Picked up a 1949 Ford F1 with a 1968 6 cylinder and C4 out of a pickup. Engine runs fine but the trans is shot, only has reverse. Also has a pretty bad vibration at idle and am thinking torque converter. Engine's not missing, balancer and accessories are running true so don't know what else it could be. I found a C4 and torque converter out of a 1978 T-Bird at a reasonable price but spent a lot of time searching and can't figure out if I can I use the old flex plate with the newer torque converter. Just bought a new starter to get it running and think the tooth counts are different between the 68 and 78. I think if the bellhousings are the same depth I'll be okay there but am just not sure on the flex plate and starter.
You are probably aware, but the six uses a neutral balance flexplate where a V8 will be external balance and have welded-on weights. If your flexplate has the right hole spacing for the newer converter it should work. The plates are 157T and 164T if I remember correctly. The 164T plate hits the bell for the smaller plate, and the block spacer plate is different because the starter is spaced out more.
That's something I didn't know but glad you passed that along. There was actually another flexplate in the truck but just looked and it's got a weight welded on so apparently not correct for this application.
There is several variations of c4 and converter and bell housing. You have a 68 engine so you have the small bell housing with the starter at the top. The later bell housing with the starter at the bottom is the sbf pattern and will not fit the earlier inline 6. The early c4 had a smaller inputshaft than the later so the converter has to match the input shaft. You really only have 1 choice for flexplate
I get most of that except for 'starter at the top'. Maybe I'm not following but my starter is located on the lower passenger side of the bell housing.
Can of worms. 144-170-200 had the starter at the top. 250 had the starter at the bottom same as a 289. Unless you have a big bell 200 produced in 1980. The only inline 6 with a 68 casting is the 200 but you say starter at the bottom so it could be a 250. The 250 came out in 1969 so its possible. a picture is worth a thousand guesses The only other posibility is that its a 240 same as the 300 which really hard to fit into a 49 with out pusing the firewall back 6” or moving the radiator forward 6”
Oh now the fun begins, figuring out how much incorrect information I got from the PO. Engine casting is C6AE-6015-D so looking like a 66 block. Unless I check the stroke still don't know if it's 240 or 300. Really hope it's not a 240 pushing this truck around. Transmission D2AP7006EA5. Pan fill so post 1970, vent on top of the case, push in modulator so think that means 1973 or later. Since it looks like this is the later trans regardless, maybe better off getting this one rebuilt. Shop said around $1,000 unless there's major breakage inside.
C-4's are easy to rebuild, buy the book on rebuilding C-4's and C-6's, buy a master rebuild kit and get to work.
Ok a 240 is sbf pattern now any later c4 will fit if you use your existing bell housing. There is 2 types of sbf bell housings a 5 bolt and a 6 bolt. Pre 67 will be 5 bolt and after 67 on is 6 bolt. I know 2/10ths of nothing on the 240/300 flexplater etc
Man I'd really like to give rebuilding it a shot but I'm on the road 2 or 3 days a week, still working on finishing my shop, we're in the middle of remodeling the house and I still need time for a few drinks in the evening.
You say the trans is shot and only has reverse. Is the fluid burned? Will it move in manual low? I ran into a C4 in a Falcon that had stripped the splines on the front planet carrier. It only had reverse. The trans was clean inside and all the clutches and bands were fine. A new planet carrier fixed it. I have no idea why the splines stripped out. My friend's brother drove the car a long time after we repaired the transmission. Also, I doubt if your converter is causing you vibration. It is more likely to be the wrong flex plate.
Truck sat for at least 4 years since it ran last. Trans was pretty much empty, took almost 4 quarts to bring it back up. Initially after filling I had a little forward movement then nothing regardless of the shifter position. Fluid level is still good but no go. Based on what someone previously said about the V8 flexplate being different you could be right. I'll find out when I have time to pull it, will make sure I get the right one back in there.
Ahh, don't you just love Fords interchangeability? Seems like the easiest thing would be to just get the trans you have rebuilt and get a warranty on it.
I think you'll find that the forward clutch pack is burned up. That would explain the symptoms you describe, and will not be a difficult fix for someone with experience or an amateur willing to learn. With any luck, a couple hundred in parts will do it. Terry