hey guys been awhile since I last got on here my question is I want to convert my 69 ranger long bed to auto my buddy who has had fords for years said seeing that my truck will be just a weekend cruiser that a c4 tranny will do me fine I don't intend to be hauling anything it will be just a cruiser he said I don't need a c6 or aod like I was thinking it will be mated to a 300 cu inline six. is he right or wrong any feedback would be great thanks in advance

 

I agree. C4 will be fine. Especially if you can find a donor vehicle close to you that would have everything on it you would need. A C4 for a rebuildable core,steering column,driveshaft,linkage,torque convertor core,engine to tranny spacer plate,crossmember,etc.,etc.

 

C4: 1965/74 F350 240 I-6 / 1965/77 F100/250 240/300 I-6 / Some 1978/79 F100/250 300 I-6.

C6 first offered with 300 I-6 in 1978, but it was an option over the C4, so not all these trucks have it.

 

thanks jeffafa and ND you guys are great you always help were you can. at the moment I am at a standstill with my truck I have some renovations going on in the house so my truck has taken a back seat to that project I am looking around at the moment to source either a core at a cheap price and get it rebuilt or see if my local guy will do one for a good price. I don't know where I can find a kickdown cable for that application maybe I will have to go without one. my other biggest expense is going to be the automatic steering column its going to cost me 550.00 dollars for a completely rebuit column from top to bottom ready to put in my truck & plug in the harness once again thanks guys

 

Go with a floor shift. Makes it real easy. I liked my c4 behind my 351. I swapped to an AOD for drivability purposes. But for a weekend cruiser I would definitely go with a c4. They are simple, reliable, strong trannys that perform very well.

C6 is a power robber. Takes more to move it.

 

You should be able to find a used auto shift column for a lot less money than that. The main thing that wears on them are the bearings and they're relatively easy to replace. Just make sure you're getting the right length column to match your steering box.

And it's been a while since I've messed with automatics in these trucks, but I'm pretty sure the kickdown was by solid linkage, not cable. You may need to swap your carburetor or at least the carb linkage to one that has the kickdown connection. Also, you'll either need to replace the radiator with one that has the built-in cooler, or install an external cooler in front of the radiator (or both.)