Notices
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

Manual to automatic conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 15, 2018 | 09:52 PM
  #1  
booskie's Avatar
booskie
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Manual to automatic conversion

Hello, I’m looking for some feedback and/or advice. I have a 1972 F350 that has the 4 speed manual transmission. I’d love to convert the truck to an automatic for ease of driving. Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Costly? What do I need to do?? Thanks in advance for any input.



 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2018 | 01:47 AM
  #2  
RichS2659's Avatar
RichS2659
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,009
Likes: 250
From: North Pole, Alaska
Easy-peasy is to just buy an auto-equipped truck and transfer everything over that way you get all the little hard to find pieces, and scrap or part out the truck.
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2018 | 01:47 PM
  #3  
Freightrain's Avatar
Freightrain
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
Club FTE Silver Member

A column, a C6, and some time. Likely have to modify the driveshaft in some manner. Not that big of a deal, easier then putting a stick in it. You can leave the clutch pedal in it(or not). The rest just bolts in, the transmission crossmember can just slide and redrill to fit(I've done that putting a stick in them).

The only real issue might be the crossmember under the bellhousing. My '69 was removable to ease getting the bellhousing of the C6 in/out. My '70 stick truck did not come out. You just need to cut the rivets and replace with bolts.
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2018 | 09:38 PM
  #4  
Thipdar's Avatar
Thipdar
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 5
From: San Francisco East Bay
Originally Posted by booskie
Hello, I’m looking for some feedback and/or advice. I have a 1972 F350 that has the 4 speed manual transmission. I’d love to convert the truck to an automatic for ease of driving. Has anyone done this? Is it simple? Costly? What do I need to do?? Thanks in advance for any input.
Minor modification to the wiring: You'll probably have to change your Neutral Safety Switch, and the place where it hooks into the wiring.
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2018 | 10:09 PM
  #5  
RichS2659's Avatar
RichS2659
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,009
Likes: 250
From: North Pole, Alaska
Show me a 3 or 4 speed truck that had a NSS or a clutch switch. Never had them until the clutch safety switch happened in the 80's.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2018 | 08:21 AM
  #6  
Freightrain's Avatar
Freightrain
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
Club FTE Silver Member

The NSS was only hooked up with an automatic. There is a flat 4 pin plug under the dash. Two are for NSS(which just have a jumper wire for a stick truck), and two for backup lights. The NSS and back up lights will plug into switch on bottom of automatic column.
 
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 12:02 AM
  #7  
Thipdar's Avatar
Thipdar
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 5
From: San Francisco East Bay
Originally Posted by RichS2659
Show me a 3 or 4 speed truck that had a NSS or a clutch switch. Never had them until the clutch safety switch happened in the 80's.
Even when the transmission is a manual, the wiring harness has a connector for the Neutral Safety Switch.


There's also a provision for an alternate placement of the Reverse Switch.

Even though this is for a 1970, it should be close enough for 1972, at least for that part. The 1972 diagram isn't particularly informative about what plugs into the connectors it shows.

So even without a NSSwitch on the transmission being removed, it's still something to cope with when the automatic transmission is installed.
 
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 02:08 AM
  #8  
RichS2659's Avatar
RichS2659
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,009
Likes: 250
From: North Pole, Alaska
The wiring harness has applications for every option known, but there still is not a physical switch located on a manual trans as you insinuated.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 03:32 PM
  #9  
Thipdar's Avatar
Thipdar
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 5
From: San Francisco East Bay
Originally Posted by RichS2659
The wiring harness has applications for every option known, but there still is not a physical switch located on a manual trans as you insinuated.
It could well be that I was thinking of the Reverse Switch.
 
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 06:02 PM
  #10  
HIO Silver's Avatar
HIO Silver
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Off the top of my head....
  • Compatible C-6 transmission
  • Flex plate access cover
  • C-6 dipstick & tube
  • Flex plate
  • Starter?
  • Torque converter
  • Driveshaft .. only the front shaft (intermediate shaft) is needed as it will need to be the longer auto trans version.
  • Speedo gear & cable
  • Transmission kickdown linkage
  • Transmission cooler lines
  • Vacuum fittings & hose on intake manifold (for modulator)
  • Steering column for auto trans. Get a tilt column from a Dentside!!
  • Steering column's shift linkages
  • Steering column plate at firewall
  • Pedal linkage assembly for an auto trans truck (or remove/cut off the clutch pedal arm
  • Wide brake pedal pad
  • Neutral start switch (IIRC manual trans trucks have bridged plug)
.
 
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 11:17 AM
  #11  
Pappawheely's Avatar
Pappawheely
Mountain Pass
10 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 4
From: On the road to nowhere.
Where are you located? I am going the opposite way and will trade parts.
 
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 02:39 PM
  #12  
hillcountryflt's Avatar
hillcountryflt
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,031
Likes: 72
Club FTE Gold Member
which engine do you have in your f250. Just watching. My conversion from 3-on-the-tree to c4 has not been the smoothest. A lot of self-induced misery (wrong c4 for starters).
 
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2018 | 11:35 AM
  #13  
JEFFFAFA's Avatar
JEFFFAFA
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
A local driveshaft company can make a driveshaft longer or shorter. To shorten one they cut one end off the driveshaft. Cut the tube the required amount. Weld the end back on. Then rebalance it. To lengthen it they cut both ends off and weld them to a new and longer tube. Then balance it..
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RangerFever
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
3
Mar 26, 2018 08:35 AM
satx78247
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
23
Oct 22, 2016 09:28 PM
dldjeep
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
Aug 11, 2013 06:30 PM
BlueOvalBud
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Sep 18, 2010 05:59 AM
chrsr3089
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
2
Nov 30, 2007 04:39 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:41 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE