Was a Cruise-O-Matic standard fitment in a '64?

[Dave in Lancashire]

Sorry to keep asking questions but this is not serious, just one which is confusing me.

I've read in several places, my copy of the owners manual included, that the correct position for normal driving is with the pointer in the D (green dot) position which is next to the L. However, when I do select this green dot position, the car starts and stays in second gear, not doing any shifting at all. If I'm driving and move the selector to the other D (white dot) position next to N, then it shifts into top gear instantly and behaves normally. If I leave it here, it sets off in first and goes all through the gears as I would expect.

I'm wondering if it would be feasible that someone could have fitted a C6 (or even C4) transmission at some stage in the car's life? My last American car (1970 Ranchero with a 429ci) had a C6 and this one seems to have the same shift pattern. I've currently no access to the car so can't get underneath to look but would this have been a normal modification at the time?

It doesn't really bother me more a matter of interest than anything else, I'm intentionally avoiding posting about my roof issues at the moment, just going through them methodically but will no doubt be begging for help at some stage.

[jopizz]

It sounds like your manual linkage is off by one notch. When you select D1 (the large green dot) you are actually in Low and when you select D2 you are in D1. Refer to the shop manual on how to adjust the manual linkage. It's not that difficult.

John

[Dave in Lancashire]

Hi John, I initially thought that myself though, when I move the lever al the way right to L, it stays in 1st gear. It's when I take it to the next notch, the D position next to the L, that it stays in what seems to be second. Move it up another one to the next D and it drives normally. It just seems that the two "Ds" are reversed as to what the book says they should be. Everything else seems fine.

[jopizz]

All Ford transmissions of that era whether it's a Cruise-o-matic, C6 or a C4 have the D1 position next to the L and the D2 position next to N. I don't see how they could ever get reversed unless there's something really wrong in the transmission. D1 is the correct position to get all three speeds. I'm not a transmission expert so I don't know if it's possible if the transmission was rebuilt to reverse the two positions. Dave Dare would be the guy to ask. He's rebuilt many Ford transmissions. Have you checked the vacuum modulator. Perhaps if that's defective or vacuum is leaking it could mess up the shifting order.

John

[Dave in Lancashire]

Not tried anything yet John, barely had the thing on the road as it's currently undergoing a bit of a re-commissioning. As for the vacuum modulator, I've no idea where it is or what it does but not many vacuum operated things are working as yet. I'll look in my Shop Manual later to see if I can glean any knowledge from there though...

The transmission drives and shifts fine, it's just that the shift pattern is not as it should be, it's currently the same as my C6 was in the Ranchero at P R N D 2 1

[jopizz]

The vacuum modulator is on the driver side of the transmission. On your '64 it has a vacuum line that goes to the brake booster check valve.

John

trans line.jpg

[simplyconnected]

You are in Europe where parts are scarce and very expensive. Since the C6 is more recent and more plentiful, you very well could have a C6.
I have to say that the C6 is more popular with owners who want a more robust (racing) transmission BUT the C6 also saps more overhead power to operate. Honestly, the C4 is just fine for standard service meaning, if you don't haul trailers up mountains or if you don't seriously race, the C4 is a better choice as it offers better fuel economy. Everything else is the same.

Rebuild kits for the C4 also use many of the same parts as the C6. What we usually see is a failed 'O' ring in the shifting shaft that leaks, caused by old age and heat that makes it brittle.

Your transmission has a plate, showing the identification numbers. You can verify your trans with that plate. Also...

• Ford C4 (1964-1981): Features an 11-bolt pan with relatively shallow depth. Its lightweight aluminum construction and removable bellhousing were popular for small-block applications.
• Ford C6 (1966-1996): Uses a distinctive 17-bolt pan with an S-shaped rear edge. The C6’s one-piece aluminum case with integrated bellhousing reflects its heavy-duty design philosophy.

- Dave

[Dave in Lancashire]

Appreciate the reply and I must admit this was also my line of thinking. If it was changed here in the UK then a C6 would be a lot easier to find than the original.

Unfortunately the car came to me with no history so I've no idea what's happened to it in it's life so far. I was told that it's been in the UK for less than a couple of years, having been found in a lock up somewhere in Kansas (yet another"Barn Find") but it's all hearsay and probably somewhat embellished though the condition of the bodywork would support that theory I suppose, shabby flat paint with bits of rust yet no rot.

I'm limited on space where the car is at the moment so can't lift it to get underneath but once I can make room I'll try to identify the transmission. I'm familiar with the C6 having previously owned and worked on one so, if it's one of those, I should hopefully recognise it. Incidentally, when I say worked on one, it was only changing the pan and filter, nothing technical like you guys get up to, auto transmissions are pretty much witchcraft to me...

[jopizz]

It's easy to tell the difference between a C6 and a COM. The C6 is all one piece where with the COM the bell housing is detachable from the transmission body. Also on the C6 the dipstick tube pushes into the transmission body and on the COM the dipstick tube screws into the pan.

John

[jopizz]

The transmission drives and shifts fine, it's just that the shift pattern is not as it should be, it's currently the same as my C6 was in the Ranchero at P R N D 2 1

Ford went to the C6 in 1966 in the Thunderbird and used the same shift indicator as your '64. (P-R-N-D2-D1-L). How they accomplished this is a mystery as you are correct that the C6 has D1 and D2 reversed. I will have to do some research to find out how this was done but you may indeed have a C6.

John

[jopizz]

Mystery solved. The 1966 C6 was the only year with the "Green Dot" shift pattern. (P-R-N-D2-D1-L). In 1967 they switched to the pattern you are familiar with (P-R-N-D-2-1). If you do have a C6 it is 1967 or later.

John

[Dave in Lancashire]

Thank you for all your help with this John, I'm tending to assume that this is what's happened, as per my earlier reply to simplyconnected We're very limited in the spares we can access over here and a C-O-M transmission would be a rare beast indeed.

I've still not been under the car, nor will I get a chance to until early next week now, but I'll confirm as soon as I can do.

[jopizz]

Thanks for the info Dave. The valve body on a 1966 C6 is a one year only so that explains it.

John

[simplyconnected]

...How they accomplished this is a mystery as you are correct that the C6 has D1 and D2 reversed.

All the magic is done through the valve body. The1966 C6 "Dual Drive" valve body is considered a one-year orphan and an outcast.

You may swap valve bodies from just about any later C6 to get back the 'standard' shift pattern. - Dave