By Fiona Vernon
In the past 100 years, technology has transcended any imaginable science fiction ideas that may have existed in the minds of men. Every modern product had to start somewhere before being improved upon in a consistent manner in order to sustain itself in the marketplace. Based on the C4, C5, and light duty applications of the FMX, the Ford AOD (automatic overdrive) came into existence to use less fuel while offering durability. Its beginning years were a little rough, but with the modifications that Gearstar Performance Transmissions can perform on this custom-built Ford high-performance automatic transmission, motorheads will find the utmost of power. Anyone from Detroit, Michigan, to Kannapolis, North Carolina, looking for the perfect complement to the power of their ‘34 Ford street rod with a 351W engine putting out 500 horsepower can trust the expert technicians at this hot rod transmission company. Not only does Gearstar custom build each Ford performance transmission for each vehicle’s exact modifications from Chicago, Illinois, to Akron, Ohio, but also for GM and Mopar with one skilled technician that follows it through to perfection.
The AOD transmission was first available in the 80s with a lock-up overdrive feature; however, it wasn’t meant to be a Ford performance transmission, as was demonstrated with its use in everything from vans to town cars. Gearstar Performance Transmissions can custom build any AOD into a high performance automatic transmission with improvements from its original stock form, which had its share of problems. AOD main cases are essentially the same, but this hot rod transmission company can revise the gear-train, valve body parts, and additional components to remedy the original teething problems in the early AOD models. With the right parts, the AOD can take up to 900 horsepower using aftermarket parts. Anyone from Chicago to Kannapolis can rely on Gearstar to take any Ford AOD and turn it into a performance workhorse.
Gearstar Performance Transmissions’ AODs aren’t just top-of-the-line, they are custom built transmissions that are assembled with genuine care, showing how much this hot rod transmission company loves what they do. Over the years, Ford improved on their model by replacing the build for their overdrive units, improving the transmission’s longevity. They accomplished this with partial redesigns with a wider reverse drum and overdrive band to increase friction and hold power —leading to the release of its successors, the 4R7XX and AODE. Anyone from Akron to Detroit can choose from one of Gearstar’s three separate AOD builds, each one fine-tuned to bring it into the modern era of performance expectations. Whether it’s a Ford, GM, or Mopar performance transmission for which someone is searching, one of Gearstar’s five master technicians are assigned to each project from start to completion. They follow it through with the passion that they would put into their own rides, rigorously DYNO testing each one the equivalent of 100 miles to ensure their perfect functioning. They also come with an over 20,000 GVW cooler and a vast array of customizations to accommodate high performance driving.
One of the greatest parts of living through such rapid technological advancements is the ability to transform products. Any gearhead from Akron, Ohio, to Kannapolis, North Carolina, will find this to be true when they have a ’69 Mach 1 with a 351 Cleveland engine and find that they need a Ford AOD high performance automatic transmission to handle the powerful output. The quality and passion that the experts at Gearstar Performance Transmissions put into each GM, Ford, and Mopar performance transmission shows in the reputation that has developed around its name. This hot rod transmission company’s extensive DYNO testing and variety of custom builds will impress even the most demanding of car enthusiasts. Anyone from Detroit, Michigan, to Chicago, Illinois, can take advantage of the decades of experience offered at Gearstar Performance Transmissions with each custom-built transmission adapted to the exact specifications of the engines, horsepower and torque output, rear gear ratio, and the application to which it will serve.
Gearstar Performance Transmissions
132 N. Howard St.
Akron, Ohio 44308
330.434.5216
gearstar.com/
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