Just found this forum. I'm an Okie too (obviously)
 

Here's the scoop. My Grandfather drove a 71 F100 SportCustom 4X2 for years when I was little, and when I was a kid I always told him how much I loved the truck. Well, a couple valves burnt up in the truck, so it sit for a while. When my little cousin neared the age of sixteen, and didn't have anything to drive, my Grandpa started looking for a new motor to replace the tired unit. He found a 302/C4 that a guy had built for a dirt track stock car, but after building them had decided to go with something else. The motor/tranny had been sitting a couple years since the rebuild, so my Grandpa took the motor apart, and changed the rings/bearings, ect., and put it back together. He dropped the motor in, but left the C6 that was originally in the truck instead of making the swap to the C4. Well, the old C6 lasted about 200 miles behind the fresh motor (16 year old driver) before it lost all forward motion, so the truck was backed into a barn, and sat there for a little over a year. When it came time to decide what to do with it, my Grandpa called me, and said if I wanted it, it's all mine. Well, it's definately not in the condition that it was when I was a little kid riding shotgun, but I don't think it's too bad considering what it's been through either. I now have the truck sitting in my garage with the C4 that was purchased with the motor sitting next to it (C6 still installed)

I measured the tranny in the truck, and it was between 33"-34". I couldn't get a perfect measure on it. The C4 I have is 30", so I know I'm going to have some driveshaft issues. It has the two piece right now (longbed). Anyone know of a salvage that has a 302/C4 with a driveshaft in it? I live in the Tulsa area, but I could make a trip if need be. There is a place close to me that quoted $275 to rebuild the C6 if I bring it to them, so it's either get this C4 swap done on the cheap, or stick with the C6. Any tips/advise is welcome.
Brandon

May i be the first to say Welcome to The Oklahoma FTE Chapter...Always good to see new faces. If i were you i would get the C6 built, thats a decent price if the mechanic is reputable and reliable.That truck is a heck of a score for free even in its current condition. What kind of shape is the body in??

Once again welcome to FTE, we'll see you on the boards!!

It really isn't too bad. The cab exterior is straight with no rust (It does need attention on one cab mount). One door, one fender, and the hood are straight (small dents in the others). Both chrome bumpers are in good shape, but the sheet metal behind the front bumper has some ripples in it. The bed has a small dent on the driver rear corner, and the passenger rear fender has some Bondo flaking off, but there isn't any sign of damage under it. The tailgate has a small ding, but it isn't a big deal. The only part that has bad rust is where the battery sits. I'll have to replace that, and the exhaust is rotten of course. It's definately workable without having to have big donor parts. It also has a grill that looks to be custom. It's 1/2 tubing running horizontal (kind of like a billet grill), and it was shiny chrome at one time (needs re-dipped). Your the second person to say that about the C6. Funds are just a little tight right now, so if I go that route it will have to be on hold until one of my cars get sold (2 for sale). After looking at everything, I think that would probably end up being the easiest though.

Welcome to the Oklahoma FTE Forums. Glad to have you join us! :) If that C6 rebuild is done by a reputable shop and comes with a written gaurantee/warranty then I would scoop that up in a heartbeat. I've been pricing rebuilding mine or swapping it out as a core and I couldn't find anything lower than about $380. I'm up in Owasso. I don't know of any donor trucks near me. Have you priced out a modified driveshaft to fit your application?

You could post a "want" reply in our "wanted" thread and maybe somebody will stumble across something for you. I'll keep an eye out at the local salvages.

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find your place here with us. :)

STan

Thanks for the warm reception everyone. I live in Broken Arrow. The name of the place is Broken Arrow transmission service (918-251-6226). It's out on highway 51 shortly after the split between it, and the turnpike I believe. It's been a couple months since I called them for the quote, but the guy I talked to said it would be from $275-$325 depending on the extent of the damage (me doing the remove/install). I then asked if they were only going to fix the part that was broken (variable price), and he replied, "No, we replace all the clutches, complete tear down/rebuild, including a new convertor." I then asked why it was so cheap, because all the other places I had talked to wanted $475-$600, and he said that the C6 is the easiest transmission to rebuild. I can't remember if I asked about a warranty or not, but I was confident in the guy after speaking with him about it, and for $275 it isn't a huge risk if it doesn't come with one.

I haven't priced a shaft for the C4. I wasn't sure about the actual differences in the two until I got the C4 here, and that was a couple days ago. Plus I have a couple cracked ribs right now, so I can't do a whole lot of crawling under the truck at the moment. I read in the big forum that the 302/C4 was a very popular combo, so one would think there should be one in a scrap yard somewhere. Anyone know of a place that has a lot of these trucks? Thanks guys.
Brandon

Hey Brandon try the junk yard on 111th. Hes between Elm and Lynn Lane. That guy has a ton of stuff back in there I'm sure hes got a two piece driveshaft for your 302 C4 combo. I'm in BA too. 121st and Elm. If you need a hand doing a tranny swap drop me a line and I can help you out sometime.Don

I'll check him out. Hopefully he'll be open Sat. Thanks for the tip, and the offer. I live East of 81st & county line, up by 51.

Brandon

Welcome to the group! Glad you found your way down to us. :D

Getting a driveshaft shortened is usually not too bad. When you have to go longer with new tube it can get a little pricey. Another thing to think about is that although your pretty sure the c/4 is good after sitting for a few years, your not going to know for sure until you get it installed and test drive it.

The C-6 will takes tons of abuse. My old 76 3/4 ton with 460 has been abused to no end. After 180,000 miles of my abuse it still works great. A heavy modified C-4 will hold up well. Dont know about a stock C-4 under harsh conditions. We put a C-4 in my dads 66 behide a 351w about 10 years ago and its been fine. How ever we dont pull anything with it or drive it hard. We had a single piece drive shaft made at Drive Train Specialist in Tulsa. Welcome to the forum!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the chapter and to the world truck building. If you can I would get the c-6 rebuilt instead of the c-4. Or find out what was done to the c-4. If it was built for racing and has been beefed up it might be a better trans. In stock condition though if the motor was to much for the c-6 then the c-4 will not stand a chance. See if you can talk to or find out about the c-4. If it was with the 302 and they were planning on using it for racing then there is a chance it was built up and built right. Also by the time you get a shaft lengthened and balanced you will probably be close to the cost of the rebuild. The price you mentioned was not very high at all.

Brandon,

There is a place in Broken Arrow that I've heard is really reasonable. doesn't cheat his customers. i have a buddy that just had a shop go through his C6 in a T-bird. I'll try to find where he had it done at. They didn't rip him off or anything.

Mike B

Brandon,
If you decide to have the C6 rebuilt check out Aspen Transmissions. They're on Elm between 71st and 81st in Broken Arrow.
Mike B

I will call them. Saturday I got it to the point where all that's left is the actual bolts holding the transmission in. My buddy, and I removed the driveshaft, and both crossmembers, the starter, ect., while also fixing the brakes (busted brake line on driver/rear), and starting the process of working the exterior (I couldn't stay on my back long). I'll have it down next weekend, and re-investigate my options when their side by side in the garage floor. Thanks for all the help guys.
Brandon