How To Build A Better C4 Transmission. Ford's C4 Cruise- O- Matic transmission is the most reliable automatic Ford has ever produced. It is simple by design. In fact, it is so simple you can tear it down and rebuild it in your home garage using the Ford Shop Manual because no special tools are required. However, transmission building is a finite science, so we suggest turning yours over to a professional with experience. We visited Ron Hazelton at Transmission Rebuilding Company (TRC) in Chatsworth, California, which has been in business since 1.
Detail information and identification of Ford and Mustang C4 automatic transmission. What Type of Ford Transmission - Torque Converter Do I Have - If you don't see the product you need please call us at (800) 708-0087 Vehicle Years # of Speeds RWD.
Very often I find people asking about the.
Suffice it to say Ron knows a thing or two about automatic transmissions and has the challenge of keeping up with the latest technology from Detroit, Europe, and Asia. This is Gary Schweitzer's C4 Dual- Range Cruise- O- Matic transmission, which is suffering mostly from 3. Jaime Sanchez of TRC is going to disassemble and inspect Gary's C4 and give us a report on what it needs.
![Installing A C4 Transmission Installing A C4 Transmission](http://image.mustangmonthly.com/f/35498094+w750+st0/mump_1101_03_+service_ford_mustang_c4_transmission+_transmission_cutaway.jpg)
Note the C4's simplicity and compact design. Despite its small size, it is a very rugged transmission. For this article, we asked Ron to rebuild Gary Schweitzer's C4 Dual- Range Cruise- O- Matic transmission from 5.
F0. 8T3. 83. 38. 6, one of 1. New York World's Fair Magic Skyway. Because Gary's transmission had not been operational since 1. Internally, it was perfect from just 3.
Jaime Sanchez, a certified transmission tech at TRC, unloaded our C4 and placed it on his bench. Gary's C4 was typical, even with its low mileage.
Burned, rancid fluid poured onto the bench, which isn't always as bad as it may seem despite its nasty smell and color. Discolored automatic transmission fluid (brown to black in color) has been hot, laced with friction material from clutches and bands. This means Gary's C4 did its share of slipping in 3. Fortunately, Gary's hard parts survived nicely, ready for a return to service with little more than inspection and resurfacing. As we knocked down Gary's C4, the wonderful simplicity of this transmission rang true. It is a simple, old- fashioned, three- speed automatic sporting an interchangeable bolt- on aluminum bellhousing, removable tailshaft housing, and main case.
The main case didn't change much over this transmission's 2. C5 production from '8. Bellhousings and tailshaft housings mainly depended on vehicle application, with Mustangs employing the majority of C4s built. Jamie Sanchez begins disassembly with bellhousing removal. This is a very snug fit, which called for gentle manipulation with a mallet and large common screwdriver. C4 Highlights'6. 4- '6. Known as the C4 Dual- Range Cruise- O- Matic with a very specific transmission selector with a small dot and a large dot (hence the name .
There has always been a lot of confusion about which dot to use. Use the large dot for normal driving. The small dot keeps it in second gear for driving on icy roads or when a gentle start is required. This version has a 2.
Select- Shift with standard PRND2. Has a 2. 4- spline input shaft (. Only Select- Shift with PRND2. If you're going with the larger 2. C4 (prior to 1. 97. Select- Shift with PRND2.
Select- Shift C5 is an improved C4 with locking torque converter for better fuel economy. The C5 case is easily identified by casting numbers that begin D2, D3, D4, D5, and D6. The C5 was replaced by the Automatic Overdrive (AOD). There were two bellhousing sizes for V- 8 C4 transmissions - 1. There was also a pan- fill C4 designed for trucks with a 1.
Stay away from these for Mustang applications. Pinto ('7. 1- '8. Mustang II ('7. 4- '7. C4 with a smaller bellhousing and 1.
They also had a unique valve body. The intermediate servo on the right hand side is removed first.
Because this C4 is for a six cylinder, it has the . Servo size is a matter of piston/bore size and displacement. High- performance applications call for the largest .
TCI Automotive also has a large intermediate servo kit (No. C4 transmissions. If you're running an '8. L engine, you will need a 5. How To Adjust Bands. Intermediate Band Adjustment: Left side of case, tighten to 1. Tighten locknut. Low- Reverse Band Adjustment: Right side of case, tighten to 1.
Ron Hazelton's son, Troy, specializes in torque converter design and function. Troy walked us through the rebuilding of Gary's factory original torque converter, which needed little more than a good clean up and inspection. It was in perfect mechanical condition. On the left side, neutral safety switch and kick- down linkage are removed next. We suggest a new neutral safety switch and kick- down cable/linkage from National Parts Depot. The neutral safety switch tends to be a weak link with time and age, causing a no- start condition.
A torque converter does three things: it transfers power from the engine to the transmission's input shaft, multiplies torque to give the engine mechanical advantage, and turns the transmission's front pump to make hydraulic pressure for proper function. Torque converters consist of five major components - front shell (impeller), stator (hub), turbine (drives the transmission input shaft), rear shell (drives the front pump), and sprag (one- way clutch). The front shell, which contains the impeller, is what gets fluid moving through the converter. The stator is the torque converter's traffic cop.
It vectors fluid from the impeller to the turbine, which is splined to the input shaft. The sprag is a one- way clutch located inside the stator, splining it to the transmission's front hub.
The sprag's job is to keep the stator locked in position when the torque converter stalls. Stall speed is when engine rpms are high enough to move the vehicle. As vehicle speed picks up, the stator whirls around with the rest of the torque converter. The stator's primary job is to get us started when the accelerator is pressed. In short, torque multiplication. This is the low/reverse servo, which controls the low/reverse band and clutch drum.
The cover is stamped steel, unlike the intermediate band servo cover on the other side, which is cast aluminum. Torque converter stall speed should be chosen based on where your engine makes the most power. For stock applications, stall speed should be somewhere around 1,4. Weekend racers want to see a higher stall speed around 2,4. Serious racers want an even higher stall speed around 3,5. So what does that feel like? When you step on the gas with a high- stall converter, the engine will rev, but not begin to move the vehicle until rpm reaches 3,0.
Street engines need immediate transmission response right off idle, which calls for a lower stall speed. Street torque converters with low stall speed don't need to be as rugged as racing converters either.
Racing converters with higher stall speed need to be rugged, with furnace- brazed fins and heavy- duty components. Jaime frees up the intermediate band and reverse/high clutch and forward clutch packages, which are the first items to come out through the front. Inside the reverse/high clutch are composition steel and friction clutches along with a clutch piston that engages them under pressure.
For proper operation, good friction is needed. Valve Body. If you're rebuilding a C4 to stock specifications, all your valve body should need is a thorough cleaning and inspection. Valve pistons should be checked for smooth operation- a nice, smooth glide back and forth with no resistance. Springs and check balls should be replaced as necessary. If you desire a firm shift, TCI Automotive has complete performance valve bodies and shift kits.
Ask for the #5. 22. Application. Shift Improvement Kit.
No. 5. 26. 00. 01. No. 5. 26. 10. 01.
UPNo. 5. 26. 20. 0When Should Your C4 Upshift? D1/Minimum Throttle with 3. D1/Maximum Throttle with 3. D1/Minimum Throttle with 2.