The Ford Barn

50fordcoupeman · 05-23-2022, 06:40 PM

I am considering buying a car with a C4 in it. I know nothing about them. Your thoughts please.
Thanks..............

paul2748 · 05-23-2022, 07:02 PM

Good trans. Ford used them for years. The later/newer ones are the best. I have one in two of my cars. One been in the car 35 years and only a small problem.

They can be modified to handle some big power

fordor41 · 05-23-2022, 10:05 PM

I bought one for our '41 from a junk yard. Drove it for almost 25 yrs. went thru it once after about 15 yrs because of leaks. worked great.

55blacktie · 05-23-2022, 10:50 PM

Hopefully, the transmission isn't a "Green Dot" C4. 70-up/w 26-spline input shafts are the best. Many, including professionals, are of the opinion that the C4 was Ford's best automatic transmission-simple, easy to rebuild, efficient, and light. They come in 2 basic flavors, case-fill and pan-fill. Pan-fill mostly used in trucks.

rotorwrench · 05-24-2022, 10:45 AM

Even the earlier 24-spline could take a fair amount of abuse. Some put B&M shift kits in with HI PO 289 engines and they could take some pretty fair abuse. The 26 spline is stronger but they were all good transmissions in my book.

50fordcoupeman · 05-24-2022, 04:58 PM

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Thank you all for your input!!

5851a · 05-24-2022, 05:17 PM

I wouldn't ever hesitate to buy a car with a C4. Have had many cars with them over the years. Did have one seal in one that hardened from age. Another in my truck blew a front gasket. The truck was my fault, pulling car trailer in high winds and rain heavy load, foot on the floor for miles and miles. I made it home though, replaced the gasket and that was 20 or more years ago and still works fine. My opinion is if they are in good health, they run like a Swiss watch.

05-23-2022, 06:40 PM	#1
50fordcoupeman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: LaGrande Oregon Posts: 866	C4 Tranny I am considering buying a car with a C4 in it. I know nothing about them. Your thoughts please. Thanks..............

05-23-2022, 07:02 PM	#2
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: C4 Tranny Good trans. Ford used them for years. The later/newer ones are the best. I have one in two of my cars. One been in the car 35 years and only a small problem. They can be modified to handle some big power __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

05-23-2022, 10:05 PM	#3
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,517	Re: C4 Tranny I bought one for our '41 from a junk yard. Drove it for almost 25 yrs. went thru it once after about 15 yrs because of leaks. worked great. Last edited by fordor41; 05-24-2022 at 10:13 PM.

05-23-2022, 10:50 PM	#4
55blacktie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 442	Re: C4 Tranny Hopefully, the transmission isn't a "Green Dot" C4. 70-up/w 26-spline input shafts are the best. Many, including professionals, are of the opinion that the C4 was Ford's best automatic transmission-simple, easy to rebuild, efficient, and light. They come in 2 basic flavors, case-fill and pan-fill. Pan-fill mostly used in trucks.

05-24-2022, 10:45 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: C4 Tranny Even the earlier 24-spline could take a fair amount of abuse. Some put B&M shift kits in with HI PO 289 engines and they could take some pretty fair abuse. The 26 spline is stronger but they were all good transmissions in my book.

05-24-2022, 04:58 PM	#6
50fordcoupeman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: LaGrande Oregon Posts: 866	Re: C4 Tranny Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thank you all for your input!!

05-24-2022, 05:17 PM	#7
5851a Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Iowa Posts: 1,664	Re: C4 Tranny I wouldn't ever hesitate to buy a car with a C4. Have had many cars with them over the years. Did have one seal in one that hardened from age. Another in my truck blew a front gasket. The truck was my fault, pulling car trailer in high winds and rain heavy load, foot on the floor for miles and miles. I made it home though, replaced the gasket and that was 20 or more years ago and still works fine. My opinion is if they are in good health, they run like a Swiss watch.