edsel tranmission swap

Hi another newbie to HAMB, but not to rodding. My 31 year old son and fellow creative gearhead introduced me to this site... and I like it!

My current project is a 58 Edsel Bemuda. The E400 (361 FE) motor was supposed to be "good", but "good" is a realitive term.. Frozen up "good and solid" would be more accurate. It was resolved by driving a rusted #7 piston out with a hammer and br*** bar after soaking for a week. I'm still trying to decide on rebuilding the E400, use a different FE, a 460 or ???

Transmission selection may influence that decision. I want to keep the old Edsel looking original and very importantly retain an Edsel hallmark, the "teletouch" push ****on shifter in the middle of the horn ring. My goals for this project include taking the family on some serious crusing, therefore I would like to upgrade to an overdrive ******, What overdive ****** will bolt to an FE and be able to be controlled by the Edsel teletouch shifting ****ons in the steering column? Weird request I know but if it was simple, everybody would do it! GaRoger

 

There were no OD auto trans for the FE block, I've just ordered a beefed up AOD and an adapter plate for my 63 Galaxie with the FE. Hoping to know how it all works this time next month

I don't know how the Edsel's push ****on switching worked, but I do remember that
Mooneyes (no it wasn't it was Retro Tek)had an electronic shift kit a while back that allowed you to use push ****ons to control a linear actuator to convert any auto trans to push ****on. So you could definitely use the factory ****ons to control this unit if you needed to.

 

That's a great tip, I will search Mooneyes website and see what I can find for electronic shift kits. What adapter and from where for your AOD. What AOD are you using? GARoger

 

I contacted Bendsten's and traded emails with all of the particulars of my car and how I plan to drive it (90% highway). They are providing the beefed up AOD as well. You will need the upgraded internals to handle the FE motor, and after talking with a local shop here I just thought it best to buy the whole thing from Bendstens.

 

Searched Mooneyes website, did not find any electronic shifters, other suggestions?

 

My apologies, I was sure it was Mooneyes.
Looks like it was Retro Tek.
I'd be interested to see how the original mechanism worked, maybe it can be modified to work a later model OD trans.

 

I looked at the Edsel elctronic shifter. It's appears to be a 12 volt motor, a little bigger than a tpical 12V coil, with a single rod coming out of the end of it that attaches to the shifter on the side of the ******. It appears to move either forward or backward depending upon which ****on is pushed. (I'll post a picture when I get it cleaned up.) I found the Retro Tek site and they do have a product that may be adaptable. Doing quick math, the adapter housing is about a grand, the beefed up AOD ****** will be $2K by the time I get it here. This does not include drive shaft, ****** cross member, Torque convertor and ?? The shifter kit is another grand. I'm now $4-5 K into the ****** without even touching the motor or body, ouch!
Anybody know of less expensive options?

 

Yeah I have about 2200 in mine with the torque converter, it wasn't cheap but there is no other option for auto and OD on the FE motor, unless you build your own adapter. You could go with a Chevy 700r4 trans and possibly save some money but I just couldn't do that.

 

my brother has a 58 edsel and as far as I know you should be able to put a FE C6 trans... Were about to install it here in a few days...I got the info from a older FORD mechanic guy..Those C6's are good trannies and are affordable..not sure about the tele touch thing though..

 

C6 is a great trans but it is not OD

 

No doubt the C6 is strong, plentiful, and would bolt up to the FE but as pointed out, it is not an Overdrive, which I want. Is there a later model OD that would bolt up to a 460? Maybe i should put in a 460 instead of the FE, there are still plenty of them around. Anybody know about a 460/auto OD combo?
Garoger

 

If the existing trans is in working order you could use a GearVendors over/under drive unit. Last I looked they were about $2500.00