The Ford Barn

dschwartz · 04-04-2023, 05:44 PM

I have c4 transmission bolted to a 59ab. Need to know what is best way for selector linkage.
Thank you

paul2748 · 04-04-2023, 07:13 PM

Going with a floor shift ? If so, if you don't mind the look the Mustang shifters will work.

C4's come in two variations regarding shifters - floor shift or column shift. The floor shit ones have the arm coming out the of the trans in an up position, the column shifter ones the arm points down. Depending on the year of the trans, it may have an arm that points up and down. I have one of those, it is an 1980 unit.

TravisDM · 04-04-2023, 09:40 PM

Okay, I will mention the Mustang shifters to my uncle. He'll work on this C4 trans once we installed the rotors and tis wheels on the truck and clear the garage.

tubman · 04-04-2023, 11:57 PM

Either you posted the wrong link or you're kidding us about the wheels, right?

blucar · 04-05-2023, 11:13 AM

I would think that the best shifting setup for the C4 in a '40 would be to utilize the original column shift. Since the '40's did not have the shift shaft incorporated into the column it would be fairly simple to fabricate a gear selection indicator onto the column or to use an electric after market selector. I have an automatic trans in my '39 convt, I upgraded the column to a late model GM (90's) because I wanted turn/hazard lights built into the column.

5851a · 04-05-2023, 01:12 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Whatever type of shifter used it needs positive safety detents. The transmission detents alone are not enough.

Ol' Ron · 04-05-2023, 02:54 PM

I ran one behind a stock 51 Merc engine in a 47 KB=1 int for about 5 years. No problems. Had a 3.3 merc rear from the 51 merc
still have it and the KB1
Gramps

TJ · 04-05-2023, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dschwartz

I have c4 transmission bolted to a 59ab. Need to know what is best way for selector linkage.
Thank you

Dan, if you are putting it in a '40 use the stuff from Limeworks. Their setup also is made for the neutral safety switch. If you want to see one send me a PM with your e-mail and I can send you some photos of the linkage. Tom

paul2748 · 04-05-2023, 07:57 PM

All C4's I have seen have the neutral safety switch bolted to the side if the trans and is activated by the shifter rod.

fordor41 · 04-05-2023, 10:20 PM

I attached a rod to our C-4 from the 2-3 shifter lever on the stock column. problem with ours was it was a '80 floor shift so I had to make a bellcrank off the side of the bell housing to get park in correct position otherwise park would have been down and low was up on the shift lever(backwards). I've heard you can pull the pan and reverse the shifter shaft but I didn't want to get into the trans.

04-04-2023, 05:44 PM	#1
dschwartz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fair Oaks, Ca Posts: 170	c4 transmission I have c4 transmission bolted to a 59ab. Need to know what is best way for selector linkage. Thank you Last edited by dschwartz; 04-04-2023 at 06:33 PM.

04-04-2023, 07:13 PM	#2
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: c4 transmission Going with a floor shift ? If so, if you don't mind the look the Mustang shifters will work. C4's come in two variations regarding shifters - floor shift or column shift. The floor shit ones have the arm coming out the of the trans in an up position, the column shifter ones the arm points down. Depending on the year of the trans, it may have an arm that points up and down. I have one of those, it is an 1980 unit. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

04-04-2023, 09:40 PM	#3
TravisDM Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 52	Re: c4 transmission Okay, I will mention the Mustang shifters to my uncle. He'll work on this C4 trans once we installed the rotors and tis wheels on the truck and clear the garage.

04-04-2023, 11:57 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: c4 transmission Either you posted the wrong link or you're kidding us about the wheels, right?

04-05-2023, 11:13 AM	#5
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: c4 transmission I would think that the best shifting setup for the C4 in a '40 would be to utilize the original column shift. Since the '40's did not have the shift shaft incorporated into the column it would be fairly simple to fabricate a gear selection indicator onto the column or to use an electric after market selector. I have an automatic trans in my '39 convt, I upgraded the column to a late model GM (90's) because I wanted turn/hazard lights built into the column. __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

04-05-2023, 01:12 PM	#6
5851a Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Iowa Posts: 1,664	Re: c4 transmission Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Whatever type of shifter used it needs positive safety detents. The transmission detents alone are not enough.

04-05-2023, 02:54 PM	#7
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: c4 transmission I ran one behind a stock 51 Merc engine in a 47 KB=1 int for about 5 years. No problems. Had a 3.3 merc rear from the 51 merc still have it and the KB1 Gramps

04-05-2023, 07:57 PM	#9
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: c4 transmission All C4's I have seen have the neutral safety switch bolted to the side if the trans and is activated by the shifter rod. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

04-05-2023, 10:20 PM	#10
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,518	Re: c4 transmission I attached a rod to our C-4 from the 2-3 shifter lever on the stock column. problem with ours was it was a '80 floor shift so I had to make a bellcrank off the side of the bell housing to get park in correct position otherwise park would have been down and low was up on the shift lever(backwards). I've heard you can pull the pan and reverse the shifter shaft but I didn't want to get into the trans.