Hi Guys,

I'm thinking about changing out the three on the tree for a automatic.  Looking at a c4 tranny with the adapter housing on my 55 Fairlane with a 272.  My main questions are what to do about the transmission crossmember (existing or new & location), and what to do about the drive shaft?  Will the drive shaft have to be shortened, and if so by how much?  Also, I'm looking at a Flaming River column.  Have any of you done this and if so, what were the major problems. 

Thanks,

Mike

I used the stock crossmember with a C-4 mount. Had to drill a couple of new holes is all. I'm using the stock driveshaft.



You might give Gene at Flat-o a call for any questions. Great guy and always willing to help. They also have speedo cables and a speedo ratio fixer upper if you decide to change your rear gears. I'm running 3.55's in an 8".




"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Thanks for the info.

I used a Bendetsen adapter and a TH350 ( I know) Carl Bendetsen himself returned my call and gave some advice on the install. Any prefab x member should work and I welded some struts to the factory doughnuts for anti rotation at the rear of the engine. Through the ears of the tranny. Works well.



Lots of directions to go in- only advice is go slow and measure a lot.

Mike Rizzo

1963 F100 "Rudy"

Daniel Island, SC

I am also using a Bentsen adapter but with an E4OD.



If I was going to do it in a car, knowing what I know now, I would do the AODE and use an electronic trans controller! like the one I am using for the E4OD!




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1955 F-600/272/E4OD// Disclaimer: No animals were injured while test driving my F-600 except the ones I ran over intentionally!

---------------------
This post was created using OpenSuSE Linux x64 and Firefox

I put a C4 in back of a 312 in my 56 Bird. All that had to be done was to elongate the holes in the mount. Used Flat-o-matic kit. Actually got the modified mount from them. My car was originally an automatic.

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

I'm glad to be getting some advice for people that have done this.  The old three on the tree is in bad shape and I plan on giving this car to my daughter some day.  I can't see her ever being able to drive it like that. Another thing I'm going to do is add disk brakes to the front.  I looked at buying a junker with the fordomatic, column and peddles and just swapping them out, but the guy wanted too much for it for what I would have gotten out of it.  The changes I'm thinking about now, with the c4 and the flaming river column sounds like a better choise, even though it's a little more money. 

Thanks again for all the information.  Now I just have to find the $$$$$

Mike