Finally decided on a trans-maybe

[jayb]

I paid about $400 for my V6 version.  It came out of a Mustang with 60K miles, and included a 90 day warranty.  They are good for close to 600 foot pounds of torque, so even a reasonably well hot rodded FE can use a stock version.  Power by the Hour makes one good for 1400 HP for about $6K, I believe. 

[gregaba]

A good friend of mine owns a salvage yard. I was installing his new surveillance system yesterday and will finish it in a few days.
He said when I was ready I could go to Okla. City Co Parts auction with him and pick up a whole car for a couple thousand.
I don't need a whole car but with it I could get the wiring and ecm and use it and save $1200.00.
I found a site on the net that shows what pins you need to run it and though it takes a bit of work I have done it before installing newer engins into older cars before their were any aftermarket controllers available.
Greg

[Russ67Scode]

So looking at the $$ amounts
1.adapter $950
2.Controller $1250
3. Used trans $600-$800 V-8 trans
4.torque converter $1200  3000 stall with triple disk lockup.
total= $4000-$4200
I had looked very hard at this If I did have a killer torque converter and C-6 I would head this direction
I have a friend with a 16 GT twin turbo that runs 9.5's thru a stock trans!
the low gear in the trans is a 4.XX ratio !!!!
Just my two cents

[gregaba]

I have spent the last year looking at options for the transmissions. Looked at the e4od, top loader, aod, 4r70 tko 600 etc. and they all came out about the same price in the end.
If i decide to buy a totaled car then I can save $1200,00 on the controller by using the factory ecm and stripping out the un needed wiring, but then I will have the 5.0 engine and all the other parts to get rid of and adding another car in my yard will not make my town happy.
I am getting ready to start ordering parts as I am about ready to put my other project on the road and as soon as I get it off the lift I can move the Galaxie in.
Greg 

[gregaba]

Received my 6R80 yesterday and decided to take some pictures of it next to my C6 out of my 71 Ranchero 429.
I don't have a FE C6 to compare it to but believe the only difference will be in the bell housing bolt pattern.
I think this is going to be a fun project.
I have decided to install 6R80's in both the 71 and the 63 Galaxie.
Greg
 

[BigBlueIron]

Look forward to hearing how this goes.

[gregaba]

Me to
I am waiting for some friends to come over so I can put it on the trans jack and put it in the tunnel and see if I have to make any mods to install it.
Greg

[Stangman]

It definetly looks fatter in the back. I would think on a Stang the tunnel would have to be modified alot. But yes this should be a cool if not different upgrade.

[gregaba]

On another forum a member posted some pictures today of the install he did in his 70 Torino. He didn't have to modify the trans tunnel at all.
If you want I can take measurements of my 71 Ranchero  tunnel and post them as the drivetrain is out as of now. That way if anyone had a stang they were thinking of installing a 6R80 they could compare and find out if any mods would need to be done.
On the 63 Galaxie the tunnel in very close to the Ranchero so should have no clearence issues with it.
Greg

[wcbrowning]

Stock transmission tunnel measurements would be nice for people to refer back to in the future.  If possible, perhaps you can do the same on the 1963 Galaxie, once the existing transmission is removed?

On another forum a member posted some pictures today of the install he did in his 70 Torino. He didn't have to modify the trans tunnel at all.
If you want I can take measurements of my 71 Ranchero  tunnel and post them as the drivetrain is out as of now. That way if anyone had a stang they were thinking of installing a 6R80 they could compare and find out if any mods would need to be done.
On the 63 Galaxie the tunnel in very close to the Ranchero so should have no clearence issues with it.
Greg

[gregaba]

71 Ranchero trans tunnel measurement.
I hope I can make this where it is understandable as I am not good at describing things without a picture.
Front of bottom floorpan to top of firewall-18 !/2 inch's.
Front of front firewall to first downturn of tunnel-12 inch's.
Bottom of floorpan to to top of crossmember 8 inch's.
Width of firewall opening at top of firewall 13 inch's.
Width at bottom of firewall 15 inch's.
With the trans and engine mounted in the car you have a good drop to your trans mount that should give you some extra clearance.
The pictures Chvslayer posted in another forum showed a tight fit but a C6 is a tight fit also.
If any of this doesn't make any sense just ask and I will take some more measurements to try to clarify.
I won't get to start on the Galaxie until I get the Ranchero out of the shop and get the Galaxie on the lift.
Right now the Galaxie engine just went to the machine shop, Having the block blueprinted and pro gram 4 bolt main caps installed. Hopefully I will be able to start on the Galaxie in Sept or Oct.
Greg