Hello everyone, I have a '74 Maverick. Its an automatic and I'm am planning on rebuilding the transmission. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any good manuals?
First try using the search function. Secondly pick up a Haynes Ford Transmission manual. Thirdly read http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=29643 Pauls really knows his stuff. I will be rebuilding my c4 soon and the knowledge I've gleaned from that thread is priceless.
The Haynes book is as good as they come. Thanks for the plug Mavstang! If anyone needs help when hotrodding a C4 just drop me an E-mail at "paulstephens2(AT)comcast(DOT)net". I have some forms and spec sheets that help make it easier - After 35+ years of working with these trannys I should have a system set up - it works for me.
Thanks everyone! Say how long would you say it took you to rebuild your tranny the very first time you gave it a try?
About as long as it does now. The first time you are so overwelmed with all the details that the job just took all the attention that you had. Now I have a system down and I just go about each task until the job is done. Why it takes so long now is because of my back. Broken in one spot and two disks bulged. I have to use my hoist to lift the trannies to my work bench and then every thing I do takes a bit longer so I don't end up hurting myself.
PaulS, could you put the tranny up on a motor stand using the bellhousing somehow? Guess it depends on how or whats being done. I have an old case fill C4 Ive been practicing taking apart,, no books, doing it blindfolded I can say. Does the pump come out the front or does it stay put, and slip the clutch packs out the rear of the housing? The pump is locked up, from sitting, but it did not have hardly any miles on it, still had the little plastic ball in the pan when I took it off. Really, it looks super clean inside,, Id like to take 2 and make one good one from all the parts. Ive got back problems too,, and I got em on a motor stand so I can flip it over without much wrestling. Chad
Chad, The case fill C4's bolt the bell housing to the tranny by being bolted through the pump to the case. You have to remove everything out the front of the case and the bell housing and pump have to come off to do that. It might be nice to be able to take one apart and put it back together "blindfolded" but all that will do is teach you to have the parts in the right order. More than that is needed to build a good street C4. Rebuilding a C4 is not a matter of putting all the pieces back in the same way they came out. That is an important part of the process but you need to modify and change clearances to make it better. There is a sticky on the front page of the transmission forum called "How to Hotrod Your C4 Transmission". My posts are interupted by 5 or 6 posts from a different site but if you follow my posts and use the Haynes Techbook "Ford automatic transmission overhaul" you can build a reasonably strong street C4. Study the manual first, learn how to check the clearances as you disasemble the transmission. Measure each of the thrust washers and make a list of the washer number (1 - 9) and the thickness. when you assemble it measure the thickness of the new thrust washers and then you can have an idea of which selective washers to use in the #1 and #2 position to get the clearances (endplay) that you need. Anyone who wants or needs a copy of the forms and pictures of the processes can email me off list and use them to help in the process - or modify them or make your own to fit the way that you do things. You have to follow a system of modifying the parts you have to make them stronger in order to make the C4 work well behind a strong engine.
Ill have a look at it! Blindfolded, meant I got no Idea! LOL! I used to have a real good book, I loaned out, and never seen it again,, Was a text book used at a college in their course of study, man, it had all sorts of transmission info, like a master r&r on like 12 popular trannys. Most Ive ever been into any automatic transmission repair was to pull em out and swap in a junkyard canidate. I had a 700r4 in a 4x4, that cost me 2700 from a tranny shop, from a quote of 695 one time,, Seemed like it was ok, I sold the truck, bought a FORD! And been happy ever since. The pump seems to be stuck in the housing, wont budge. got all the valve body out, shifter linkage, loosened up the bands and removed the band adjusters, does it take a slide hammer in a threaded hole to pull the front pump out? Wheres the best places to put the threadded holes? or wheres the best place to pull from? This is a parts tranny, and Im more interested in the clutch packs I know the pump is toast, it locked up, cant turn the outer hub, (center turned fine) But it looks like new inside, and it still had the plastic ball, they say its never had the pan off in its life if thats found in the pan? The car has been sitting for a long, long time, This was the tranny off the 200 6 cyl. Never seen a 200 6 tear up much of anything in stock form, and I know the car pretty well, ( it was stored more than it was ever driven) It ran when it was parked, I dunno, 13 -14 years ago. Moved occasionally, just add fluid and move it around where I needed it out of the way. I pulled the motor/tranny out, got me a 302 and a C4, This C4, is funny,, the vacuum modilator was kinda bent on it,, like it got hit by something,, so its junk, Im gonna try and see if this tranny works,, I did when I put it in the maverick, now, it seems like it dont want to. Got all sorts of parts from the other C4 from the 6 cyl, take two and make one? bad thing is,, we got more time than money these days,,, gas being as high as it is, low job market for this area sucks, may as well live in the desert, as far as work. So we got to make do with what we are blessed with, and build from there. I ended up with a ol maverick, and enjoy to work on it when I cant afford to pay attention. Not that Im cheap or nuthin,, LOL,, no, But its fun when they say,, who did your work? they did a great job! I get to say, It was a learning experience. If they wanted to know more, from there, theyd ask for more from there. Or just walk off and look at the next car at the shows. So, lol, Im looking to drive it for a while, take good care of it, and keep most of the effort in keeping it going without sending it out and taking a risk, like a junkyard tranny, but, I may figure out where it went wrong if it blows, but sure will think highly of you when she goes down the road! (drivin, not selling) Some times, time is cheaper than money, especially these days. Chad
The "outer hub" is the stator support and it isn't supposed to turn. I bet your pump is fine. Pry the out from the rear clutchpack by pryiung it forward. Before you do that be sure to check the end play. Get a copy of the Haynes "Ford Automatic transmission overhaul" - it is as good as you can get. the Haynes manual for your car will give a good r&r how to but they don't get into tear down or rebuilding that is what the other Haynes manual does for you. If you are interested in the clutches, you may be disappointed. The clutch packs used behind 200 cu" sixes don't use enough clutch plates to work behind a 302. You will burn it up in no time. You need the clutch drums from a V8 tranny to use behind the 302. Drums don't go bad very often but when they do its because heat destroyed them. I have seen the clutches and steels welded to the drum, bands burnt to a crisp and gouging the drums with metal to metal contact. If they are in decent shape the ones from the C4 that came with your 302 can be rebuilt sealed and fitted with new clutches. You can get six frictions in a five clutch drum with the right parts. (see the How to Hotrod your C4 Transmission") I outline the way to do it and list part numbers and descriptions. I also have some pics and forms that I will share.
