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.

What?

Yes.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

Are you saying he should switch to an FMX and to a 3.00 rear gear?

I'm waiting for his reply first.

Ron.

The easiest trans swap would be a FMX and with it being a 3 speed you could bring the ratio down some.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

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.

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.


Hyvinkää, FI

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

Paul

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.






Hyvinkää, FI

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.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

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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