1968-1969 Ford and Mercury

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C6 replacement

Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1968-1969 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1968-1969 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=20101
Printed Date: 18-April-2024 at 5:57PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: C6 replacement

Posted By: av8or55
Subject: C6 replacement
Date Posted: 24-March-2022 at 4:09AM

I’m thinking of future projects for my Torino. I drove it for the first time on the highway since I purchased it the other day and although it ran well, I started thinking about options to replace the C6 with a transmission with overdrive.

Does anyone have any information on what transmissions are available that bolt to the 390 and can provide better highway driving?

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“Speed costs....how fast do you want to spend?”

Replies:

Posted By: Inkara1
Date Posted: 24-March-2022 at 4:44AM

That's going to be tough because the FE bolt pattern is different than the small-block or big-block patterns, so the AOD won't bolt up.

You could get a Gear Vendors overdrive unit to add to the C6, but it'll cost you.

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1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.

Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 24-March-2022 at 8:07AM

You are in a similar boat to me. I have a C6 with the Big Block 385 series bell housing which means no AOD (I could use an E4OD, but it's a monster). There are adaptor plates or companies that offer a replacement bell housing but both are big dollars. Here is one for an FE:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qti-rm-9057/make/ford" rel="nofollow - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qti-rm-9057/make/ford

The easiest option is a Gear Vendors OD unit but it too is very pricey. The gear vendors setup is much more stout and offers gear splitting, but also only offers 0.78 overdrive. It's probably a wash cost wise between building a hi-po AOD and modding it to fit an FE vs the Gear Vendors with your C6.

https://www.gearvendors.com/hrford3s.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.gearvendors.com/hrford3s.html

I will probably go with a gear vendors down the road with my car, but it's a long way off. Tht way I get to keep my bulletproof C6 and the car still has it's original drivetrain.

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Vince

1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car

GTS.org Admin

Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 24-March-2022 at 8:19AM

I too would aim for the Gear Vendors unit, easy to adapt and very strong.

I don't know the oddity of the FE bell housing pattern, but if it's similar to the normal big block, I might consider the six speed 6R80. But that is more high dollar, I estimate $3k for a combo with a used trans. That one is bullet proof compared to other OD transmissions, but the special controller is around $1300. They make adapters to use on the SBF and BBF types, and what I saw suggest the adapters are in the $700 range.

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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W
73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later.
92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W

Posted By: av8or55
Date Posted: 24-March-2022 at 3:08PM

All great info, thanks. I’ve bookmarked the Gear Vendors site for future reference.

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“Speed costs....how fast do you want to spend?”