Transmission Swap C6 back to a Cruise-O-Matic - 65 Thunderbird Hardtop

I've decided to swap out the C6 for a Cruise O Matic on this 65 Thunderbird, the Cruise O Matic is the correct one for this model year, and also, the C6 is slow to engage reverse and drive.
#transmission #thunderbird #classiccars

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[walterjoncas]

Thank You Alvin

The C4 and C6 transmissions were my my favorite. The Tourqe Flite from the Chryser 300-D was another favorite. Over the years I owned several of each. I found rebuilding each them relaxing. Back then a master rebuild kit cost less than $100.00 US. I have not done any transmission work on my 64 T-Bird. But then again it is not leaking or broken. If it aint broken dont fix it.
Walt

[jeffsmith]

Your floor patch panels look great from below. Although prices have skyrocketed, I used 3M undercoating in the past. Just an observation in case you don't know, the 8A26 means the engine block was cast 1968, January (A) 26th. Cool remanufactured tag that gives quite a lot of information on the rebuild. I bought a "Ford Authorized Remanufactured Engine" from Fred Jones remanufacturing in Oklahoma City back in the 80s. It as a 428 and I think it was $750 with a $100 core charge. It had an info plate like yours but it didn't give any specifics, like bored over, etc. Also the 352 cast into the block on the rear of the engine I am sure just means its a basic 352 block (also used with the 390 and 428). I recall 352 being stamped on the 390 blocks that I tore down. Wow... someone went the hard route to install a C6 instead of just rebuilding the original C-O-M trans. Keep us up to date when you pull the pan on the cruise o matic and clean it up. I agree with another post... are you sure you want to sell after all of this work? Lol. Will be a nice cruiser and every day driver except in your Arctic Canadian winter of course.

[charlesdalton]

Wow - that is a HARD one man job - well done sir! I cried with you when you mentioned the top bolt on the starter, until I learned the trick I darn near lost my mind. Thank you as always ~ Chuck

[gwolfe]

The first thing I do when I get an old vehicle is to change out the brake master cylinder from a single to a dual. The second thing I do is weld in a drain plug system in the transmission oil pan !

[alciderichards]

Good video. I have a 61 thunderbird but they are very close. Engineering wise the C6 is stronger, quite a bit, but the Cruse o Matics (FMX too) are more efficient. Could save you a bit on gas.

[vintagethunderbirdrepair]

Hey Alvin. Its interesting to see how people kluge things together to make something work. Its not the end of the world but its always amazed me just how some people try to redesign the car and usually fail miserably. It looks like they did an okay job putting in that C6 though. The trans lines are different between C6 and Cruiso. The shift linkage, throttle support plate are different for C6. The trans cross member is different for C6, yours still has the Cruiso cross member. The C6 cross member has a shorter arm for the Ebrake because they set the cross member back a few inches. So, like so many Thunderbirds, the engine and trans have been changed. I see truck engines in them all the time. Is the intake manifold correct? I noticed the block heater in the freeze plug. I guess you guys need those up there. Does the C6 shift properly like the Cruiso with drive 1 and drive 2? That is a one year only trans for the Thunderbird. The valve body in those are hens teeth so don't give it away or loose it. The flex plate is different for 428 engines. They are externally balanced so the 428 flex plate has a large weight welded to it. Also, originally, they were a spoked flex plate, not solid like the ones in this video. Yours are 390 flex plates which are correct for that engine. The trans does not determine the flex plate in this case. Yeah, the big cross brace was left off because the guys who installed the trans knew better than the designers of the car and figured they didn't need it. Too big and heavy so just leave it off. Don't get me started! The fact that the diff data tag is missing is an indication that somebody was monkeying around with it. If its a 3:25 or higher, its worth some money. The 3 to 1's are boat anchors, nobody wants them. I have a few 31 spline 3 to 1 diffs from 428 cars, nobody wants them. Thanks.

[SierraJohn]

Nice job, and good video coverage. You must have the neutral safety switch on the steering column. I didn't see you having to remove the transmission-mounted switch that you normally see with a C6.

[coolio]

I'm sure you know that you could have just turned the driveshaft end of the transmission and get a pretty accurate reading on what the the gear ratio is for the rearend. Not sure if it would of had a limited slip or posi unit in it for that year unless it had the big motor in it.. Great video, between you and John I've learned so much about these old Birds. Keep up the good work

[kurtvanluven]

Lets hear it for the push start-able automatic *35mph or so!

[servicetechnician]

Hello Alvin. Nice work on the switch out. There should be a tag on that rear end that will let you know the gear ratio? Also, I've used Herculiner truck bed coating for the bottom undercoating. Applied with a dabbing motion with a brush, it is pretty close to the original undercoating. Comes out on the shiny side though.
George B

[sizzle]

Hiya Alvin! Thank you for showing us the difference in C6 and cruise o matic.
We live in a high wind area (gusts up to 50kts during monsoon) and yea it sucks.
Are you sure your selling the car after all this work? Lol
Keep up the great work, and as always looking forward to your next video!

[joernone]

Alvin,
Good job, my friend. For those not in the know, would you mind pointing out the physical diferences between the C6 and the Cruise-O-Matic transmissions. In other words, how do tell the differences just by lookng?
Regards,
John.

[jboomer]

Alvin how was the neutral safety switch connected on the c6? I am wanting to make this switch as my com transmission is having issues and am not able to find anyone to work on it. From what I have read and from viewing your video it seems doable without to much headache. My understanding though is the com transmission on the 65 had the neutral safety switch mounted on the column and the c6 is mounted on the tranny.

[Connorstbird]

Hey so I’m installing new engine into my 65 bird and I have everything lined up but I cannot get the bell housing to mate to engine! Is it possible for transmission to slide back ? The engine is in the motor mounts and everything is lined up!

[brawnjohnson]

Will a c6fit in my 64 bird I put a thumper cam in with totally rebuilt engine can't get enough vacuum to shift right

[SierraJohn]

I'd love to find that "remanufactured engine" tag that you showed in the video. I tried to follow your camera move. Is it behind the oil pan and above slightly (on the driver's side)?

[pauljansky]

i worked for ford for 44 years did there engine and trans repairs- why would you take out one of the best trans ever built--/c6/and install a fmx trans that are not half the trans and hard to get parts for/they also had a lot of forward planet gear failures -

[olds]

Could have just used a pick axe to the bottom of the pan, less mess .