What's a Cruise-o-matic?

Hey Guys, found out my 66 has a Cruise-o-matic with a 289 engine. I thought it had a C4, anyway can some one explain to me how this tranny works and is it worth keeping or should I put a C4 in it and how hard is that to change around too?

During this period, the term CRUISE-O-MATIC was used to describe the FX, C4 and C6. Does it have a separate cast iron main case? What is the shift pattern on the dial indicator?

Low (the very bottom position) is First gear. Can be second if you shift into it while driving and your above or near 20 mph

The second position up is Full automatic... all three gears,

The third position from the bottom, is second and third only. No first gear.

You will not find a Cruise O Matic behind a 289. That's like putting a Chevy Turbo 400 Tranny behind the Geo Metro 3 cylinder motor...

You very likely have an FX/FMX, which is the same design physically as the Cruise-o, but lighter duty, physically lighter and a bit smaller.

FE

Well then I think it's an FX then but I know the shift pattern is like Mikes66 mentioned. Can I replace this FX with a C4 and is it easy to do? I plan on putting some more hp into this motor and don't want a weak tranny.

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

You will not find a Cruise O Matic behind a 289. That's like putting a Chevy Turbo 400 Tranny behind the Geo Metro 3 cylinder motor...

You very likely have an FX/FMX, which is the same design physically as the Cruise-o, but lighter duty, physically lighter and a bit smaller.

FE

Now you know I am going to have to yell at you here...

The FX is the 3S Dual Range CRUISE-O-MATIC (introduced in 1958), which can be identified quickly by the cast iron main case. The FMX (The COM redesigned combining best features of the COM and MERC-O-MATIC Multi-Drive) was not introduced until 1968.

The Shift Selector Dial should read P-R-N-D2-D1-L. The early C4 and C6 also had this Dual Range shift pattern before the introduction of SELECT-SHIFT, the pattern being P-R-N-D-2-1.

The C4 swap is not that difficult. The C4 is a three piece trans with an aluminum main case.

Ohhhhh, OIC, an FX is the same damn thing then... Just the combination of the earlier ford and merc trannies...

I love learning new schitt! Holler away

Ok...so far so good then. thanks for the Illustration on the case lengths Kultulz, If it's not that difficult to change the FX to a C4 then is there a kit I can buy and is there any special year C4 I should get. I know I can bolt it to the 289 but now I wonder if I can have a floor shifter with a front bench seat? I don't have any buckets located yet but will keep looking. I'm sure I'll have to change out the yokes on the drive shaft too but that's easy enough. Any help here would be great. I'm taking notes....

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

Ohhhhh, OIC, an FX is the same damn thing then... Just the combination of the earlier ford and merc trannies...

I love learning new schitt! Holler away

No...not quite. There are four transmissions in this series. The origional FORD-O-MATIC (1950), the MERC-O-MATIC (heavier main case-more clutches, etc.) the TURBO-DRIVE (LINC ONLY-early production 1958) and the PX (true 2S automatic-economy-introduced 1959).

These were SINGLE RANGE TRANSMISSIONS (second gear start-P-R-N-D-1). In 1958 the series was redesigned (updated) to make the trans Dual Range (first or second gear start depending on driver choice- P-R-N-D2-D1-L). These were designated FX- CRUISE-O-MATIC (light and normal duty), MX- MERC-O-MATIC Multi-Range (heavier car and performance) and the LX-TWIN TURBO.

The LX was replaced with the C6 in 1966. The FX and MX were redesigned in 1968 by putting the MX internals into the smaller FX main case (reinforced) (rear pump was eliminated to make room) and has the same case size as the earlier FX. This was the FMX (SELECT SHIFT P-R-N-D-2-1). It was discontinued in 1980 with the introduction of the AOD.

kultulz...
you know your trannies.... i concur w/ your info...
the fmx is a borg-warner design, btw..