Fordomatic first gear start
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Fordomatic first gear start
I have a PAW-7003-C air cooled Fordomatic in a 1956 Thunderbird that I am going to overhaul. This transmission is in front of a 3.31 ratio rear axle and normally starts in second gear.
I have heard that the '55 & '56 Fordomatic used in light trucks started in first gear. I would like to know if I could use parts of the truck transmission to convert my T-Bird transmission to start in first gear. That will allow me run taller rear gears.
Thanks for your help.
I have heard that the '55 & '56 Fordomatic used in light trucks started in first gear. I would like to know if I could use parts of the truck transmission to convert my T-Bird transmission to start in first gear. That will allow me run taller rear gears.
Thanks for your help.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
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Fordomatic first gear start
According to the owner's manual ( for cars ) they are suposed to take off in first gear when you push the pedal to the floor on takeoff. There's some advertising name/ catchphrase for that feature that I can'r remember now. Not really practical IMO, also it never worked with any I ever drove.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 113
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From: Connecticut
Fordomatic first gear start
I had a 57 Ford with the 2 speed Fordomatic and if I really pushed hard on that sucker, she'd light up the rear tires, all that with a 272 CID, Other than that, she'd always start in second gear. I was happy with the way it worked.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 344
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From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Fordomatic first gear start
Yeah. My '57 Failane 500 (292) had the gawdafulest cammed-first-gear-kickdown throttle linkage that needed mucho fussin' and adjustment to work. I guess I never trusted it to kick first from a dead stop so I pulled the lever down--so I suppose its possbile tromping on a properly adusted setup might get you first off the line
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Valley Center, CA
Fordomatic first gear start
I have a stock 55 Fairlane. It has the 272 with a Fordomatic. The phrase in question for the ads that year was Trigger-Torque power. It readily shifts down to first if you floor it and it will smoke the tires. I never heard that the truck versions started off in first. Good luck, John
