I have a 49 Shoebox and am considering converting from the three on a tree to a C4 using a Flat-o-Matic kit. I was curious if anyone that did this conversion had any regrets. From the posts I have read here, the Flat-o-Matic seems the easiest way to go. Also, are TCI C4 trannys any good? http://www.tciauto.com/Products/Ford/ford_c4_c6.asp#transmissions Thanks.
I did this in a 29 with a flathead. I think you will be surprised with the performance it makes a world of differance.
I have heard that TCI is crap. A C4 will fit perfectly in a shoebox. Very small case and bell. I would look more towards a junkyard C4 with a standard rebuild. You'd probably come in less than a TCI piece. There easy to rebuild and you don't need to handle much power at all.
Do you have the electronic overdrive? I think the electronic overdrive, is the coolest part about the tranny in the old shoeboxes. I say keep overdrive.
Im installing a flatattack C4 kit in a customers 54 Victoria with a flathead in it next week,the kit comes with a flexpalte and torque converter ,so should be straightforward. it currently has a 3spd manual that jumps out of top gear, Im hoping it aint too hard a conversion ..ill do a post on it if you would like.
I put a C4 behind the flathead in my '50 about a month ago. It was a fairly simple conversion. The hardest part was that i had to relocate the tranny crossmember, but that only involved moving it back a few inches. Then all I had to do was redrill it and bolt it to the frame. I had a new drive shaft made as well. The swap was well worth the money.
All - Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. SlowandLow63 - I'll check the junkyards for a C4 or maybe even eBay. HotRodRick49 - I have overdrive, but as SlowandLow63 states, it is just a pull cable. lowsquire - Please post any information on it. I haven't committed to a Flat-o-Matic, so maybe a Flatattack would be the way to go. Do you have any plans to change the steering column? I would like to do an automatic column shifter rather than tear up the floor and ruin the bench effect. Scrap Heap - Which C4 kit did you use?
Also just wanted to add, if no OD you are in the high 300s and w/ OD the low 400s for rear gearing. A C4 is going to suck ass w/ 1:1 final drive in those conditions. Swap may not be bad, and with a 49/50 you have more limited space than the 51 in the tranny hump, but Id suggest going OD (5 spd) or swapping the rear when using the C4. You might be golden out of the hole but sitting at 4k @ 50 mph is going to be a blast I bet...
I plan to use the column shift..thats what was done on my shoebox, but thats got a C6..seems easy to do, only thing is no detents for the shifter pattern, only the ones in the gearbox, and a neutral start switch is a pain.
Hmm, don't know how your deriving your figures, but by my calculations, even with 26 inch tires, which would be about the smallest tire you would probably see on this car, a 3.78 final drive ratio, and no od, you would be looking at about 2400 RPM at 50 MPH, at 4000 RPM you would be looking at 80+ MPH. Even with 4.11's you would be looking at less than 2700 at 50 MPH
I think maybe, just maybe, he might have been being a little sarcastic, haha. 4000 @ 50mph, whats that like a 5ish gear?
Not too difficult - although I've never done it, you can apparently use the stock stamped steel bellhousing with some minor modifications. This allows you to use the stock clutch linkage as well. Of course you'll have to work on the crossmember & driveshaft...
I used the Speedway kit, I ordered the complete kit so it came with a C4 tranny. It was an easy install, no problems at all. The main reason I went with Speedway is that I have dealt with them in the past with good results. All the kits are relatively the same so go with what you know!
It was sarcastic and an exaggeration. My Merc is stock geared and turns around (no speedo) but 3200 or so @ 65ish. Its a real hoot. If you wanna roll 2400 at 50 getting passed by a bus load of nuns, be my guest. Running out of stairs with a healthy motor like mine is a pain in the ass. Out of the light its a brawler tho...
I have a C4 behind a 302 SBF in my 35 with 3:27 rear and 31 inch rear tires. It goes ok, but Id prefer a overdrive honestly. Im hoping to change to a smaller tire (for looks) and a 3:73 Gear rear end. If I was to do it again, Id deffinitly go with a overdrive Tranny.
I'm pretty sure, that my '49 shoebox, when it was backed by the flat-six, had the electronic overdrive. Actually, I'm positive... because I drove the car. I never EVER had that cable pulled up. Not how my grand-father drove it, not how his second grade teacher drove it and not how my father drove it. The Merc I know doesn't have the electronic overdrive, my cousin had it with the flathead before he did the SBC.
Yep, if I remember right, they were electric from 49 to 53 ( I don't think the term electronic was invented yet) .
Sheesh... I was busting Billy (slowandlow) for "internet guessing". As most everyone knows, they are the same unit. The Merc unit and the Ford unit were primative speed sensors of sorts that would engage the OD on the fly...between 25-30 mph. So, you would have first gear, then second, pull off the gas for second overdrive, then third. As for rears, I have used a few. I would suggest a Maverick or siimilar if you can get it. I have used the Granada rears a few times but they are a tad wide and can rub the wheelwells.
I used a Ford 8" from a '65 Comet. It was a perfect match in width. I had to cut off the spring perches and weld on my own. Again a very easy install. I also put on a Jamco Deluxe rear leaf kit. The car now rides very smooth. There are several threads here on different widths for rear ends, and what size fits your car.
On the same note....are there any c4s that are better than others? Should you stay clear of ones used in certain years/makes of vehicles?
A question for Scrap Heap... I'm putting a C4 behind a Flat head six in a 49 shoebox Ford. It definitely looks like the crossmember has be moved backwards or maybe notched in a drastic way. The mounting holes appear to be about 3 inches to the rear of the upper portion of the CM (crossmember). I've thought about just cutting away the top part of the CM for clearance and welding a 1/4 inch plate on the bottom to reinforce the weakened CM and also let it extend backwards for the transmission mounting. How did you provide for the actual transmission mounting? Another approach I'm thinking about is to move the CM backwards so the the front edge of the CM is under the tranny mounting holes and used a 1/2 rubber pad under it for the mount (little on the hokey side). I'm looking for anything that might make this a little easier. Thanks, Bobandy
The rear mount should be a piece of cake. I have a 302 c4 combo i'm doing right now. The old flatty trans mount worked perfect for me. I just turned it 180 and lined right up to the holes in the x member. Had to narrow the flatty 'u' clamp 1/2 in to bolt it to c4. Driveshaft is almost the same distance to rear end. I'll have to change that up. Of course the flatty cofiguration will be different but not by much i don't think.
I see a lot of discussions related to installing a C4 tranny in Shoebox fords and they are helpful but I still have a basic question... Has anyone installed a C4 (case fill specifically) behind a Flathead 226 CI SIX cylinder. I think most of the discussion has been related to Flathead V8's. I want to put a C4 behind my Flathead Six cyl. I've stated my needs to Flat-O and recieved the bell engine bellhousing (and other parts) and have found bellhousing doesn't match up to my backing plate. Flat-O is researching the problem. Kind anyone shed any light on the issue? Does anyone know what bellhousing will fit up to the backing plate on the back of my 49 Ford Flathead six cylinder (Custom 2dr Sedan)??? Any and all suggestions are welcome... Maybe it can't be done. Regards, Bobandy
I did it on my '50 and left the stock rear gears from the orig. 3 sp 6. rpm's were way too high, went to maverick 8" with 3.00 gears, dropped rpm's from 2800 at 65 to 2000 at 65 with 26.5" x 15" tires. Would recommend next best thing would be the early AODA (w/o electronic computer mod.)
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