attention ford guys ....1964 390 / cruis o matic question

[lownslow]

i just got my wife her1964 t- bird .the trans needs either rebuilt or replaced . what are my options here ? is it better to rebuild the cruise o matic or is there another trans that bolts up to the 390 ?......c-4 ..c-6 ????? not really sure what to do yet...looking for suggestions......she is not gonna hot rod around so i dont need some hi performance trans ....thanks in advance..... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[lownslow]

bttt

[Kilroy]

Hot rod or not, build or buy a stout trans. Just go easy on the torque converter stall speed and go with a street shift firmness...

I'd go with a c-6, though a c4 would work too.

I see more c6's around though and they seem to be easier to get parts for in the aftermarket. I had a my cruiseamatic rebuilt and had no problems with it but it was more expensive and people don't seem to speek it's language when it comes to repaires as readily as the c-series.

[saltflataddict]

Cruise-o-matic - is the same as a C-6 but with overdrive. I would go for the c-6. I am still running my cruise-o, but when the time comes I will go with a C6. Kilroy is right most dont know cruise-o's even though they are the same.. Not much help for ya Donnie, but I do know C6's are pretty damn reliable..

[lownslow]

cool guys thanks.......i guess the c-6 is probably the way to go........just probably have to shorten my drive shaft i guess........i think the tailshaft on a c-6 is a little longer ........

[Radshit]

The Cruise-O-matic is not the same as the C-6....they are both 3 speed autos but different trannys....geeesh

I have a 65 352 FE with a Cruise-O-matic and it is longer then the C-6 that is made for the FE motor

The Cruise-O-matic is 33 1/2 inches from the bell housing mating surface to the end of the tailshaft

The C-6 I have for a 390 is 27 inches from same....there are some C-6 trannies ( like the one behind my 390 in the F1 that has a long tailshaft)............but I wold need to measure it for an exact dimension.....

I would go with a C-6 for a 390, they can handle more hp....but I have never had a problem with the Cruis-o in my 65 T-Bird.......

I know the Cruis-O-matics and FMX trannies are similar.....not known for being HP trannies but good as daily drivers

[lownslow]

rad,
i may be calling on you to get some parts from the car you parted out. i am gonna need some misc. trim pieces. but the car is for the most part complete.....and i want to pick yer brain as you have one of these birds ......thanks man,

[luckystiff]

donnie,
there is a guy on egay that parts out ALOT of tbirds. he has stuff up all the time. i emailed him looking for a seat track for the set of tbird seats i just bought for the buick. gonna see how they sit in the car first and then decide if i want to bolt 'em straight down or go ahed and make tracks and do swivel buckets. if they bolt straight down i may run that way for a while and then do 'em, but if theres fab work to be done to get 'em in there then they're gonna swivel right away. did you ever look into do the swivels i know you were interested at one time? sorry to change the topic so back to it. i have never been huge on fords but from what i know c6 is probably your best answer. the cruiso is a great trans but as said already a bit more of a headache than the c6. good luck with the bird. theres a couple in a yard i go to sometimes here if you need something and can't find it i can check them for ya. oh yeah lets see some pics. i've wanted one of those cars forever but would be torn between something kinda mild and classy and a full on panel/fades kinda thing. guess i'd need two...congrats on the new ride...ken....

[oldtin]

A c-6 would make it much easier if you needed parts or service. C-6 is stout as hell, used behind the 300 six all the way up to the 460. They came in small block, big block and FE bolt patterns.

The cruis o matic is stout, heavy(cast iron main case), somewhat slushy, but its the only ford auto I've ever had that can be push started!!
Roll it to about 20mph and drop it in low, and drive on.

The cruise o matic came behind everything from the big six up into most of the v-8s. They were still putting The cast iron FMX behind 400ci torinos in the late 70's.

If you decide to go with a FE C-6 grab the starter, eng.plate and flywheel with your donor trans, they are different than the early cruise o bits.
Oldtin (http://oldtin.50megs.com)

[Radshit]

No problem Donnie, anytime...I have taken my 65 T-bird apart twice and now it's on it's second rebuild......I have a focus problem.....but the 64 T-Bird I parted out was a keeper, but I lost storage space and had to keep the important pieces.....which is just about everything.....I have a lot of chrome and trim pieces...
I know this year 64-65 real well.....get a hold of me if you need anything......and I'll send it on the OC Express......(Friend's Peterbilt)


On a second note.....you have the 64 which is drum front brakes...no problem finding wheels to fit...the 65 was the first year for discs.....and finding wheels to fit the 65 is a hassle.....My uncle has a 64 'Vert and had a problem finding a decent brake power booster.....other then that, parts are relatively easy to find.......Neal

[safariknut]

I'm not a Ford person but I have had one with the Cruise-O-Matic trans(62 Galaxie with a 352)and the two problems I noted with it were:
1)On high idle with the lever in Park,if it wasn't pushed in fully,it would have a tendency to pop into reverse.My 1st wife had that happen one day on the way to work and the car backed into the door of a brand new 442!
2)The other problem was if the car is shifted into reverse when cold at a high idle,sometimes the main web in the case will crack.When this happens,you have one forward speed and no reverse.$$$$$$$$! Just my .02

[lownslow]

cool guys thanks ....well i think my mind is made up... Now what cars had a c-6 behind a 390 so i know where to look....or where do i go to find such info ????????...

safarikut, i do remember people telling me about those jumping into gear now that you mention that....i almost bought a galaxy a while back and it did the same thing......

[ShortBus]

You should put a '63 Olds rear seat in it.. they're boss.

[DIRTYBIRD]

Hey guys ive never formerley introduced myself but, I've got a 65 bird and it's a kustom. Also i have try to hot rod around in it. I installed a edelbrock intake and carb plus electronic ignition and i blew the shit out of my fmx three times. I always lost first and reverse.
So after that i went and got a junkyard C6 out a truck rebuilt it and slapped it right in. No starter,flywheel or fitment issues just a different t-converter and modified the mount.
I swapped the Driveshaft for a split one with center carrier to get lower without hitting the tunnel after i broke my oroginal shaft in half.
Anyways it runs great.
I was told that the truck tranny was gonna have crap gearing , it hauls ass on the freeways but doesnt launch as fast as it used to.
I drive my car alot and hard too. With gas the way it is in cali i might look into a 700R-4 in the future though.

[Berdoo John]

Donnie how soon are you wanting/needing to do the swap? I have a C6 for a 390 that may end up being an extra, not sure how or when I'll know though. At the rate I finish projects I may never know... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

When I needed a C6 for a 390 I just called all my local junkyards. Only 1 outta the 5 or 6 I called had a C6 for FE. I believe they pulled it from a 1970s F150. Got it for $200. $200 was the price that all the yards I called told me I would spend if they had one. I got lucky because it looks like it doesn't have too many miles since it was rebuilt, fairly new torque converter. A little while later I came across a 390/C6 both rebuilt, ran for a little and then pulled out and sat for several years. I will be using one of the C6's for sure, whichever is in better shape, and the other will most likely be an extra, unless the tranny in my '61 Bird is done for. But it will be months before I will know, so i guess bottomeline I'm not much help, other than a baseline junkyard price for one handed to you. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif