I am getting ready to make the van I bought last summer road worthy. I would really like to switch over to an auto tranny. I've got a 65 with a 240 motor and its a 3 speed right now. I am basically looking to turn this into a show vehicle and a cruiser so right now I just wanna drive it, and don't want to go back to the three on the tree shifting I learned as a 16yr old..

Can I use a c-4? If so what years amI am going to need to start looking for?

 

Yes you can use a C-4, that was the factory auto tranny from 65-67, the problem is the tailshaft. The Econoline uses a unique, extra short tailshaft. Also, all of the shifter linkage is unique to the Econoline. If you want to do a swap-out, best to find a cheap automatic donor van. That's what I did.

 

you can use a c4 from 60's thru about 81-2. anything from behind a 240-351w will bolt to the motor, then you get to work the mount and driveshaft over!
the econo used a top hung mount, 61-64 used a donut type mount, 65-67 used a flat 2 bolt mount.
the tail shaft is also shorter on an econo trans, but you can shorten the drive shaft.
for linkage, well, you will just have to make it unless you are lucky enough to find an automatic van for parts.


jim

 

Well I didn't really want to have to jump through a ton of hoops...If I keep the stock 3 speed can I change it over to floor shifted somehow? I know they make some kits to convert to floor shifters, I would just have to put a longer shifter on it yeah?

 

welll, mabey you oughta leave it on the column, since the tranny is under the front of the bed!

there is a shifter out there, have no idea who made it, that bolts to the floorboard. with that shifter and a little fab work on the linkage, it should be doable.


jim

 

Where on the floor are you going to put the shifter? When you are sitting down, the radiator is almost at your knee. There isn't much more than about 10"-12" between the doghouse and the front. Better be a very short throw shifter. Also, any shift linkage is going to be in the air path to the radiator. These vans hardly breath now, I don't think you want to be putting any obstructions into the air path to the radiator.