hiya all,

latest installment from the UK :-)

The 59 Galaxie is up and running and driving and stopping. She is currently up on the ramps having the rockers replaced as the originals were rusted right through.

One thing I have noticed is that the trans is losing a lot of fluid. I have had a quick look under there and cleaned it up, but I can't see a leak until I run it (and pressurise the trans).

I have a couple of questions.

1/ what type of trans is in? it's a two speed auto behind a 292 Y-block, am I right in thinking it's called a cruise-o-matic?

2/ is there a repair/overhaul kit available for this tranmission and if so, who is the best supplier?

Thanks, Taff

Cheers, Taff

1959 Ford Galaxie 2dr sedan, 292 (just woken up after a 38 year sleep!)

forgot to add, I have changed the oil and filter, and fitted a new oil pan gasket.

do thses type of trans tend to leak from anywhere specific?

Cheers, Taff

1959 Ford Galaxie 2dr sedan, 292 (just woken up after a 38 year sleep!)

Macsautoparts.com will have the parts you need. They have international orders.

Greg

Is the entire transmission aluminum or is the front half iron? There was a true 2 speed CruiseOmatic in the later cars its identified by its full aluminum case. Its sort of hard to diagnose a leak without seeing the car but. The two areas that come to mind are the front and rear seal. The rear is where the driveshaft slides into the transmission. The front is inside the torque converter area and requires pulling the transmission to repair. Also when leaks are bad sometimes the bushings may need replaces. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Taff, Just as Chuck told your if you A/T has a removable bell housing ( the bell can be seperated from the transmission case) then you have the three speed FOM or Cruise O Matic same thing they just changed the name.

If that is the case just find an older mechanic who is familiar with the Borg Warner 35 transmission as the two are very very similar. Your leak will be the forward imput shaft seal That the torque converter rides on and if you want to take a fling something like Lucas transmission seal conditioner cant make the leak any worse and might actually help ( a little). Dried out seals might come back to life.

A seal kit is light weight so shipping will not be too terrible. Pete

edit due poor spelling

Apart from usual front pump to converter seal leak! usually more than rear housing leak, i have come across selecter shaft seal in side of box that will leak if overfull and when engine turned off, will fill case with oil past that seal and leak also. just pays to checl.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

thanks all for the info.

I'll check the trans, I didn't actually look to see if it was all-ally or not, but I will check under it this weekend.

I know what you mean by the front & rear seals, but there didn't look to be any "fresh" oil at the rear seal. Though I'm concious that the car hadn't been driven in nigh on 40 years, so the seals are likely to be a little dried out!

is the selector shaft on the left? by the kick-down arm? there looked to be fresh fluid all over that!!

And good news about macs, i have an account with them!

Thanks and keep the info coming, your helping to get a '59 Galaxie back on the road over here!

Cheers, Taff

1959 Ford Galaxie 2dr sedan, 292 (just woken up after a 38 year sleep!)

TAFF, yes selector shaft seal is where the levers are on side of box, if i remember rightly, have to drop valvebody to remove levers to get to the small seal. Check thoroughly 1st to avoid unnecessary work. From my expeirence, the FOM has removable cast iron bellhousing and later Cruiso has removable alloy bellhousing ( 62 galaxie). Regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Taff, This is a link to the website The Old Car Manuals project. Use it to find information on almost any car ever made and all the components that are on that car. Carbs, transmissions, etc.

Here is a link to the 3 speed FOM/COM http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/Ford/1958/Service/04/FordOMaticandCruiseOMaticT/index.html

Pete

project with a j got a g

Taff, I had a '59 Galaxie 292 2-barrel and it had the aluminum case Fordomatic 2-speed. It had only 2 gears, first was 1.82:1. I would imagine your car has the same transmission. The FE-powered 59s used the 3-speed fully automatic Cruiseomatic unit. I don't know whether the Cruise-o was available with the 292 that year, but I would guess it was uncommon.

The Fordomatic 3-speed of 1957 and earlier was unconventional in that it started in intermediate (1.47:1) unless the throttle was pushed through the detent at very low speeds. The 2.40:1 low ratio could also be manually selected.

I'm pretty sure the Cruisomatic (which had 2 "drive" ranges, one of which behaved like your typical 3-speed) came out in '58. I am not sure whether there was any overlap in production of the 3-spd Fordo and Cruiso.

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive