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hey I have a friend at work that asked me to ask you guys about something called an FMX (i think) transmission.. he has an 80 something f series and said he had an fmx transmission put in it.. or something similar.. i told him the only ones i knew of were the ones listed in LMC on the tranny bolt-counting thingy. thanks for the help
They were used in the late 50's to early 60's on big blocks. I gave all mine away or traded them for C6's. Not a bad transmission, but I personally like the C6 better.
"The Cruise-O-Matic
Introduced in 1951, the Cruise-O-Matic series of three-speed automatics (which includes the FMX) was used in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury passenger cars until 1979, and in light trucks from 1968 through 1979.
They came in three configurations:
The small case (from 1951 to 1966).
The medium case (from 1955 to 1968).
The FMX (from 1967 to 1979) .
Early Cruise-O-matics had a filler tube that attached to the transmission pan.
FMX transmissions filler tube slid into the main case.
The Cruise-O-Matic transmissions are easily identified by their design, which incorporates a cast-iron main case (unlike all other Ford three-speed automatic offerings) with separate aluminum bellhousings and extension housings bolted to it. The Cruise-O-Matics should be avoided in performance applications as very little is available in the way of aftermarket performance parts other than shift kits. The Cruise-O-Matics were also offered with all three bolt-common V8-pattern bellhousings. "
Is there a specific question your buddy has, other than the general info above?
You think it's hard finding parts for the cruise-o-matic, try the 2 speed auto Ford-o-matic, when mine goes I will most likely have to swap in a C4 and have to put in transmission cooling lines. Good info 85E150, I just call them all FMX's, had quite a few FE's with them, never had a MEL yet.
Just an OT note regarding the MEL Cruise-o: The automatic-equipped Thunderbolt Fairlanes used a Lincoln Cruise-o-Matic with a bell cast for the FE block, and several other mods. To lift a quote from the November 2009 Hot Rod Mag article: "...Finding one today is nearly impossible."