Cruise o matic swap

I like the AOD from the several cars I've had with them(7), but the 4R70W is a significant upgrade above an AOD. The 4R70W requires a controller that runs about $700 from Quick 4. But after that, everything is better. The AOD requires a special TV cable, unlike a kick down cable, it has to have a range of adjustment that provides a critical pressure which is fed internally to the line pressure. If that cable isn't properly set up and adjusted, the transmission will die fast.

The 1998+ 4R70W are newer than AOD's, more common now, less wore out, and much stronger throughout. The AOD needs internal upgrades to be more reliable behind anything but a low powered engine. Those upgrades all come from the 4R70W's, which are fairly easy to come by on eBay. You should be able to find a decent 4R70W from a 2001-2004 Mustang V6, or a 98-01 Explorer V8, or a few similar year 4.2 trucks. They just have to have a two bolt starter, all of those will bolt to a SBF. With a decent rebuild if the mileage is not low, plus a fairly easy to do Jerry's Mod(Ford engineer who designed the 4R), they can handle about 500hp without much trouble.

The 4R controller is the big rub, I don't like the idea of having to spend $700 to operate the trans. But it's simpler than swapping an entire Explorer 302 PCM and the wiring, plus engine control, injectors etc.

I'd suggest carefully looking at the budget for the trans. If the budget is $3k, maybe the 4R might be feasible with the luck of a local builder who can bench build it for much less. Then the controller isn't as big of a factor. I've seen those controllers sell 2nd hand on the Mustang forum for $400, but not in a couple of years(not that I need one).

in Minnesota / western Wisconsin? 

Going down that path soon as I don’t want to reinvent the wheel as is being described in this post by swapping from my factory FMX to something else !

The C4 has aftermarket/performance parts support. Not so muck for the FMX.

On the other hand, the FMX is the basis for the AOD/4R70 family, so somebody thought it was a good transmission.

But Rock is right, nothing interchanges between the two, including linkages, yokes, driveshafts, flexplates... A lot of work to change, and a lot of work just chasing the parts.