Thread: fmx linkage problems

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Working on this old truck still.
I'm unfamiliar with auto trannys and this FMX is different. The shifting arm is upside down from what I'm used to seeing.

Previous owner had a piece of angle iron with hole drilled in it to attack the rod from the column to the shift arm..... ingenious no doubt, but unfortunatly doesn't come close to clearing the headers I just installed.

does anyone have a picture of what it is supposed to look like hooked to the column shift linkage in a 70's era ford pickup?

thanks, back under the truck trying to rig something up.
Drew

Drew - Ford had so many linkage combinations with their auto transmissions that it is virtually impossible to know what combo you have. If you end up with someone's floor shifter (B&M/Lokar) you will find that they include pieces to set it up. With the B&M that I had on my past car, there were probably 6-8 pieces left over and the current Lokar, probably at least that many. An FMX does not have a TV problem like the AOD's of either Ford or GM, so what it boils down to is "whatever shifts it, works!!"

Here's a page of pictures: http://www.google.com/images?q=fmx+t...ed=0CEUQsAQwAw

yeah, I'm making up a peice.... I got it to work yesterday, but need to make it longer so there is more leverage as it's too hard to shift.

I would just buy a lokar shifter, but my intention is not to keep the fmx, I just don't have the cash for a different trans at the moment.
Auto Transmissions suck. :-)

I was just posting on the off chance someone happened to have the same setup..... ie sometimes you post a question even tho ya know you're going to have to just figure it out.

Drew

Nothing wrong with an FMX except it's heavy and a has lot fewer pieces available to modify it then a C4 or even an AOD. If you can find a good C4, that might be the way to go. A good (strong) AOD is a lot more money. I'm using a TCI modded C4 with a Lokar tho I would have preferred a 4-5 speed. My problem is that I'm 6'4" tall and don't have much leg and foot room for a third pedal in my '31

I'm 5'9'' 155lbs.
I'm a marine mechanic, being over 6ft tall would be a problem. Plus I'm just a three pedal kinda guy, I get bored and fall asleep with autos.

I talked to the Ford Dealer, parts dept went home already, but they said they'd at least have a picture.
In the meantime I'm bending steel trying to find the right size/length.
This trucks been sitting in my shop for about a year and my son is starting to bug me about going to the track in the F100.....

FMX's are heavy but they are very strong and I personally have never had one break on me. I and my friends used to beat the piss out of them, I had alot of good luck with them. I want to say Doug Nash used to build a shift kit for them, but it's been so long ago now, I could be mistaken. I am not even sure if Doug Nash shift kits are still available.
Kurt

what engine do you have???what year truck. if i'm not mistaken all fmx's are alum. cases the old fom and com were cast iron.from 77 up.is this a engine swap???

Originally Posted by hotrodstude

what engine do you have???what year truck. if i'm not mistaken all fmx's are alum. cases the old fom and com were cast iron.from 77 up.is this a engine swap???

FMX trannies had all iron cases with some having aluminum tailshaft housings and bell housing. They, while stout are not a rodders choice. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CEEQ9QEwBA

I've had two that came with 351's in Torinos - and both became 'boat anchors' as those were the ALL iron versions

this came stock behind a 302 in my 1976 F100.
I was just trying to make it work well enough to get me a year to save up cash for a manual transmission.
Ohh and I re-read my one post, when I said "my son wants me to take him to the track in it" I didn't mean to race... I just meant to drive it there, this trans won't see any abuse as I don't have the drivetrain up to par to handle any abuse.
I made up a piece of steel that I am currently using, it works sufficiently and gets it to shift into all gears (tho park is a lil hard).
I never got to road test it as I went back offshore to work..... I'll be back in a month to try it out.

Drew