Heres a little update for those interested. Couple pics of the frame with the center section bolted back in. Also a couple of pics of the best kind of help you can ask for. He's only six years old be sure like to work on the Thunderbird.

     Here are some pictures next to my 56 fordomatic.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0359.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0360.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0361.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0363.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0367.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0368.jpg

Check with the tech people by phone at www.transmissioncenter.net I don't think any cutting is involved.The website has a good picture of the AOD to Y-block kit.

       I have my 56 car fordomatic under a work bench.If you guys want me to I will drag it out and get some pictures of it with the overdrives also.

       It,s out of a 56 town sedan with 292.Is the Bird Fordomatic the same?

This is about the automatic transmission removal from a 55/57 Tbird. In an Earlybird newsletter from the early 1980`s several members had successfully pulled a FOM WITHOUT pulling the engine. I didn`t follow all the details at the time but if you had access to a lift and a transmission jack I do believe that it is possible. And the price of a lift has come down a lot. Just another random thought. When it stops raining I will measure a  medium case 56 FOM vs a 89 AOD. Pete

Even tho the trans might be a little shorter-the area around the mount of it -that is the pan and houseing has to essentially sit up above the x member-all other stuff hangs down in the area of the x member openig-so I still think it will take cutting the x to clear. Also you have to realize that the tunnel has to clear all of this as well. Believe me it's tight. If you have the luxury of the body off and a bare trans and block to mock up with you could resolve all of it. Anything custom takes some work.

I also used the stock shifter and it looks perfect, just has more gears!

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

I just got back from the tranny shop this morning with my bird.

I asked the guy what he thought about all I had done and he was impressed. But,

He said if it were him he would have used a gm (course he's a scrub guy) because he like the smoother 3-4 shift and they can be built tougher, easier.

He said mine would be great and be built tougher but at a higher cost of course.



Not so good news is the AOD governor is not operating properly and has to warm up to shift properly.

After 180 degrees and about 5 miles it operates OK.

Worse news is to fix it the tranny has to come out (by me) cause I installed it AND the engine of course as has been discussed here. cheap little part and quick fix-just can't drop the tailshaft on my setUp.

Good news is he'll fiix it for free. I just have to pull it and re-Install again, yuk.

He installed some better trans fluid/cleaner that he said might cure it if I drive it awhile, it may work itself out.

I've got my fingers crossed.

I plan to drive it about 600 miles next weekend.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

The 2004r is shorter and also the transmission mount is 3/4 inch from the tail end. That makes the end of the tranmission happen right at the front side of the crossmember on the T-bird so at that point you would have to cut and modify the center area of the crossmember to allow for the mount and the driveshaft angle also. You might not have to cut quite as much of the x-member as I did but the overall job would be tricker to do especially with the body on.

Pics are helpful got me wondering if the 200r will fit without cutting the frame since it is shorter.  Has anyone actually done this swap?  I still want to use the stock T-bird shifter if I can.  Time to start searching the internet. 

Know what you mean about things feeling heavy. Used to be able to swap out the top loaders in the mustangs without breaking a sweat or using a jack, not anymore.  Now I use my son to do this. 

Thanks for taking the time to do this very helpful.

       I got some pictures of the aod and 200-r4 side by side.The 200-r4 is the one with the yoke.The aod has the rusty converter.

      According to my back.They each weigh about 700lbs each.But the bathroom scales has the 200 at about 165lbs and the aod at about 185.This is just an old cheap scale.

       The length of the aod is about 31 inches.The 200 is aobut 27 1/2. If you guys have any other questions about them just ask.As you can see I have them both just settting in the shop.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0354.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0355.jpg

In this one,I layed on the ground.You can see the aod outline around the 200.Aod looks a little bigger.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0352.jpg

Some more.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0350.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0349.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0348.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j46/1954ford/DSCF0347.jpg