This might be a question for John, but if anyone else has any input it would be appreciated. This past summer was a real pain with my FMX!

At the beginning of the summer I bent the output shaft and by doing this managed to damage 3rd gear in my tranny. After a month of not having the car, trying to find parts, I got the old girl back together. After Expo, the tranny now started to slip between 1st and second! Not sure if it is how hard I drive my car (like I stole it!!!) or a problem with the tranny itself. Regardless, my tranny guy fixed it for free under warranty.

That being said, ever since I went with the hybrid FMX/Fordo tranny conversion, the tranny has never really liked being left in drive. It almost seems like it goes from 1st to 3rd if left in drive? It might hit 2nd, but it is so fast, it is hard to catch. This has not been an issue to me for I like to shift manually (up shifts only) and the Transco shift kit chirps the tires if I shift it above 4000 rpm in both 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd.

Now my question lies in this, I've had two separate tranny guys tell me the problem is with my valve body and I should change it. Since I like to shift manually, do they make a manual valve body for an FMX or can you convert the existing one??

I know a lot of you will tell me to go C4 or AOD, but that is not in the budget right now. I want to build a bullet proof tranny (or as close as I can get) that will stand up to my abuse!!!  As my friends say, "they haven't built a car yet that I cannot break!" ( I will admit though, my 56 has stood up the best so far!!!!)

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

Rob:

I was just looking at broaderperformance.com website, they offer valve body re-programming service.  You might check them out.  Incidentally, I am fighting the same problem with the FMX in my Ranchero.  I've had 3 different valve bodies in it.  The one in it now is actually from a cruiso, the one that had two drive postions on the shifter, one starts in 2nd, the other starts in 1st.  Same problem, shifts 1-3.  My latest attempt to fix it involves the governor.  I'll let you know how I make out.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John, Thanks for the reply and yes, please keep me informed. I figured if anyone would know, you would.

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

You can try these guys.
http://www.oregonperformancetransmission.com/
I have dealt with them and they are excellent and price is good also.
They sell 2 kits for the FMX by Transgo for full manual and heavy duty

I have the FMX hybrids in both my 56's and have been there for several years. The shifts are fast from 1st to 2nd if not got your foot into it. If you have your foot into the pedal they will yank your neck at each shift.

Did you use the complete FMX or did you use parts from the Fordo, what did you use for a converter . Is the modulator valve you are using single diaphragm or dual diaphragm.

One car I used a split converter from a 57 Merc as it had the 29 spline input shaft and the other car a one piece converter from a 62 Galaxie with cruise-o-matic, also 29 spline. These one piece converters are very hard to find in Canada as Ford did not use the y-block in passenger cars after 1958. Y-blocks were available in trucks up to 1964 however very trucks were ordered with automatics. I have only seen one.
marv

Hey Rob ,I think I went the same way as you with my FMX ??.I had the imput shaft & front pump from FOM put into FMX . Left the FMX rear housing and had a new tailshaft made .So far I haven't had any problems . Mine is only driven in "Drive " as I can't get 1 or 2 with the way the stock shifter is set up .( RHD and 8 pivot points ) Thinking of using a FMX in the next project ( 58 F100 ) .If I do ,I will take the easy way and leave the FMX tranny and modify the torque converter . Are you using a stally ( Au slang  for stall converter ))  or stock converter ???. Mine is stock with 3.22 rear end and will fry the tyres ( Au for TIRES ) every time Lynne is not in the car with me ????

Lon

yblocksdownunder

The FMX is a 1969 vintage and it is the hybrid like Lons. I used the stock 56 Fordo split converter, Fordo front pump and input shaft. FMX center section with Fordo output shaft / tail stock. As for the modulator valve, it is the one that came with the tranny (no clue if it is dual or single diaphram) and I am running it off of manifold vacuume from the rear of the intake manifold. 

Marv you are right about the tranny, if I stand on it, it will hold 1st to second a little longer and snaps quite well. If I drive it easy in "D" position, it jumps 1st to 3rd. If I shift manually it works great! I'm glad to hear that someone offers a manual valve body, for I just might go that route. I don't mind shifting, I would actually prefer a 5 speed, but converting it over seems like more of a pain trying to find all the parts. Not to mention I have no idea if my crank is drilled for a pilot bushing and I don't feel like pulling the motor just to do this.

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

Rob:

The dual vacuum modulator has two hose connections, one in the rear like yours, and one on the side.  The side one was used in conjunction with an EGR valve.  Your '69 donor vehicle probably had no EGR.  By the way, all Y cranks are machined for a pilot bushing.  It fits in the hole that the converter snout goes into.  No progress report on my FMX yet.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

The easiest way to hybrid an FMX is to get a y-block torque converter from 55 up T bird, a 55 up Mercury,57 Ford or 58 later Ford with dual range all have the 29 spline input shaft, that way you do not have to change any internals in the FMX. You will have to change the FMX front pump to the cruisematic pump to mate with the two lugs on the torque converter, FMX converters used a flat spot on both sides of the drive coupling. The best cruiseomatic pump is the latest C3AZ pump, there were 2 or 3 updates from the original 55 thunderbird pump.



The reason I asked about dual diaphragm modulator is if the EGR port becomes plugged with road grim it will not function properly and will give quick shifts. The best is to run with the single diaphragm modulator.

marv

Thanks for explaining that about the modulator, and yes I have the single diaphram one.

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!