What automatic Transmission for a 390FE?

[joey_hv]

So I have decided to go with an automatic transmission with my 390FE,
my engine came out of a '65 thunderbird. What tranny will mate up to it if any?

[Goober]

Ford C6. Very tuff transmission. Probalby need to keep your gears down around 3:5 or 3:3 for good cruising. Maybe look at the AOD which will get you a pretty good overdrive.

just my 2 cents

Mark

[joey_hv]

I thought the C6 fit the small block Fords?

[Goober]

Joey, the C6 is probalby what was in the TBird you pulled the motor out of. The lesser transmission was the C4. The C6 was always put behind the big blocks. If fact, Shelby put the C6 behind the twin turbo Cobra that sold at BJ last year. Cast Iron and can handle anything you throw at it. Depending on your 390 build, say 450 safe HP, a stock C6 or a slighty uprated C4 will take all the torque you give it with your motor.

Mark

[joey_hv]

cool, c6 will work then. thanks guys.

[ROUSHAC]

I believe a C6 is what the old man used on his and Cosby's cars with the dual blowers. Should hold up OK for a 390.

[joey_hv]

so they make a c6 with a smaller bellhousing for the SB and a larger C6 bellhousing for the BB???

[ron427]

Joey
There was a C6 for small block(mostly 361C). Most are large block, and as stated are strong. It is alum case---cast iron is FMX for 292 and 312 cid.
I have my Corba painted (screaming yellow). I am in Monroe and just starting the title process. Call sometime at 343-7158. Ronald Johnson

[joey_hv]

sweet! I didn't know anyone this close to me was a cobra owner!
I would love to see it in person one day when you have it on the road.

I pulled this one out of my kid's 72 cougar, it had a 351 C engine in it.
it will fit the 390FE?

[cobrajeff]

The C6 that came off a 351C definately will NOT fit your FE. There are two basic C6 configurations "big-block" (which is by far the most common) that fits an FE series engine, and "small-block" (usually found on a 351C) that will fit any of the standard 6-bolt small-block engines (289, 302, 351W, 351C).

The C4 transmission is a "small-block" tranny, and has a separate bellhousing. There are no "factory" C4's that will fit an FE, but, there are custom aftermarket bellhousings available that will allow you to mate a C4 to an FE. the C6 bellhousing is an integral part of the case, so they cannot be "adapted" in that way - you need a small-block C6 to attach to a small-block engine, and a big-block C6 to mate it to a big-block engine.

As the other guys recommended, you need a big-block C6 to mate to your 390 FE engine.

regards,

Jeff

[joey_hv]

Thanks Jefff that clears it up.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Goober

Joey, the C6 is probalby what was in the TBird you pulled the motor out of. The lesser transmission was the C4. The C6 was always put behind the big blocks. If fact, Shelby put the C6 behind the twin turbo Cobra that sold at BJ last year. Cast Iron and can handle anything you throw at it. Depending on your 390 build, say 450 safe HP, a stock C6 or a slighty uprated C4 will take all the torque you give it with your motor.

Mark

Actually, not. The first C6 in a Thunderbird was 1966 and it was used on the 428 and also randomly on the 390s in 66. The trans used on 'Birds from 58 to 66 was the medium-case MX (Not the FMX and NOT the C4). The 427 twin-Paxton Cobras used a large-case MX from a Lincoln 430/462 powertrain.

The MX series came in three flavors, small, medium and large case which is a description of the cast iron center case length. I have the lengths around in notes someplace and will post them. The MX series was revised in 1961 with the addition of a vacuum modulator for shift improvement. C6's have integrel bellhousings and are all aluminum, MX's have cast iron centers, aluminum tailpieces and alloy or cast iron bellhousings dependant upon original application.

[1bad66]

so did ford ever put a c4 tranny behind the eary 70's 1/2 ton trucks with a 360 or 390 engine? I am working a 66 f100 and want the front disc brakes, power steering, tranny....etc from a early 70's truck and all I can find is big block trucks. Did they ever put small blocks in those trucks?

[convincor]

c-4 would have only come from Ford behind a small block.
Without being "built", they wouldn't hold up to the torque of a FE.
http://www.dynamicracingtrans.com/fordtranny.htm

[roadrod2000]

Originally Posted by 1bad66

so did ford ever put a c4 tranny behind the eary 70's 1/2 ton trucks with a 360 or 390 engine? I am working a 66 f100 and want the front disc brakes, power steering, tranny....etc from a early 70's truck and all I can find is big block trucks. Did they ever put small blocks in those trucks?

A 302 would have been an option in the F100 also some of the 6 cyl engines used the same bell housing as the small V8.
There are actually 3 different C6 transmission/engine applications, small block (302 - 351 windsor and cleveland), big block (FE engines) and big block (351M, 400M and 429-460 engines)

[CobraEd]

A C6 is cast iron????? Hell, I bet it will weigh more than the 390!!! What about a good worked up aftermarket AOD?? I bet it would be just as strong, plus overdrive so he can go with lower gears for stoplight to stoplight fun.

Plus, Isn't the AOD aluminum? Probably save 250lbs.



.

[roadrod2000]

Originally Posted by CobraEd

A C6 is cast iron????? Hell, I bet it will weigh more than the 390!!! What about a good worked up aftermarket AOD?? I bet it would be just as strong, plus overdrive so he can go with lower gears for stoplight to stoplight fun.

Plus, Isn't the AOD aluminum? Probably save 250lbs.



.

The C6 is NOT cast iron

[Michael C Henry]

The C6 is part of the part number "C"denotes decade (1960-1969) and the "6" is the year 1966 it was introduced into production. The 66 version used a higher hydraulic operating presures 67 and later presures were lowered. I adapted a C6 into a 63 1/2 Gallaxy behind a 428. The C6 oilpan extended into rear area where the privious Cruise-a-matic trans mount was located. I had to build a new crossmamber to accomodate. The 428 takes its own counter weighted flywheels, but the the rest of the FE family of engines 332 ,352, 390, 427, and the Mercury configurations use the same flywheels depending on which transmission you need to match. So a C6 automatic flywheel for a 428 is different from the the rest of the C6 flywheels for the rest of the FE amily of engines. 1966 was the year Ford also changed the number of teeth on the flywheel and starter style.
That tranmission I used was built and the linkage (throttle presure and kickdown) was adjusted perfectly. I could get the transmission to upshift exactly when I wanted it to by quickly lifting the accelerater slightly and stepping back into it. I later had to convert that car to a 352 and had to buy another flywheel (66 and up 352 engine C6trans).

[CobraEd]

Originally Posted by roadrod2000

The C6 is NOT cast iron

I dunno! That is what Goober said in post 4.


.

[Jim Werth]

I thought the 351c used the big block bellhousing and the 351w used the small block. Jim