So I have had my 70 maverick for a decade now. It has a 200ci with 3 on the tree. Runs and drives great. The 3 speed has always been finicky but it is manageable if you know how to drive it. I want to give the car to my wife as she has always loved it (and I have several other cars). She can’t manage the 3 speed . I bought a floor shift conversion when I got the car and never installed it . She is not a great std driver if I am being honest so thinking an automatic conversion would be best. I have done this type of swap before on other models and I normally would not attempt it unless I had a donor car with all the parts. This is not likely with a 70 maverick. So, I know I would need the c4, the linkage and carb, maybe a driveshaft . Had any one done this or have advice? I don’t have an enormous budget on this so looking for achieveable ideas. It may or may not happen, but she loves the car and I don’t drive it much anymore.
a few notes: a C4 with associated parts for the 200 from any 60's/70's Falcon, Mustang, Maverick, Comet, Ranchero, etc is what you need to keep swap simple... ,, the 200 with typical C4 Ford automatic uses a unique bellhouse to the later 200 (and 170) . The 70's 200/C4 bellhouse uses original 1960 2 speed C2 bolt pattern on the block . the Maverick standard 3 speed uses the larger "Toploader" bellhouse and larger bolt pattern on the "dual-Drilled" blocks (dual drilled with both bellhouse patterns after @ 1966). Along with unique BH, the 200/C4 also uses unique Flywheel with starter ring gear welded to a unique Torque Converter for the small six.. . Should not be too difficult to install the C4 , DS may even fit as Mav' toploader is close to C4 length. . additional parts for the swap is the 'kickdown linkage' arrangement for the accelerator to carb linkage. . here's a 1976 Comet GT 200 with C4 on my run stand, note the smallish bellhouse and exposed 'dual drilled' larger Toploader bellhouse bolt holes on top of C4 bellhouse. . . . " I never learned to drive them automatic things' " . Have fun
Trying to find these parts around here is getting difficult . thankfully for archaic parts with the internet, 'around here' can be is as big as you want ... .also if you hang around Car cruises, shows. c's and coffees, swaps or join a local car club some poor guy trying to make a V8 work in a Mav/Com/Fal/Stang/Chero may sell or give you a complete eng/tranny setup - it's happened ... . have fun
i have all the 200 auto trans parts and carb but theyve been sitting for about 7 yrs. cont even remember whats what now. you could get a floor shifter like a B&M and call it a day or something less aggressive looking. i installed that one when i did my 302 swap and it works nice. just a thought.
I was having the same issue finding things that would fit the 170. Ended up being easier to just buy a 302 and C4 and do it all at once.
I did the 170 three on the tree to C4 in high school. Then went to a rebuilt 250 and C4 with the bellhousing swap. Finally got to the 302 (347). I shouldn't have wasted my time with the 250. If you can afford to go with the 302, do it. Micah
I really wanted to keep this 6 cylinder in this one. Maybe I will look into a 5 speed on the floor. That would be way easier to drive than the 3 speed column.
It runs perfectly, I already have a 72 chevelle with a 350 and all the performance stuff and have had a dozen other muscle cars. I actually have all the frame parts for a v8 swap that I stripped out of a 72 years ago. I guess I just like this one the way it is
' been there, done that... . cruises and shows have us yawning past the Vettes' , Malibu's and 'Stang - crate motor ground pounders with an occasional actual hand built . unique or super rare old car with original or updated performance having more interesting discoveries. . have fun . my big bumper '74 - 3OTT small block six 250 has reworked suspension and brakes, 'modern' Cobra T5 tranny and a Vortech VII. T5 gears provide the greatest drivability improvement for any small block six with the gears needed to optimize the six's torquey 'powerband. . . . . . check out the cruise crazies - reggie' said 1928 Ford ! ; .
