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By tail waggon - 13 Years Ago
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Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have a 1959 ford country sedan that belonged to a friend of mine that passed away. The body is in ok shape and the drive line seems to work fine for a car that had been sitting for almost 9 years. Everything appears to be original. I drove it around quite a bit this summer and it did everything it was supposed to do. Except for a cracked manifold, brakes, and other little tlc, i would feel confident driving it far distances if it were not for the 2 speed automatic trans. At highway speeds the rpm's are high and I would like something with another gear (or two). I tossed around the idea of a complete swap of drive lines, but everything I have read on the forum says to keep the y block. So I looked into a couple of transmission adapters through some companies like Bendtsens, but they all seem pretty expensive, especially considering I don't have a c4 or an aod laying around. I have been a gm guy my whole life and have several gm 700r4's and 2004r's to choose from but don't know about clearance issues. I don't plan on ever getting rid of this car due to its sentimental value, and don't mind doing it correctly the first time, I just need some direction from someone with little more experience than me. The other thing is I plan on doing is towing a small 1954 Aljoa camper that came with the car(really cool). I drove the wagon with the camper a short distance and I feel like it has the power to do the job, but I also want a transmission that is up to the task. I believe the rear end is a 9inch. So after a long winded intro here are my questions:
1. Is an aod necessary? If so what am I up against regarding bell housing clearance, drive shaft length, etc?
2. Is the c4 enough to cruise at highway speeds, and occasionally tow a small camper. How strong is a stock c4, without doing a rebuild?
3. Do any three or four speed automatics bolt up to a y block bell housing? I have searched and found none. I am some what mechanical but I am not a machinist or a welder, so bolt on would be preferred.
Thanks!
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By The Master Cylinder - 13 Years Ago
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You have many choices of "modern" automatics, C-4 Flat-o, AOD Benstsen's, TH-350, 700r4 Wilcap and others.
None bolt to the Y-Block without a adapter. Or you could use A Ford FMX that will work with a Y-Block bell housing and swapping of parts.
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By Pete 55Tbird - 13 Years Ago
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Hello, You asked about a transmission swap for your wagon. Although the 2 speed FOM is less than ideal it does have the same FINAL DRIVE RATIO as every other 3 speed out there; One to ONE. That means engine RPM is equal to the drive shaft RPM ( less some torque converter slippage ). If you want a lower engine RPM on the highway you can change the rear axle ratio or look for an overdrive aotomatic transmission. Both are doable but not cheap or easy. Consider leaving it as is. Pete
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By Jeff - 13 Years Ago
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If the '59 wagon is like the '57 wagon the highest rear end ratio that was available was a 3.56. Lower ratios were also available. So Pete's response was spot on. I found a 3.10 pumpkin (early 9 inch ratio, large pinion seal) and made the swap. The engine settled down and it still has adequate power to get moving. Your caveat is that you plan on doing some towing so I can't say if I would make the gear change. If the transmission is a Fordomatic then it is actually a 3 speed transmission, but when in drive it starts out in 2nd gear the then shifts to high gear, giving the impression that it is only two speeds. There is a process that you can go through with the shifter lever to make it shift through all three gears.
Jeff
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By miker - 13 Years Ago
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Well, this isn't going to make me popular here, but if you've got a 200r4, and the Wilcap adaptor is affordable, and you're comfortable setting up the tv cable and shift points in a non stock application ( big iffs), I've really liked the 200r4's I've had. There's still the crossmember mount to deal with. They're pretty compact, I've used them to replace power glides, mostly. I think they came with different ratios, and mine have not had the low first, or the tall overdrive. There are various comments here on the adapters to Ford tranny's , try the search function.
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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I have a bendsens adapter with an AOD in my bird. I also now have a new 9" rear end with a 3.50 gear and trac lok.
If I were in your shoes and had to do all over what I know now. I would still do it the same.
I don't believe a C4 is a very good option for the money effort and time. As Miker say the 700r4 is a good option as well.
With an auto swap I find it is very difficult to do things safely on the cheap. You might find a decent FREE AOD or another BUT you still won't feel good till its properly and competently rebuilt. An AOD vs a C4 or C6 provides the extra gear BUT you said you would be towing SO in that case I don't believe you should be towing with the OD gear due to braking. But I'm no expert on that.
It's hard to spend the big dough up front BUT there are several transmission builders that sell complete ready to go trans of the Computerized AOD variety that I would recommend.
You might also consider keeping the trans you have an adding a gear vendors setup. None of these options are very cheap or easy if you're not handy with this stuff.
trans 1200-2200+adapter 700-900. And that does not include all the incidentals.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 13 Years Ago
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Jeff: A '59 with a 292 very likely did have a 2 speed, all aluminum case FOM. But as has been discussed above, all but OD transmissions are 1:1 in high gear.
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By LordMrFord - 13 Years Ago
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I have Bendsen's adapter and AOD in 59 Sedan.
Clearance is not a problem, you can adjust it with your selfmade crossmember, because the original one don't fit.
I have also a longer driveshaft from '63 Fairlane automatic. I dont know about AOD lenghts, but that fits to my setup.
A lousy pic from my crossmember, 4cm x 6cm square tube with original handbrake stuff and transmission mount.
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By PF Arcand - 13 Years Ago
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As Hurricane John points out, it's likely that your FOM is the later 2 spd only model. Earlier units are actually 3 spd. So, since you have a wagon, it's likely that the rear end ratio is quite low, at least 3.56. Best check it out. If the trailer is quite light(?) you may be able to gear it up, to say the sedan's 3.2 or so, but don't plan on filling the back of the wagon full at the same time.. Then if the engines good, there are some things that wouldn't be to expensive that could be done to improve performance.. just ask here
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By LordMrFord - 13 Years Ago
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What about 3-speed Iron case Cruise-O-Matic (MX?).
That was under my car earlier and it was quite good Transmission. A little bit odd kickdown, but maybe that was not mentioned to be thatlike from the factory. Kickdown worked only on first gear. 3->1 or 2->1.
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By SkylinerRon - 13 Years Ago
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First you need to do 3 things; 1) Find which trans you have, is it all aluminum (2sp) or iron front case/alum tailhousing?(3sp) 2) Find the axle ratio, it may still have the ratio tag on a centersection bolt or jack up one side and count the rotations. (it's probably a 3.56) 3) Find rear tire size, measure the diameter or curcumference. (you can get a 10% overdrive by putting 3" taller tires on rear to equal a 3.20) I'd borrow some tall tires first to see if you are happy w/the change in rpm's. Changing the trans to anything non stock is the most expensive and LEAST desirable way to fix this problem! (unless your switching the aluminum 2sp for the iron 3sp. Thats just a bolt-in.) Let us know what you find out. p/s fixing the exhaust may make it feel like less rpm's also....... Regards, Ron.
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By junkyardjeff - 13 Years Ago
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The easiest trans swap would be a FMX and with it being a 3 speed you could bring the ratio down some.
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By SkylinerRon - 13 Years Ago
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Are you saying he should switch to an FMX and to a 3.00 rear gear? I'm waiting for his reply first. Ron.
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By junkyardjeff - 13 Years Ago
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Yes.
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By 312T85Bird - 13 Years Ago
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A couple of questions come up 1. is it a Ford-o-matic or a Cruise-o-matic? Two how many times does it shift? A Ford-0 will shift once (Even though it is a three speed it only uses two-1st & 3rd unless you shift manually) the Cruise-o will shift twice by it self and if it is a cruise-o it may not becoming out of second gear. Also someone may have put a lower gear in the rear end somewhere along the line or ordered the optional lower 3:31's or even 3:56's from the factory. You may only need to change the rear ratio to a 3:00 or 2:91 which came behind most Y's in '59 with auto trans.
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