dbird, the transmission end of the 57 Tbird cable fits the C4 and uses the same style gear. If the Falcon cable fit your 55 without drilling/using 90-degree adapter drive, I would think the 57 cable will as well. I hold off on buying adapters/drilling holes until it's time to install the cable. 

The primary reason I chose the C4 rather than the AOD/T5 is ease of installation; I hope that holds true. Admittedly, a 5.0 Fox Mustang/w T5 was more fun to drive than my 88/w AOD. However, it's been so long since I've owned a manual, I don't think I would want to go back. No doubt overdrive would be nice, but I settled for highway gears. 

Early Mustang cables will probably work.  When I put a C4 on my 55 Bird I roamed the local Pick m Pull until I found a Ford with the right cable ends and grabbed it.  Pulled it out of a first-generation Falcon and it fits pretty much perfectly with no drilling, though I did buy a new gear from a Thunderbird supplier to get the speedo to read right for gear and tires.  I pulled a couple of 70 vintage cables but they had plastic clips for the speedo end amd didn't look like a match.
Don

Paul, can you provide more  information for the aftermarket angle drive, including source, that you used for your C4 conversion? Would it have been simpler/cheaper to have drilled a hole in the frame for the 57 cable? 

Thanks 

Certain Mustang cables will also work.  Just be sure you get the transmission end that fits the gear that is held on by the clip (there are two types).  When I went to a C4 in my 56 Bird, I got an aftermarket angle drive (1-1)  to solve the clearance issue but that required me to use a cable that was the same as the speedo end at the trans end ( and is the same as the stock 55/56 cable)..


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Joe, here is contact info. for someone who has been there and done that:

John Rollison
Pro Tech Performance
Waldorf, MD
(301) 638-2109

Sorry, no email address/website

I will probably drill a hole to route the cable through the frame.  I had to lower the transmission crossmember and angle it 5* for it to mount to the transmission in a level position.  The instructions mention 5*, but it does not specify where or what those 5* are measured against.  I guess they suppose the end user should be smart enough to figure it out for themselves.  This '55 Thunderbird has been so mistreated over the years that I am just trying to get it fun to drive and not worry about originality or perfection.  Joe-JDC

JDC

By the way, another 55 Tbird owner, who did a C4 swap said that he modified the 90-degree drive adapter to accommodate the 57 cable; otherwise, he said it's necessary to drill/cut a hole in the frame to accommodate the cable. I haven't gotten that far with my conversion, but I'll go back and read his email (if I still have it), if it helps.

If it's any help, I bought the same cable for putting a C4 transmission in my 55 Tbird.

Glad you have it figured out. The one with the blue finish should fit a T5. That's a pulse generator, no?

64F100 57FAIRLANE500

After checking several sources, it looks like I need the '57 Thunderbird with automatic transmission speedometer cable. T-17260B.  The A and C suffix are for the OD transmission and look similar to the stock '55 I have.  The B cable is similar to all Mustangs with toploader transmissions, and I have ordered two, one 68" and one 76" length.  If the short one doesn't work in the Tbird, it will fit my Shelby.  win/win
Joe-JDC

JDC