Auto transmission

[Jwawhite]

I drove my 2 speed like a 3 speed.
Take off in low gear run it up a bit, push the shift lever into D and bring it back to L quickly, car will sound as if shifting into 2nd, then pop it back into D for Third.
I used to get a 2nd gear chirp from the tires.

[40 Deluxe]

Hey guys! Please! Listen to the man! Ford did make an all aluminum case TWO (2) Speed trans in '59, and it WAS used behind the 292. It was NOT the old three speed that normally started in second. There was no third gear, no matter how many times you flipped the shift lever! It had only low and high, like an old Powerglide. It was used from '59 through '64. AND, it was called a Fordomatic. Staring in '58, Ford added a sprag (one way overrunning) clutch to the old three speed and changed the valve body so it now started normally in first. You could still start in second for ice and snow by shifting into'2'. Ford called this trans the "Cruiseomatic".

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Cecil/WV

You can be sure when I say it is a 2 speed that it is a 2 speed. It is even listed it the owners manual as such. I'll look at the C 4 option, I think I might have one in my stash. Thanks.

'62 was the last year for a 292 in a car, and the C4 came out in 1964, so no OEM bellhousing to put a C4 behind a 292. Pickups used the 292 through 1964, but I'm pretty sure they used the cast iron Cruiseomatic for automatic models.

[wbedwards]

If it helps, I have a '59 Edsel Ranger 4 door with the 361 V8 and the aluminum 2speed auto behind it from the factory.

[5851a]

Best bet is to find entire vehicle with same engine and the transmission you want. Farmers back 40, salvage yard etc. You can remove every piece that has anything top do with transmission. Cooling lines, linkages, shifter. Aod's and C4's are great but since you have had it so long personal opinion is to look for original. Getting harder to find old stuff though. Drive the back roads small towns.

[rotorwrench]

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The FE blocks started getting more popular along about 1958 and they used the later dual range cruise-o-matics for the most part. 1959 was a big change over year for transmissions. They still had air cooled single range Ford-o-matics for 223 6-cylinders and some 292 V8s and the new 2-speed started to come on line to replace it. Most of the 2-speeds types ended up on the little 6-cylinder Falcons and Comet cars for 1960 & later. That's likely why folks wonder about some of the oddities of 1959.

[bobss396]

I agree on the COM and even a later box (up to at least 1964) will probably work. They were interchangeable between the 332, 352 and 390. Not 100% sure about the 292.