So about three weeks ago I picked up a '62 Mercury Monterey with 122K on it and had been sitting for 7 years. I was told it was parked because something went wrong with the brakes. Well I got it back to the shop and did a basic tune up on it and rebuilt the carb. It barely ran so I pulled the VCs off and found every intake push rod bent. So I pulled the engine/trans and rebuilt the motor which I was told was a 390, but it's a 352. No big deal, I'm just gonna build a 410 on the side while I enjoy the car this summer. Got it back in the car and it runs great but no transmission output. Pulled the pan and found the converter valve body broke and the case broken inside by the front band. So my question is this: What transmissions can I bolt up to my recently rebuilt FE? I'm specifically interested in years and what vehicles they can come out of. I am okay with modifying the crossmember and driveline to accept a better transmission. I called a trans shop I've dealt with in the past and he's capable of rebuilding me a Merc-O-Matic for around $700 but I figured I could get an OD trans for that and pick up some mileage and dependability. From what I've found here on the HAMB, a C6 sounds like the best way to go, but it needs to be a round bell. Is that correct? What are the identifying characteristics of the trans and maybe some pics. I'm gonna be searching the local Craigslist and most of the people I deal with on there aren't too knowledgeable about what they really have. Thanks in advance for any help. I wanna get this car on the road!
The C6 was behind almost every FE motor (really, how many manual transmissions are there?) from 1966 until the end of the line in 1976 (for trucks). I think the last use of these motors in cars was 1970 or 1971. You are correct that the bellhousing bolt pattern is unique, i.e., you need a C6 designed for a FE. There are adapters to bolt AOD and 700R4 transmissions to these motors, but they are pretty spendy. Try Bentsen's or Lentech.
If you use a C-6 get the matching flywheel as the 65 and up flywheels are different then the 64 on back.
Here is a picture of the C6 note the bell and main body is one piece. Also is the picture of the bell bolt pattern.
That car would have had a MX or FMX trans in it..........If you need one, I have one down here in the N. Dallas area that was working when it was removed from the car............will trade for most any old military bolt action rifle...Foreign or domestic. Mark
C'mon, put the big-in/big-out toploader behind it!! C6 is your best bet for availability & strength...don't know of any OD trannys, but gearvendors has a C6 OD unit that's as pricey as everything else they sell.
Thanks everyone for the info. Those pics help a lot HOT40ROD. I've heard the truck C6s have a bolt on yolk rather than a slip yolk. I reckon I'll need to have the driveline modified anyway as I'm assuming the C6 will be a different length so I could just have a slip added to it.
One more thing to consider, the first year '66-only C6 has a different valve-body than the '67 and up. The '66 still has the "green dot" (starts in second) position instead of the more modern PRNDL. I believe the drums were improved in the later ones as well.
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