C-O-M into a '56 Fairlane w/F-O-M


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By kcblueoval - 16 Years Ago
I haven't posted on the forum before but have read a lot of postings and have learned a lot. I know you guys can help me out. I have done some reading about the F-O-M & C-O-M trannys and know there are several similarities. I just bought a complete '61 (full size car) 292 w/C-O-M (green-dot) but haven't taken delivery yet. The engine/tranny is still together and was running as a unit two weeks ago. My '56 Ford HT Fairlane has a water cooled F-O-M. I wanted to update to the C-O-M so I could have a 3-spd that would start in low without holding it in low to start. I'm staying with the 292 YY-Blockand want to know about the linkage and selector indicator. I know the selector indicator will show P-R-N-D-L and I was hoping there might be a later model (58-64) C-O-M selector indicator that might fit my dash panel. (part number, suggestions?) Will the selector indicator really matter if I learn where to put the shift lever to engage the "green dot" location? The indicator is just that, the tranny detent is what holds the indicator in position. Plus am I going to need to change/adjust/bend my shift linkage to make it work correctly? Will I need the C-O-M tail shaft yoke? Also, will I need to change the length of my drive shaft? Will the rear tranny mount work or do I need to change it? If I need to change it is there a rear tranny mount available or will I need to fabricate one new one? I hope my radiator will work with the C-O-M. Will I need to make any changes to the cooling lines? Will the radiator tranny cooler be enough or will I need to add an external cooler? I want to change the '61 2-bbl manifold to the 4-bbl (B manifold )I have in my car now. Can I use my existing bell crank and linkage? Will my '56 SSpeedocable work/reach? What about the SSpeedodrive gear? I don't know if this swap has been covered on this forum before. If so, let me know how to find it.

I hope I have covered all the bases. If there is anything I have forgotten, please help me out. I'm sorry I have so many questions but I want to do this right. My thought in making the swap is that I will have a better tranny and my current 292 has issues. Plus the '61 292 has a PCV setup. I am planning to slide this in as a one piece motor/tranny unit. What parts should I request from the seller? The seller is replacing the Y-Y-Block/C-O-M in his '61 Sunliner with a 429 w/C-6 from a T-TbirdThanks,

Larry
By aussiebill - 16 Years Ago
Hi, all i can tell you as i remember is when i blew my FOM and had to be on road quickly, i grabbed Cruiso from 62/63 galaxie, just bolted it in and kept going, you are right , just remember where the gears are when you select drive etc. i dont know about the speedo cable gear match up. Regards bill.
By MoonShadow - 16 Years Ago
My 56 had a Cruizo in it. Replaced it with a good FordO no problems. Direct bolt up. The FordO was a 57 so I had to change to the later type speedo cable and gear. Chuck in NH
By kcblueoval - 16 Years Ago
Are you saying that the C-O-M is a direct replacement in the '56 and that everything will bolt up like the '56's F-O-M. I won't have to do anything but unbolt one combo and bolt up the newer '61? That's too good to be true. I hope you are right.

Thanks,

Larry
By MoonShadow - 16 Years Ago
Only thing I had noticed was one trans had a vacum modulator and the other one didn't. Other than the later speedo cable and gear that was it. Of course the CruiseO cam out from behind a Y-Block. Chuck in NH
By Pete 55Tbird - 16 Years Ago
Hello Larry;

        When you go to get the parts from the donner car I recommend you get EVERYTHING the guy will let you take from the rear axle forward to the radiator. It should have the aluminum bell housing for instance. Take all the mounts, linkages, fasteners, nuts and bolts and before you do try to get as many digital pixs as possible to show how it all was fitted together. Anything you end up not using can be thrown away but that one part you did not take will be either EXPENSIVE to buy or made of UNOBTANIUM. Let us know how it turns out, Pete

By Brodie - 16 Years Ago
Larry:

I am planning the exact same swap on my '55, however using a 1960 COM with the later '61/'62 aluminum bellhousing. The '60 COM still relies on mechanical linkage to regulate the internal line pressure. If you are only replacing the tranny, you will need to swap everything from the flexplate back. I belive there is only about 9/32" overall length difference between the FOM and COM (medium case). You will need the tailshaft yoke, but the mount, driveshaft and crossmenber should be fine as will your cooling lines and radiator cooler. Your '61 tranny should have a vacuum modulater that controls the shift pressure chores so this should simplify your bellcrank/linkage problems as you only have to contend with the kickdown function. Your existing 4bbl linkage should work fine. I'm not sure you'll find a COM indicator lens that will fit and function on your '56. The tranny detents as you surmise will determine where the column lever is, however you may not have enough travel on the '56 column to reach "L" on the COM (I'm using an Ididit shifter column). Usually this isn't a big deal.

Let us know how the swap progresses.