Hey guys, I just picked up a clean 1954 Customline 2 door that is all original with a stock 239 Y-Block and the FordoMatic. The only thing that has ever been changed on the car is the wheels and exhaust. This is my first older Ford. The PO said the car had been sitting for a few years before he bought it, I test drove it, aside from it needing a tune up, the car felt like it was dragging. Like the brakes were dragging or the trans was slipping horribly. I had to rev it up a good bit before the car set into motion. There is a trans fluid leak at front of the bell housing so I'm guessing the front seal is shot. I also hear these trannys make for good boat anchors. The car will be delivered tomorrow and I will start the tune up and going through the brakes Sun-Mon. What are my best options for the trans? I read on here after searching that the C4 is the same size and makes for a easy straight swap other than swapping the yoke. Should I even bother rebuilding or getting a rebuilt FordoMatic? Is the C5 a good option? Thanks for any help.
I personally would go with the C4. They're everywhere, cheap, and bottom line is they work well. They have lower rotational mass than the old 'Matic, so you could even gain a bit o' HP at the rear wheels. Get a shift kit for it and feel the difference. I know a lot of guys will come on here and tell you how there's nothing wrong with the 'Matic when rebuilt properly, but why bother? Get something you know will work, be reliable, be easy to maintain, and easy to find parts for if you ever should need to.
Now the bad news, a C4 will not bolt up to the Y-block however with some alteration an FMX will.You may want to read this article:http://www.y-blocksforever.com/tech/html/c4conv.html Now if the price and the work involved scares you off you could do what I did with my '54 add swap in a 302/5.0 with an AOD you will have twice the power of the 239 and will probably get 5-6 more MPG and it can be done with stock over the counter parts.You really should click on this: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=332 and join us for a wealth of information on upgrading your '54.How about this for a donor? http://cnj.craigslist.org/pts/4240677039.html And http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/pts/4233027476.html
Nice car! I had a '58 Ford 2dr sedan with a 292/Fordo. Ran great and that Fordo could bark the tires on the 1-2 upshift so don't just write it off. I believe they have external band adjustments. It might be worthwhile to change the fluid and filter and adjust the bands to see if it has just been neglected. Some automatics in that era needed adjustments every 10,000 miles. I wouldn't spring for a whole rebuild though, like don-vee said a C4 is a better investment. Unfortunately I believe you will need an aftermarket adapter to get the C4 hooked up to the old Y-block. So you'll have to buy a trans, converter, adapter, and modify the trans mount, shift linkage and driveshaft. Sounds like a pretty good size hit in the old wallet. I guess it all boils down to what you have planned for the car; keep it pretty stock with the y-block, future engine swap, daily driver or seldom driven. Myself, I would try to service it (and the brakes) and see if it'll hang in there while you decide what direction you really want to go with the car. Just my 2 cents....
The Ford cruiseOmatic is a good transmission. The FMX is an updated version. The cruiseO has a rear pump ( they can be push started), the FMX doesn't. If you're going to keep the Y block, I think it would be more cost effective to build the original trans. Otherwise, you could update the whole drivetrain.
Thanks for the links Jeff, you're on top of it! The reason I bought the car is because it's 99.8% rust free, it's a 2 door, I always loved this body style and it runs strong. The 239 is healthy. The chassis has somewhere around a 100K on it and it was always garage kept. So for the condition, here in Jersey is pretty rare with all the road salt in the winter. I plan on using it as a daily driver. It will be my only means other than my '70 Harley. I work as a photographer so other than driving to a location once a week or getting groceries, I don't drive a whole lot. I would really love to keep the Y- block. No knocks, no ticks, no chatter, doesn't smoke... Why fix what isn't broken. I have a budget of about $2k to get it driving reliably. I don't see any reason so far in swapping out the 239. Plans for the car: 12v conversion, Wide white B.F.s, smooth chrome steelies with spider caps, rechrome the bumpers and grille, paint it gloss off-white, white pearl roof, skirts, bag it with mono-leaf in the rear, recover the door panels. Maybe shave the hood and trunk, french head light and tail lights. Possibly Pontiac tail lenses, 60 Chevy lenses, or deeply recessed 59 Caddy lenses. If I manage to keep it for more than 2 years, I may give it a mild 2-1/2" front, 3-1/2" back chop. That's the direction I want to head with it. Most of this I can do as I drive it with the exception of the chop and a week of down time to paint it. I guess I'll go ahead and see what a fluid flush and band adjustment does for it. I will have to drop the tranny eventually to fix the leak. I figured to rebuild it at that time wouldn't be a bad idea. I didn't get to beat on it during the test drive but I have heard with the FordoMatics they scream through 1st gear and then 85mph is all you get out of it in 2nd. I will take it on the highway some, but I'm okay at cruising 65-70 as long as the motor isn't screaming?
If the 239 is a good runner fix the Ford-O-Matic, I had several "back in the day" they are tough buggers so here so is a forum you should check out:http://www.network54.com/Forum/260730/ If you want to wake up the 239 a little Red's Headers are a real good fit and the little Y-block will sound nice with some 20" Cherry Bombs,also the 4 barrel intake from the '54 Mercury 256 (aka '54 Ford Police Interceptor) will fit the 239's small ports.Several guys in our Ford Group used the Rebel Wire 9+3 wiring kit so this may be of interest:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=730018 This is something you should save when you go 12 volts: http://www.ebay.com/gds/6-to-12-Volt-Conversion-1955-Ford-/10000000001571127/g.html
3 speed manual would be more fun! Once again Jeff, thanks for the links! This old Ford will breath new life and see many miles to come. I came across that ebay link for the 12 volt conversion before I bought the car, it was one of my haggling points to get the price down!
put the front seal in, adjust the bands, new fliud and try it. we used to put it in low, rap it up to all it will do in low, shift to driveand as soon as it shifts to second(pasing gear) ,pull it into low. when it runs out of breath in second, shift to drive. If it needs a rebuild, the nice thing about the old fordomatic is you can take the transmission out and leave the bellhousing. 4 bolts and you have the tranny!! Its heavy. they are easy and cheap to rebuild. get a kit and do it your self. only way to really appreciate an old car is to have it break down, leave you stranded somewhere, and have to drag it home and fix it yourself! they used to put 53 Olds tail lights on the 54 fords, looks nice too. I had a 53, flathead . Have fun, don't spend the rent money on it!!
All the things you have plannned for your car will blow right by your $2k budget. Trans will be over $500, Tires will come in $800-$1000. Not much left. But it is a very nice car.
$2k was the budget to get it running and driving reliably, not the build budget! Just tune up stuff, brake shoes, a battery, fresh voltage reg...I know I'll have easy $10-12K in it once bodywork, paint, chrome, wheels and tires are done. $1700 from Coker with the shipping for the wheels and tires!
Turns out it is definitely the trans. Pushed the car today and it rolls easy, so the brakes are not dragging. Time to tinker! Thanks for all the advise guys, I'll be sticking with the Fordo. I'll give it a once over (flush and adjustments) and if it's still not kicking I'll rebuild it. It won't cost a fortune.
Two things: Make sure that the TV rod (coming from carb linkage) is adjusted properly. And even though you can pull the the main box from the bell housing doesn't always guarantee the torque converter to be good..
GREAT FIND !!!!!!! 54 was one of their nicer 50's offerngs, in my thinking. The 54 Fordo wasn't and isn't a bad trans. I had one that stood up to my late teens driving, and always come back for more. I don't recommend abusing it, of course, just saying that it's reliable. HAPPY RODDIN ! 4TTRUK
If you decide to convert it to 3 speed std. trans...a clutch pedal from a '52-'56 (and probably up to '63!) Ford passenger car will attach right onto the shaft that the brake pedal hangs from... Use a '68-'74 3 speed std transmission: (toploader) The top cover plate can be removed, along with the internal shift forks...then a Jeep tower and 'cane' shift stick bolted right on the tranny. Instant REAL floor shift, no linkage. This transmission case has the small AND large bolt patterns to mate it to the V8 stick bell housing. I love this addition...every time someone gets in my '54 Coupe they ask, "How'd you get a 'floor shift'?" I tell 'em it was a factory option...
Neat car for sure. Borg-Warner o-matics aren't exactly terrible transmissions, but they aren't known for being amazing either. The coolest thing about them is the fact that they have a front and rear pump (so you can still roll start it). That being said, mine sat out behind a dumpster waiting for the scrap guy to take it. The bad news about these boys is the torque converter seal fails and eventually the converter eats itself. If you think about going with a manual transmission, you might consider going with a borg-warner or Tremac "T-5" transmission (namely those from 85-93 FoMoCo products) and RUG three speed overdrives. We have 3 y-block powered cars at home, and all are backed by t-5s. I wouldn't hesitate to hop in my car tomorrow (if the snow would melt) and putt 90 mph to california. Absolutely love these cars, and the HAMB is a wealth of knowledge on them. JeffB2 does a great job running the group for these cars.
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