manual to automatic
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New User
Joined: Jan 2009
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manual to automatic
hi,
I have a 75 f250 highboy with a 360 and wanted to convert it from manual to automatic.can anyone give me any advice on what it will take,parts and price wise. can I have a trans shop do it or do I have to do it myself?
thanks,
I have a 75 f250 highboy with a 360 and wanted to convert it from manual to automatic.can anyone give me any advice on what it will take,parts and price wise. can I have a trans shop do it or do I have to do it myself?
thanks,
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 157
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From: Mariposa, CA
4speed to automatic
Well most will tell you to keep the 4 speed, but I did the change over to my highboy many years ago, it made it more pleasant to drive in traffic(when I lived in Orange County.
first and most obvious you'll need a C6 with an FE (round) bellhousing, flex plate(automatic flywheel & shorter flywheel bolts) also remove the pilot bearing) this would be a short tail shaft version with the bolt hole for the T-case shifter(hopefully with a bolt yoke), also you'll need cooling lines, the shifter, hum here is where I chose the wrong one, if you use a trans out of a two wheel drive the shift linkage will be wrong and will hit the crossmember between the rear of the front springs. use a fourwheel drive trans shifter type, fits perfect, however these are getting quit difficult to find. when I did my conversion after all was said & done I had a bad shimmy off Idle in any forward gear, I had to get some brackets for a T-case brace, it was only put on automatic trucks, it bolts to the back of the T-case at the bottom left (lower three bolt holes) of the rear cover, and extends up to the crossmember that your e-brake cables go through. I made mine adjustable for obvious reasons. the neutral safety switch your truck should have the wiring plug as mine did, it will be a 4 or 6 lead plug. if not it's not hard to wire in. the thing i miss most about the swap is the granny gear first. but you'll adapt. if you can think of any other questions ask us.
RW
first and most obvious you'll need a C6 with an FE (round) bellhousing, flex plate(automatic flywheel & shorter flywheel bolts) also remove the pilot bearing) this would be a short tail shaft version with the bolt hole for the T-case shifter(hopefully with a bolt yoke), also you'll need cooling lines, the shifter, hum here is where I chose the wrong one, if you use a trans out of a two wheel drive the shift linkage will be wrong and will hit the crossmember between the rear of the front springs. use a fourwheel drive trans shifter type, fits perfect, however these are getting quit difficult to find. when I did my conversion after all was said & done I had a bad shimmy off Idle in any forward gear, I had to get some brackets for a T-case brace, it was only put on automatic trucks, it bolts to the back of the T-case at the bottom left (lower three bolt holes) of the rear cover, and extends up to the crossmember that your e-brake cables go through. I made mine adjustable for obvious reasons. the neutral safety switch your truck should have the wiring plug as mine did, it will be a 4 or 6 lead plug. if not it's not hard to wire in. the thing i miss most about the swap is the granny gear first. but you'll adapt. if you can think of any other questions ask us.
RW
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
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From: Gadsden Purchase
And some of us, because we've been doing a good job of taking our "meds"
lately, won't tell you anything at all, and so not get our *** kicked off here. ;)
But tell us why, danggit? :(
Alvin in AZ '75 F150 360FE T18 special ordered in Nov'74
lately, won't tell you anything at all, and so not get our *** kicked off here. ;)
But tell us why, danggit? :(
Alvin in AZ '75 F150 360FE T18 special ordered in Nov'74
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
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From: Across from the neighbors
Obviously nobody here spends any real time in the mud. By the time you shift gears yyour already stuck. A well built C6 will handle a load better than any 435 or BW tranny. And if im not mistakin in the 70s ford didnt even mention the 4 spd nin the towing specs in the brochure.
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New User
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do you know any shops in the so-cal area that would do it? I dont have alot of room at my current place for a job that big.
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From: DeKalb, Ill.
Obviously nobody here spends any real time in the mud. By the time you shift gears yyour already stuck. A well built C6 will handle a load better than any 435 or BW tranny. And if im not mistakin in the 70s ford didnt even mention the 4 spd nin the towing specs in the brochure.[/quote]
No, I have not spent much time in the mud, but the little I have been around it, I don't recall autos shifting gears themselves. They seem to latch onto a gear and go. Pulling... you said it yourself, "A well built C6.... ", yea, a WELL BUILT C6. The brochure didn't mention the towing specs of the 4 speed because it's not an issue. Ford offered the 4 spd in the Camper Special and the F350 without mentioning their towing specs. Enough said. So, build up your C6's, and build them well- with your trans coolers and all of that hogwash. I'll keep shifting my gears by hand with no maintenance, or worries... and a lot of pulling capacity.
Say NO to the slushbox.
No, I have not spent much time in the mud, but the little I have been around it, I don't recall autos shifting gears themselves. They seem to latch onto a gear and go. Pulling... you said it yourself, "A well built C6.... ", yea, a WELL BUILT C6. The brochure didn't mention the towing specs of the 4 speed because it's not an issue. Ford offered the 4 spd in the Camper Special and the F350 without mentioning their towing specs. Enough said. So, build up your C6's, and build them well- with your trans coolers and all of that hogwash. I'll keep shifting my gears by hand with no maintenance, or worries... and a lot of pulling capacity.
Say NO to the slushbox.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 157
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From: Mariposa, CA
RW
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
Likes: 3
From: Across from the neighbors
Umm check with ND But the reason ford didnt mention the 4spd is cause they wouldnt warrenty one if it failed under extreme conditions. Autos they would. Ever hook bumper to bumper with a truck that has an auto?
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I don't live there anymore but I would think somebody would do it. I don't have enough room or I might do it. besides I'm in the middle of a frame off restoration so I have truck parts laying everwhere. however the parts you need are getting very rare. I know this is off topic, but I may be selling my '79 Bronco later this year, but not sure yet.
RW
RW