Automatic Transmission

[Lynn B]

I found a Great Source for vintage Automatic Transmission parts. Fatsco has the parts I needed for my Cruis-O-Matic, and I thought they were very reasonable on there prices. All I had to tell them was, if the center case was a small medium ar large, and they got that information from the ID tag. They also said they could Identify it by having me measure the length of the case. I believe they handle Transmission parts for all makes and models.

[ratfink]

Has anyone considered a manual four speed, like a toploader?, or C6?, I would really prefer a manual, although I hope to appeal to the purist as I have rescued my car from parts yards all over the states, some items I wont be able to locate or find so I wil have to have alternative options such as a slightly modified, clean rod look with a bit of get up and go. Thanks

[59fairlane]

My '59 car was also rescued, & when I was having the engine & transmission rebuilt, I was informed that the transmission was junk. I was told that a C6 would bolt right on. Guess what? It does & so far so good. As I'm still completing the restoration, I won't know of any real problems until next spring/summer when it will get it's real test.

[skeehorse]

Lynn Thanks for the source here is another one, with some good online info that might be of help. Jim
http://www.charlietranny.com/Fordomatic.htm

[Gizmoe1164]

Hey guys/gals. What's the difference btwn a C6 and a Cruis-a-Matic anyway?

Gary

[WILLS RESTORATIONS]

A cruise-o-matic is a variation on the old f/m3, but has a valve body to allow the car to automatically start out in 1st gear. The trans housing is cast iron with a removable cast iron bell housing (converter cover). The shift points are controlled by a throttle pressure regulator. That is why the adjustable linckages at the bellcrank. This transmission was later adapted to use a vacuum modulator to control shift points and was used thru 1977. A c6 is a completely different animal. The c6 is and all aluminum housing with the bell housing cast as part of the housing (non removable). Due to the non removeable housing, there are various cases that were used to bolt up to different engine series. (fe, small block, 429/460, navistar diesel, etc.) the c6 is a very heavy duty transmission and was usually used in heavy vehicles such as full size or high-performance cars and wagons, trucks and vans up thru 1-ton. The c6 was produced from 1966 thru 1991. Carbureators on c6 vehicles have the extra lever to attach the kickdown rod. Hope this helps.
Bill

[Art]

I bought my 58 in 1999. After a few months, the transmission started to slip. I took it in to be rebuilt, and found out the bell housing and tailshaft were the original Cruise-o-matic, but the gearbox was a FMX. It looked like the combination should work, so I had it rebuilt. About 6 months later it was slipping again. The pump would rub, causing a small internal leak, causing a drop in pressure, causing the slipping. I decided to replace it with a C6. It fit right in. The only mods were to elongate the mount holes in the crossmember about a half inch, and fabricate a longer kickdown rod. I've got around 25000 miles on it now with no problems.

Art

[skeehorse]

Art
Thanks for the C6 info did you have to change the flex plate , drive shaft length or the yoke?
Jim

[Art]

I forgot about the flexplate and starter. It's been a while since I did this, but as I remember, the C6 is lacking the bulge in it's attached bellhousing that the Cruise-o-matic has in its separate one. The bulge is for the starter gear to sit in, as the Cruise-o-matic uses a starter that pulls the gear into the flywheel. You need to use a newer one that pushes the gear in. This necessitates changing the flexplate to one that has the welds that hold on the ring gear on the opposite side. It also might have a different profile stamped into it. The tongue convertor is also different. I didn't change the driveshaft or yoke.

[skeehorse]

Art
Thanks for sharing this information it will help others.I think the c6 is a very good option it would be a upgrade for the person that drives there car a lot I know they are very durable.
Jim

[WILLS RESTORATIONS]

Art,
i fully agree also. I have had many c6's in trucks/tow vehicles. With very little maintainance they are very durable.
Bill

[Gizmoe1164]

Many years ago, long before I got my Skyliner, I had a 59 Galaxie 2dr HT. The transmission died while the Wife and I lived in San Diego. Took it to the local AAMCO place and got their rebuild with a lifetime warranty that at the time cost about $400, a lot of $$ for me at the time. Glad I did too, because about 5 years later it died again while we lived in Overland Park, KS. Took it to the local AAMCO joint and they made it like new again. One thing I remember about this Cruis-a-Matic transmission was that it had a vacuum line connected to it, whereas, my current Skyliner's Cruise-a-Matic does not. Last year I took my Skyliner to a local transmission shop here on Oahu and got it rebuild as well for about $1200, still a lot of $$ if you ask me, but I'm pleased with the work just the same. Since I have the only operational Skyliner on Oahu, I guess that makes me the President and only member of the local Skyliner Chapter. Heheheheh. When the tunnel between Honolulu and the West Coast is completed, I might even make it to a future Skyliner Convention, If I live long enough! Back in 2007 I shipped the car to Long Beach, then drove it on i 40/Route 66 to Jerry Millers where Jerry and his crew put in a new/rebuilt 352 engine painted to look like a 332, (because according to the data plate, this car is supposed to have a 332. The 352 with 4bbl carb gets up and moves along nicely. Anyway, my Skyliner is not stock anyway. Lots of upgrades along the way, such as Pwr Front Disc Brakes, after market aux elec fan mounted in front of the radiator that operates on a thermostat, a Billet coolant recovery tank (these two items help keeping it from boiling over in the 4th of July Parade, since these cruisers were never meant to travel at 1-2 MPH with frequent stops over the course of 3-4 miles or 1.5 hours in duration), after market AM/FM radio with cassette player and IPod hook up and dual cont stereo speaker to replace the old speaker (this I like). Coker wide white wall tires mounted on Coker Chrome 14 inch rims adorned with Spyder hub caps (my orig hub caps won't grip on the chrome rims) These tires and rims look so nice, I often drive it without the SS fender skirts on in order to show them off better. Oh and by the way the top works perfectly, thanks to Wayne & Judy Rollins, who I convinced to fly to Hawaii a couple years ago to tweak it, $$ well spent I can tell you. Makes me wonder if Wayne is a doppleganger for Ben Smith. Hehehe. Well, today is Sunday Feb 15, 80 degrees sunshine so I think I'll take the Wife for a cruise up to the North Shore. It's a beautiful drive!!

[goob]

Great! Just Great! 80 degrees, an island paradise, drive your car whenever... Here I sit inside, both Skyliners scratching at the overhead door trying to get out... They don't realize its below zero out there and the snow is up to my armpits! Great, just great!

Gary, in "sunny" Syracuse,NY, great.

[silverbird58]

on the new 6 speed corvette you will never use , 6th gear , and not legally 5th either , from this point the borg warner 3 sp OD shines well . OD at the touch of a Toe and forced down shift that is a blast ! with T-85 yack shack !

[silverbird58]

add the coae 6090-D heads or better still the new elerbrock Alloy heads . for more thermal effieincy