37 Ford build--IE: old Header issues thread /37 Ford/5.0/GT40P heads

[randyr]

Ok, so since the body is now going to come off, there are other things I might want to consider.....like switching from the C4 trans to an AOD, 4R70W, or maybe even a T-5. I've found some info on modifying the x-member to fit the AOD but I don't know about the 4R70W or the T-5. Of course if I go with a T-5 I'll have to come up with a clutch pedal plus a few other things. You guys have any thoughts on these options for the 35-40 frame?

[IC2]

Randy,
I think you can forget the 4R70W - it's a 4.6/5.4 modular and electronic control trans. The AODE and the E4OD are as well and also for the modulars. This leads you to the AOD or the 4/5 speed trannys. As far as a manual in your part of the world - and the traffic - all I can feel is your future left leg pain. Then there is the bell housing, clutch, pressure plate, pedal linkage or hydraulics, the new drive shaft..........

Take a look here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C6_transmission#E4OD.

[34_40]

Ok, so since the body is now going to come off, there are other things I might want to consider.....like switching from the C4 trans to an AOD, 4R70W, or maybe even a T-5. I've found some info on modifying the x-member to fit the AOD but I don't know about the 4R70W or the T-5. Of course if I go with a T-5 I'll have to come up with a clutch pedal plus a few other things. You guys have any thoughts on these options for the 35-40 frame?

Hi Guys! We're back!! WooHoo! , Like Dave, between fighting the snow and the cold I've made no real progress to speak of.

Also like Dave (almost) I rigged my garage to hoist the body straight up. I crafted a subframe inside the body to pull from and added 2 4X4's to the joists above and with some rope and pulleys I can hoist the body with just a come-along all by myself. I'll see if I took any pics but I don't remember any.

I've decided to purchase a Rootlied hood and also going with the steel inner fenders, mostly to get that clean fit. More costly but a much better fit with cleaner lines I think.

[randyr]

Hey Dave, I thought I'd post our last 2 email conversations that occurred while the site was down just in case anybody else is following the whims of our car building....LOL! Hope you don't mind.

I wrote this to Dave:
Hey Dave,
Since CHR still isn't working, I would appreciate your thoughts on my latest brainstorm. As you know, I'm going to take the body off now which means I need to seriously consider some type of overdrive transmission if I ever hope to get any kind of gas mileage out of this engine. The obvious choice is a post '88 AOD but after talking with the guy who designed my cam, he said an AOD would work fine but thought it would really be cool to put a T-5 in there. I gotta admit I'm a bit intrigued by the idea. I've been reading lots of info about the T-5, which years are better, etc and I think the biggest hurdle would be putting a clutch pedal back in there and adapting it to work the cable clutch. I've located a clutch & brake pedal mechanism from a 36 ford that I can get for $40 but can the pre-39 pedals be adapted to late model master cylinder since they didn't have hydraulic brakes on the earlier models? I've learned that I can swap the tailhousing from a Chevy S-10 T5 onto the Mustang T5 and move the shifter forward to approximately the original position in my car. I don't think the x-member would require any additional mods other than redrilling the mounting holes from the C4. I'm thinking the swap would cost about the same as a rebuilt AOD. I can sell my rebuilt C4 w/Lokar shifter and recoupe most of the cost.
Anyway, tell me why I should or shouldn't do this.....LOL! I know that with the AOD I'll have to trim a little more out of the x-member and rebrace it a bit but Bob Drake did it to their 35 project so I know it's doable. Anyway, as always, I appreciate your thoughts and opinions.
Talk when you can...
Randy


Dave responded with this:

Hi Randy - heluva thing to have to resort to regular ol' emails to yak back and forth ....and CHR is STILL down this morning at 0904EST.

First of all, I did a bit of an answer to your question on the trans changes on CHR about midnight Friday evening - so hopefully I wont contradict
myself.

While I really like the idea of a T-5, that's almost more work at this point then I would like to even consider. The '36 mechanism, while they can be modified for hydraulics with an adapter would probably IMHO, not be the best way to go - unless you could convert it to hydraulics. There are new brackets offered by Chassis Engineering as well as TCI and more vendors that would be a better choice - they aren't over 70 years old and worn out. McLeod offers a hydraulic throwout bearing assembly that you could probably
make work, but if you have a power brake booster you quickly run out of under floor room with a second hydraulic cylinder,
exhaust, cross members and brake bits and pieces like master cylinders, lines, resid valves and whatever else that might be stuffed in that tight area. If you stick with a mechanical linkage, you need balance bars and various links, usually bolted to the engine - and not all SB Fords have the bolt holes just waiting for that assembly. A cable operated system - lots of under dash mods that might not be easy uless you are going to approach this car rebuild as a complete makeover

Then there is the typical S. California daily expressway parking lots and that quivering left clutch leg!!

The AOD is probably the best way, again, my opinion, to update the driveline without spending an inordinate amount of time or, maybe more important, money - as long as it has the better and hardened parts for a modified engine. The Lokar shifter can be converted to the AOD with different brackets - I talked to Lokar a while back when I considered going the same way.

Later,
Dave

[randyr]

To further update my transmission quest, the research continues and my decision is not yet made......how's that for ambiguous? LOL Will give a full report before long.....hopefully

Bobby, what engine & trans are you putting in your 37?

[IC2]

To further update my transmission quest, the research continues and my decision is not yet made......how's that for ambiguous? LOL Will give a full report before long.....hopefully

Sounds to me like a positive "maybe"!!!

[34_40]

To further update my transmission quest, the research continues and my decision is not yet made......how's that for ambiguous? LOL Will give a full report before long.....hopefully

Bobby, what engine & trans are you putting in your 37?

Randy, let's see if this works.. turns out I do have a pic of the body after I had hoisted it off. It shows some of the framing and you can pick out the rope & pulleys with the come along at the back. The rope ends connect to a spreader bar on one side and the come along on the other. Worked great for me. Hoisted the body by myself and it was slow and easy going!

[randyr]

Hey Mike,
Thanks for the pics. I'll probably blend all you guys methods together to lift this body up. Some great ideas.
Hope you're feeling better!
Randy

[34_40]

Hey Mike,
Thanks for the pics. I'll probably blend all you guys methods together to lift this body up. Some great ideas.
Hope you're feeling better!
Randy

Randy, that's how I came up with that "rig". Alot of ideas melded together.

Thanks for asking, re; my health. I get asked so often on that topic now, when people say "how do you feel?" I now respond, "With my HANDS!"

We're looking forward to your decision and how you raise that body off!

Mike