I have worked on routing protocols for wireless networks for several years using NS-2. I did my MS and PhD degrees on routing in wireless mesh networks and implemented a number of optimizations on DSR and AODV. More details of my previous work can be shared with you if you want along with published papers in which I have worked on AODV optimization. By the way, I mainly worked on routing metrics.
From what I understand, you need to optimize the end-to-end delay performance metric of AODV for an ad hoc network. What I can do is to implement an optimization which will reduce the delay of AODV compared to the original protocol. I can carry out performance evaluation over a topology of 50 nodes, vary the network load and plot results for delay showing that the new scheme outperforms the standard AODV.
I would however like more clarification on the precise optimization that you have in mind. Can it be something simple like reducing collisions, or does it have to be something more significant. Also, what amount of delay optimization do you have in mind? 5% 10% or more ?