Cruise-O-Matic MX to C6 Conversion ??

Hello

What has to be done to convert a 64 MX Cruise O to a 66 C6 transmission?

I think there should nt be any problems because the 66 T-bird was available with a 428 / C6 and a 390 / MX combination. But I never heared about different drive shaft, shifter / kick down linkage, flex plate, trans mounts.

Does anyone know if I can use a 66 C6 in my 64 T-Bird??

Anything is possible, but the main thing here is finding an early 1966 C6 with a Dual-Range (GreenDot) valvebody as many 66 and most all 1966/ C6's were Select Shift which would cause your shift indicator to read incorrectly.

Squarebirds, Rocketbirds, and Fifties/Sixties Ford Discussion Forum - Vintage Thunderbird

What is wrong with the MX?

Mechanically it's not terrible but be ready to think about:

Cutting driveshaft 3"
Reuse mounts and crossmember. Might be tight -- don't know your chassis.
Reuse flexplate
New converter
Linkage is different but MX/FMX can be 'altered' to fit. Needs to be bent and the holes elongated.
Kickdown is generally the same -- if not able to make work then either disconnect or add Lokar cable linkage.
Cooling line plumbing is entirely different.

The MX had following problems:
1. Didn´t shift into 3rd gear
2. slipped in first
3. slipped in reverse

Then I ordered a rebuild kit with clutch and friction plates, all gaskets and vacuum modulator.
I rebuild the transmission. I followed exactly the FoMoCo repair manual.
Put the tranny back into the car. I used B&M Trick Shift oil.
I took care to get all the air out of the system (had the car running on a lift).
When the fluid level was perfect I went for a testdrive.
While this test drive both teeth of the converter which slip into the gear of the front pump broke.
I had the converter and pump in a local machine shop. They did a perfect job.
I drained the oil of the tranny, there were no metal particels in the oil. I had the oil runnig through a filter.
When I installed the tranny again, same procedure as the last time, it had a further defect.
Yesterday I removed the oil pan. I saw that the rear servo was completely destroyed, the rear clutch too. I found out that the preasure rehulator was stucked (because of a small piece of metal :-(
Now I don´t know what to do. It´s so difficult to get MX parts. And everyone who has some take many dollars for everything.
So I´m thinking about what to do.

Any ideas??

As for the MX, this gentleman is the final authority- Broader Performance Home Page

The easiest way to go about the upgrade (IMO) is to have a 66 BIRD donor.

Here is a descriptive thread- Vintage Thunderbird Club International :: View topic - Cruise-O-Matic vs. C4 vs. C6 vs. AOD vs. etc etc

Thanks for the help.

I called Broader Performance today.
I told them what problem my transmission has, and he said that blown rear servos are a common problem on those transmissions.
But it should be no problem to fix it.
So I´m going to ship my tranny to them.
I also want them to do a valve body reprograming and raising the stall speed to 1600 RPM.
Unbelieveable. I didn´t think that there´s anybody who modifies Cruise O´s.

Thanks again.

You'll have great luck with Broader.

I only deal with Jay (the owner) and send a lot of folks his way.

Sorry to see it disintegrate on you. The MX/FMX is sturdy. I have piles of parts in my garage. I see you're in Austria? Is that correct? It must be expensive to ship?

It sounds like you may not have gotten the converter correctly engaged on the pump and it broke. I did that the first time back in 1984. Sigh. What a learning experience.

Not sure what could cause the rear servo to fail unless something was not properly engaged.

Always air test your transmissions at each step during assembly and you'll save yourself a lot of grief.

Yes, correct. I´m from austria. The shipping of the transmission will be about 500 dollars :-(

It was a learning experience. This was the first automatic transmission I tried to rebuild.
Now I´m not sure if I did a good job. I drove the car through the city. It ran fine in first gear and in reverse. And when I left the city an accelerated up to 40 or 45 mph the thing with the converter / front pump happened. f....
In that moment I wasn´t sure if I should cry, just shout.......
Thats a one owner car, all original, first paint still on, 43000 miles on, mint.
Only the problem with the tranny.
And when I put the tranny back into the car with the repaired converter and pump Í only had the car running on the lift. The pump broke while it was still on the lift. sh..
Now I´m afraid of making any mistakes. Thats why I want to ship it to a Pro.

Even when you get it back, be sure to seat the converter all the way into the pump. The converter will sit back at least an inch from the bellhousing surface when it's in the last engagement position.

T-Bird64,

Who did you order your rebuild kit from?

I am trying to find a kit for a '63 TBird MX, but not having much luck.

Any leads and/or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanx in advace.

texastomeh