Update...

[Framer_guru]

To all,
It's been a while since I've been on here. An 8 month deployment is to blame. I should finally be home in a couple of weeks just in time for winter. While I was gone my wife surprised me by getting my radiator repaired on my 60, so now I can break in the newly rebuilt engine and set the carb. Can anyone give me some good advice regarding transmissions? I still have the original Cruise-O-Matic but it leaks like a sieve and I am looking to either rebuild it or replace it with something better. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks for all of your continued assistance!
Jimmy

[DKheld]

Great to hear you're back !!!!!!

My wife would have sold the car - so I would hold on to the one you have pretty tight.....

Wait - you guys don't have winter in Fla.- that was a funny one.

I'm not much help on the transmissions - mine is still the original C-O-M too. I know they have their weak spots so many replace them with a C series tranny (C4? C6?) from a later car rather than rebuild. That requires some mods to the tranny mount and maybe a flywheel depending on which one you use. Hopefully there will be some folks that can give you better advice or first hand experience.

Eric

[tbird430]

Was your Bird a 352cid or 430cid car??

[Framer_guru]

My car has teh 352 in it. The transmission works, the car moves under her own power and everything, but seems a bit sluggish. Not a lot of transmission places in Jax, FL, want to deal with older gearboxes.

Next item. Does anyone know or has anyone ever seen a skeleton version of the T-Bird emblem? I have all my original trim pieces but thought, with the flat hot-rod paint job I'm going for, that a Bony Bird emblem would look great on the hood and sides of the roof. Or does anyone know somebody with access to a CNC machine that could possibly make some? Thanks for your replies.

Jimmy

[yellow98cobra]

Mine seemed sluggish until I read the article in the TRL about the Cruise-o-matic Transmission. I was puting it in D-2, Once I started using D-1 it has plenty of get up and go. It will spin the tires from the line.

Eric

[tbird430]

I vote to keep the original transmission then.

Maybe drop the pan, replace the filter, install a new pan gasket, add a can of Sea Foam transmission fluid treatment to her, & then top off with new Type "F" transmision fluid.

This would be a good time to replace the 2 transmission shift shaft O-rings too. Ford PN#D5AZ-7B498-A & 386078-S. These parts #'s are still available at your local Ford parts Dept. counter too!!

[lawyercalif]

I replaced mine with a C6 at the time I put in the 390. You need to use the later model flex plate and starter. You also need to modify the transmission mount a little. The drive shaft did not have to be modified on mine because I had the proper tail shaft. Some C6's have different length and types of tail shafts the ones out of a truck need to have the passenger car tail shaft to work on the T Bird.

I like the 390/C6 combo a lot. I would do this swap again.

[KULTULZ]

Next item. Does anyone know or has anyone ever seen a skeleton version of the T-Bird emblem? I have all my original trim pieces but thought, with the flat hot-rod paint job I'm going for, that a Bony Bird emblem would look great on the hood and sides of the roof. Or does anyone know somebody with access to a CNC machine that could possibly make some?

Thanks for your replies.

Jimmy

Maybe find an artist (auto paint) and have them airbrushed on? Should be a lot cheaper.

[Dan Leavens]

Jimmy welcome back, as it has been awhile. Won't be long and you will be back in the swing of things on our site with the gang