Ok, so I have a friend who has a 57 Ford 300 Custom sedan, that has the original 272 engine, with the original 3 speed ******. He is tired of shifting gears at the ripe old age of 65. Says it wears out his legs. How much trouble would it be to put say, a C4 automatic ****** in this car? I know that he would have to put a different radiator in which would cool the transmission. Would a C-4 bolt directly to the back of the Y- block or would he need an adapter? Any information from you guys would help. Thanks guys.
Flat-O-Matic has an adapter for a C4 transmission: http://www.flat-o.com/carproducts/yblock.htm Here's another source: http://www.ford-y-block.com/c4adapt.htm Bendtsen's kit will allow use of an AOD overdrive transmission: http://www.transmissionadapters.com/ford_y_block.htm
I know you won't want to hear this (nobody ever does) but the easiest and cheapest solution is to sell the car and buy one with an automatic. There may even be someone out there with an automatic 57 Ford who would like to trade for a 3 speed.
Tired of shifting gears?? Perhaps he's doing it wrong. Or maybe should do it different. Stop using the clutch between gears. Sure, use it for takeoff, but I do not know a semi-truck driver who uses a clutch between gears. And that's how my father taught me, as well. So, I don't use the clutch. They last a LOT longer, too. And don't whinge on about "Oh, Mr Cosmo, my trans doesn't have syncro on first", or some such, ALL semi-transmissions are crash boxes. And after rowing through one of them, I can FEEL the syncros interfering with my shifting, as well as the longer throw required. Anyway, just rambling, feel free to ignore me. Cosmo
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