Actually, the owner of the adaptor idea is David Mc Nair (
Econoline-64). I didn't take a patent or design mark on the idea when I had it in 2001.
I am running a 1991 US AOD gearbox behind this engine. Had an adapter plate and a crank adapter machined to allow me to mate the Aussie block and the US V8 bellhousing. Pretty neat set up. Pictures available upon request. I had my machinist friend make a blue print of the adapter plate and crank adapter so that they can be replicated in case anyone else was interested in purchasing one.
I trust this man, he's a really dedicated person.
I modelled mine of the Ford C4 to Sidevlave 221/239 conversion plate used in the 164 teeth item from 351W/351C Fords, and its very easy to build.
Against my better judgement, I took a few dollars from David Mc Nair way back in 2004. He is a perfect gentleman and was very patient, but I was unable to deliver him the goods in a reasonable time frame due to homelife, work commitments, and the need to float my own business ventures. So toghether, he and I reversed the cheque, and I 've kept away form semi-commerical stuff ever since. I'm sworn off any other adaptors untill I've finished my own Cortina project.
David has built one over in the States for his X-flow powered truck. He's familiar with the bolting requirements and the very minor die grinding of the rightside flange required to fit the low mount V8 starter motor to the AOD or AOD-E.
I've built three adaptors, but won't be selling them commerically because I want the adaptor to link to another product I've been working on. Nothing I build ever gets sold unless I've test run it before hand, and I certainly don't mind anyone else having a go.
If its AOD or Chevy/Buick/Olds/Caddilac THM, it makes no difference to the nature of the adaptor. Each low mount V8 style gearbox requires minor flange grinding to fit high mount blocks, because the starter and mounting type is different and varies a little. There is little difference in transmission weight and size, the AOD is no heavier than the THM 400 or 700, and is heaps and heaps stronger modified than any GM box with four speeds, and also much better than those GM ones with two or three.
It's dead simple to do the design in AutoCAD and have a profile cutter spit them out like a susagages for a machine, so talk to David, and get one from him.
I've back in 2004, I did some networking with Marks, Castlemain, Steve Buchart, but the adaptor business in Australia is fickle and missing the fire it had in the 80's. Steve Buchart, a leading bad ass auto trans builder of note, recons he'd never make an adaptor for an automatic, so I bow to superior wisdom or small mindedness.
It's a simple job, but you have to be tenacious to work through specialist machinsts who need you to have actually built one so they can understand how simple it is.
