I have a ford 223 straight 6......I want to throw in an automatic transmission(traffic ****s in LA and manual in traffic is terrible)...I was told I need a ford o matic. My questions.... 1)is there a difference between a ford o matic out of a truck and out of a car? 2)is there another transmission that is better? 3)how will I know if the ****** will work with my truck? 4)Anyone have one?
There might be adapters being made but if you can find a 64 galaxie with a six that has a automatic that would be the easiest and cheapest way to get a automatic,I do know where one is in a junkyard but I am in Ohio.
Trucks such as yours use ears off the bellhousing of the Fordo as the mount along with a front engine mount. You just need the truck bellhousing. There's also a way to use a later FMX to the older bellhousing.
Good point by Orange Crate on bellhousing mounting ears. Also until mid-1956 Fordos were air cooled (from 1951-1956) except starting in 1955 Truck/pickup Fordos had oil cooler lines. The air cooled trannies work fine like the one in my 1955 Thunderbird (292), 120,000 miles and still going. I wouldn't use the air cooled for racing and would prefer it had oil cooler lines to the radiator but it's actually fine as is for regular and even occ***ionally hard driving. Best regards. RT
Don't recall if the 240 inline six has a newer bell pattern than the 223, but if it is same, you could find a C4 auto (from 240) that will work.
i think your options are pretty limited, unfortunately. the 223 ended production in '64, the same year the c4 auto started. they were available together for that one year only. if you can find a '64 bell housing they'll mate no problem. otherwise, you're pretty much stuck with manual transmissions. the later ford 240/300 sixes have a different bolt pattern as far as i know.
took a look at some notes i have saved and apparently the 223 does share patterns with some y block and fe stuff. if that's in fact true, there are a few places that sell y-block adapters for use with c4, c6 and aod transmissions. gearstar is one source for these, i believe.
If he can't locate a bell with "ears",..how much trouble, to just add a cross member, and use the rear ****** mount ? Just a thought..... 4TTRUK
The 240 and 300 Ford 6`s have the same bell pattern as the SBF engines. Good luck.Have fun.Be safe. Leo
If the 223's share the FE ford bell pattern, then an FMX or even a C6 should bolt right up. The issue probably is the flex plate to crank.
The 223's have a unique Bell Housing pattern that they only share with the 215 six and 262 six - nothing else matches
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