - heavy-duty; i.e. Explorer) electronically
controlled transmission replaced the A4LD. It is mechanically identical
to the A4LD.
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Later, the 5R55E was introduced behind the 4.0L
SOHC V6 as the first domestic five-speed automatic. Mechanically similar
to the 4R55E, the 5R55E uses revised controls to leverage the mechanical
capabilities of the 4R55E to deliver a fifth forward speed.
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AOD