C4 auto...any takers?
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Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
C4 auto...any takers?
ok fellas... since I have since begun my recent buildup on my EB to get ready for our bronco gathering in June, I have run into a couple of problems. I have heard bad things about the stock 3-on-the-tree and I know it can be tough to handle on the trails. I have since found a C4 (thanx chris) that apparently came in the EB's to begin with. i wanted to ask who has any experience with them as far as nothing but offroad.
i have 72 EB halfcab with a 2BBL 302, Ford 3.08 3 speed on the column, D20 t-case, and D44 front Ford 9" in the rear.
what are the drawbacks of using the C4? this will be a trail mostly rig and won't ever see the road. prolly not much mud just steep hills and lots of off-camber riding
on a side note....
whats involved in stuffing the front D44 with Warn alloy axleshafts? do the knuckles have to be machined or anything?
-cutts-
i have 72 EB halfcab with a 2BBL 302, Ford 3.08 3 speed on the column, D20 t-case, and D44 front Ford 9" in the rear.
what are the drawbacks of using the C4? this will be a trail mostly rig and won't ever see the road. prolly not much mud just steep hills and lots of off-camber riding
on a side note....
whats involved in stuffing the front D44 with Warn alloy axleshafts? do the knuckles have to be machined or anything?
-cutts-
Last edited by fishmanndotcom; Apr 12, 2005 at 09:38 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Virginia Beach
Are you specifically trying to go to auto? Pro's I can think of is light weight, they can be built to handle quite a bit of power, and don't suck nearly as much power as a c6. Con's are probably just the same as with any manual to auto swap, ie. drive shafts, crossmembers, external cooling. . . No, I have no real experience with the c4 offroad, I just wanted to pass this article on to you. Its about swapping a "small block" ZF 2wd into your EB. Neato article, the guy I sold mine too was planning this. More work I'm sure than the C4, but think of the cool factor 
http://classicbroncos.com/ZF_Transmission_Swap.shtml
http://classicbroncos.com/ZF_Transmission_Swap.shtml
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Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
well i was referring to more of the internal workings of the C4.... i'm not real worried about driveshafts and the like right now. i am more or less looking to see if it is worth trying to get a C4 or hold out for a C6. i am looking for info on if it will hold up and if it might cause problems or anything else i can't think of right now!
thanx for the info.... its pretty cool!
-cutts-
thanx for the info.... its pretty cool!
-cutts-
Post Fiend
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From: Coutts Canada
Well first those 3 on the tree's are alot tougher than you think, and for the shifter you could always get the hurst floor shift conversion for it if you wanted to do that. But in an EB i would go with a C4 over a C6, major fact is the weight, and eb will be half the weight of the big fullsizes, and unless you're running crazy power the C4 can be built to take a lot of abuse, just look at what the mustang guys are doing with the C4 (which would be a good place to look for for build up info)
Elder User
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Bronco three speeds are fairly tough, but the gearing is horrible for wheeling- The C4 is a fine auto, I have abused many of them- I wouldnt worry about finding a C6, as it will require new driveshafts and will cause your short rear driveshaft to be even shorter. The NP435 is my favorite and I can tell you how to make your own adapter if you dont mind doing some fabrication work. (and I know you dont!!)
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Reed Point, MT
Originally Posted by Franken-Truck
Pro's I can think of is light weight, they can be built to handle quite a bit of power, and don't suck nearly as much power as a c6.
Originally Posted by mustange70
But in an EB i would go with a C4 over a C6, major fact is the weight, and eb will be half the weight of the big fullsizes, and unless you're running crazy power the C4 can be built to take a lot of abuse, just look at what the mustang guys are doing with the C4
There's a guy here with a ?74? or so EB that has a C4. He plows snow with it every year; which putting a heavy-azz plow on an EB is not the smartest thing to do anyways.
Originally Posted by fishmanndotcom
whats involved in stuffing the front D44 with Warn alloy axleshafts? do the knuckles have to be machined or anything?
Cody
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Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
ok, well it sounds like using the C4 auto is a GO! what exactly is involved in building the C4 up? to give everyone an idea i will be using a stock 302 and 33, maybe 35" tires. this isn't gonna be another big'n'bulky rig like my white truck. i am gonna keep the weight and all down on it!
well 77 D44 is not the same as a 78 D44! 72 to 77 are exactly the same and are comparable to the 78-79's except the EB's have a narrower track (i know you know this and not trying to insult anyones intelligence, just thikning out loud). are the shafts diameters and spline counts the same?
EDIT... oh yea, and i forgot to mention that this C4 i can get ahold of is a 2wd tranny. can i just pull the tailhousing off and be able to slide my t-case up on the output shaft? or is there something else required.... like a 4x4 tailshaft??!!?
-cutts-
Originally Posted by cleatus12r
My friend put those in his 78 Ford D44 with OX u-joints....I think he had to clearance the shafts ever so slightly for the u-joints, but not the knuckles for the axleshafts.
EDIT... oh yea, and i forgot to mention that this C4 i can get ahold of is a 2wd tranny. can i just pull the tailhousing off and be able to slide my t-case up on the output shaft? or is there something else required.... like a 4x4 tailshaft??!!?
-cutts-
Last edited by fishmanndotcom; Apr 13, 2005 at 07:47 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: GA
dont forget your axles use those crappy little dana 30 type 260 joints, rather than 297's
i dont know wut kinda shape this tranny is in, it shoudl be fine if you give her some fresh fluid
i dont know wut kinda shape this tranny is in, it shoudl be fine if you give her some fresh fluid
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Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
whats the difference b/c a 2wd and a 4wd tailhousing?
lol, i know i have to tear the tranny apart b/c i did it with my C6! i hope i don't have to do it again. Rob, i might be calling you again, lol!
what would it take to mate a 2wd C4 to a married D20?
yea i plan to pull the stock crappy shafts and stuff the Warn alloys in. a buddy of mine has been running the same setup i plan to run and he has never had a problem with shafts!
-cutts-
lol, i know i have to tear the tranny apart b/c i did it with my C6! i hope i don't have to do it again. Rob, i might be calling you again, lol!
what would it take to mate a 2wd C4 to a married D20?
yea i plan to pull the stock crappy shafts and stuff the Warn alloys in. a buddy of mine has been running the same setup i plan to run and he has never had a problem with shafts!
-cutts-
Last edited by fishmanndotcom; Apr 13, 2005 at 04:09 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 581
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From: Somerset, Pa
Go to the wildhorses4x4 website and look at item #8331 unter (transmissions, the c-4), that will give you an idea of what you need. A 2wd tailhousing has a slip yoke.
I would take about $449.99 to mate them!!!!
I would take about $449.99 to mate them!!!!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
I'm glad you decided do go with the C4. I've put many miles on a 3speed in an F150, and it is ok for the highway (ok- it is tolerable for the highway, not ok), but it is impossible to shift good when you really need it. and the floor shifters are really sloppy (at least mine was).
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Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
well i have discovered that i need an adapter kit that runs in the neighborhood of $400! thats more than i am paying for the whole transmission with a running 302 bolted to it! so what other options do i have? should i keep looking for a C4 already boted to a D20? or did they even come that way?
-cutts-
-cutts-