My 56 Transmission need rebuilt?

Old Redneck

Old Redneck

Well-known member
Its a Air cooled PAW-C Automatic. Its leaks bad and it shifts ok but I rather have it gone through to be sure. Is it possible to beef it up like a 3 stage torque converter and what else I am not sure. Maybe it not possible. I just want to make it strong when I get on it.
 

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The air-cooled torque converter (and transmission) is probably hard enough to get internal parts for already.
The chances of finding 'performance' parts may be like that snowball in hell...

Ford upgraded the transmissions and changed to a fluid cooler located in the lower part of the radiator in mid '56. For the trouble & price of a transmission rebuild or swap to the '56/'57 style trans you might consider a newer AOD instead. :confused:
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The air-cooled converter flywheel plate o-ring gasket is a common leak point. The gasket can shrink and crack with age. The o-ring fits around the back of the front plate just behind the starter ring gear. Once it is torqued down, it gets smashed into a triangle shape and provides a good seal. Get the converter hub seal while you are at it and inspect the thrust washer for excessive wear. Be careful to insert the thrust washer back in the same direction it came out. These gaskets can be purchased from many repro parts suppliers separately, and they are are included in a Ford-O-Matic rebuild kit.
 
What year Overdrive transmission would be the one that would interchange in the 56 T-Bird.What all involve doing this?
 
None of the AOD transmissions are a bolt-in swap. Some have less that needs to be changed or updated than others and all require a transmission/bellhousing adapter kit (approx $900).

The AOD tranmissions from the 80's are usually easier, it's a more 'stand-alone' version than the later computer controlled ones.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AOD_transmission

If I knew more I'd tell you but I haven't really looked into it.

There are others here who are very familiar with what it takes, hopefully they'll chime in.
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The Over Drive sounds like more them I want to get in to. Then a good strong Automatic transmission that not so hard to do and driving nice.
 
Not many newer cars transmission will last 65 years. Your original seems plenty strong, hard part may be to find knowledgeable rebuilder.
 
Flat-O Products has a C4-to-Y-block conversion kit. Installing an AOD is more complicated and requires notching the frame for clearance, but overdrive is preferable if you retain the stock 3.31 rear gears or go with a numerically higher ratio. You can also convert to a T-5 manual transmission/w overdrive or OEM manual 3-speed/w overdrive. I haven't owned a manual car since the 90s and have gotten used to not shifting. Manuals are more fun, until you get stuck in traffic or live in San Francisco.
 
My wife won't touch a Manual transmission. I think about using a 57 automatic but there two different transmission in 57? What the difference I have no idea. I have a very good transmission man but wants me do do my homework first before doing this, which I understand.
 
Only one automatic transmission available for the 57 T-bird, which was the liquid-cooled Fordomatic. All 55 and early 56 T-birds had the air-cooled Fordomatic. There were no other automatic transmission options for 55-57.
 
Then you better let Gil's Garage know this. He list for 57 PBA-C4V AND PBA-E,S/C and 8V I took that was two different transmission. Now what the difference I don't know that.
 
What I get from the numbers that the first is the D birds while the other is for the E and F Birds. The latter is probably a beefed up version. The C birds were not available with an auto

Old Redneck said:
Then you better let Gil's Garage know this. He list for 57 PBA-C4V AND PBA-E,S/C and 8V I took that was two different transmission. Now what the difference I don't know that.
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462482

Very nice 1956 Ford Thunderbird. That 1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible also looks great. Great choice of cars. You have good taste.
 
The 56 T Bird going to make a nice car down the road. The 40 Ford is done and the 32 Ford is about done.
 

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The fordomatic is an okay transmission. All the leaky seals are available and pretty easy to replace. We even have a local supplier here down under.

I've just done this on my medium case 56 trans. I swapped out the flex plate at the same time.
 
Here it is with the top on. It has a black convertible top also
 

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The larger cars went to the Cruise-O-Matic in 1958 but they were made to fit the FE and some MEL engines if I remember correctly. None were vacuum modulated till 1961 or so. The AOD is cable modulated with a throttle valve in much the same way as the old Fordos & Cruisos. There are kits to make them fit Ford Y-blocks but the trick is getting it to fit the car. A T-bird is different that the other Fords. If it can be made to fit, it would be a good road car transmission. The C4 would be good for around town. Both are reliable enough.
 
The transmission leak a quart of transmission fluid on the floor, made a mess to clean it up. I put a quart in it and put the T-Bird on the lift up in the air to see where it was leaking. I also put fresh clean cardboard under it to see where the leak was coming from. It been on the lift for 5 days and not one drop of fluid on the cardboard???? It playing games with me.
 
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