My latest car is a 51 ford with flathead and fordomatic trans. I plan to keep the flathead and like an automatic trans. I know that a conversion kit is available to C-4 but how good is the fordomatic? Maybe I should just keep the fordomatic?
The older fordomatic was the first, of co**** they improved it over the years. The later model Cruisomatic was very similar, and the parts will interchange enough to make your trans a three speed. Find a Cruisomatic from the late 60's and swap valve bodies. There was a how-to in Y-Block magazine a while back.
Had one in my daughter's Falcon. Just flushed and resealed it . Worked fine. I don't think it was a 3 speed.
Been running a Merc-O-matic (same as Ford-O-matic made by Borg Warner) in my '51 Merc. I have put on over 35k on it with nothing more than a couple of oil changes. From speaking to others who have converted to C-4, only do it if you really have to. It is a 2 speed in Drive position and a Low position.
Yes...and no. Most Ford-O-Matic/Merc-O-Matic transmissions have, in fact, three speeds, even though the shifter pattern only indicates two. You can get around this as follows... To shift in a true three speed pattern takes a little effort. You start out with the shifter in Low & wind it out until you're ready to shift. Move the lever to Drive; as soon as the transmission actually shifts (to Second), pull the lever back to Low. When you're ready for Third, shift the lever to Drive. As simple as that...***uming everything is adjusted correctly. There are some early '60s Ford-Os that were used in low-end models that actually only have two speeds. A later FMX valve body can be used to give you a true three speed pattern & first gear start. So far as your original question goes, they are sturdy enough if built right. There are a few trans guys- Broader Performance comes to mind, as well as JPT (Jim Paquet)- that have successfully modified them for mild performance use. They are not particularly hard to rebuild, stock, but plan ahead to source parts; & a lot of trans shops have never seen them; so if you don't plan to do the work yourself, find an older trans guy, or a sharp younger one who truly understands the operating principles of auto transmissions, as opposed to just replacing parts. I don't know that I'd choose one to SWAP in, but since you already have it, I wouldn't bother converting over to a C4. JMHO...
The transmission was reportedly rebuilt 2 owners back and hardly driven?? What does changing to the cruiseomatic valve body acomplish? I did email Y block magazine to see if I could get the back issue that covered the upgrades using the cruiseomatic valve body.
It's not exactly the Cruise-O-Matic valve body...or, more accurately, the term "Cruise-O-Matic" covers a lot of sins (different transmissions), anyway. A**** other things, the term Cruise-O-Matic replaced "Merc-O-Matic" from around '58 on....and "Cruise-O-Matic" was also applied to the first year C6 in references to Ford models...to name just a couple of examples. What, Ford, confusing???!!? Naw.... So a "Cruise-O-Matic" valve body might, or might not, fit, depending on what exactly you are looking at. It might, or might not, give you a pattern change. Later (early '60s)Cruise-O-Matics do have the 3-speed pattern, but they can be tough to find, and you need to know what to look for. As far as I can tell, they are kind of a transition between the Ford-O/Merc-O & the FMX; they have the three speed pattern, but the ones I've seen also have the rear pump; FMXs don't. These later Cruise-Os have at least two case lengths, and I believe there is another even longer one for Lincolns. Anyhoo, a FMX valve body is easier to find, if anything. As I mentioned, it gives you a three-speed shift pattern (rather than Drive/Low) and a first gear start. The Ford-O starts out in Second, generally, depending on the shifter position (Drive). The FMX is the direct descendant of the Ford-O-Matic. If you use the shifting tactic I mentioned under full throttle, the two-speed shift pattern can be overcome without swapping valve bodies. Just depends on what you want, there's no right or wrong either way. If the trans is in good shape, rebuilt at some point, doesn't leak, has good fluid, & so forth, I dunno that I would do much of anything to it. Here is an article from Y-blocks forever that sheds a little light on things. It actually covers swapping to a FMX from a Ford-O-Matic, but some of the information could be useful to you. The mentioned shift kit is the only one available for a FMX. http://www.y-blocksforever.com/tech/html/fmx_upgrade.html It should say Trans-Go, rather than Transco.
just curious, if you start out in Low, and then shift to D after it shifts into second, it will act pretty much like a normal 3 speed auto...sort of. right? I seem to recall that's how that 55 Tbird worked.
Yeah, pretty much. If you start out in Drive (shifter), the trans starts in second, then shifts to third. If you start out in Low (shifter), the trans starts in first; then when you move the shifter to Drive, the trans will shift directly to third, normally. So, you have to fool it by starting in Low, moving the shifter into Drive, then immediately back to Low...the trans will go to second...then you move the shifter to Drive, & the trans goes to third. I was looking at my first description & realized it wasn't real clear. If you leave the shifter in Drive until the transmission shifts...it usually goes directly to third. Thus, the shifting from Low to Drive, then immediately back to Low. This pattern, plus the typical Ford-O "clunk" every time you go from Park or Neutral into gear...is why the valve body gets swapped, sometimes....or the complete FMX swap, using the Ford-O flexplate, converter & front pump. On the other hand, the Ford-O is one of the few automatics that can be push-started when you have a dead battery, thanks to that rear pump.
If the trans works, leave it. It does not shift the best and will clunk hard everytime you put into gear. Now my unbiased personal feeling about the POS-O-Matic. (in case you can't understand Piece Of ****). I hate them, had them in two vehicles, and they ****ed in both, behind a 215 6 and a 292 Y-block. They ARE three speeds, but take off in second unless you really floor it, then it will start to roll in second and immediately kick down to first. Annoying as can be, unless you manually pull into low as stated above then it takes off in first. Cast iron case is heavy and the C4 is a much better trans overall. But I am more of a Chevy/GM guy, so take my opinion for what it's worth.
Yeah....but **** around with a T-98 HD truck transmission behind a Y block for awhile, & the Ford-O becomes much more attractive.
Homespun91, you seem to think Ford parts can be confusing. I worked there for thirty yeras, I'm REALLY confused!!!
Thirty years? You, sir, are either a genius by now, or demented. Or, possibly both. After thirty years I'd look like the professor in "Back To The Future".
It appears that the FMX valve body upgrade is a good idea. Can a valve body of any FMX work or does it have to be a certain model or year? Would this be availabe from a transmission shop?
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