How to adjust bands on 69 ranger

[69rangerman]

I'm a new owner commited to learning and doing myself and wondered if anyone had a resource on how to adjust bands on an automatic. I have a 302/2bbl with I'm pretty sure an FMX 3 speed tranny. The auto manuals for f100's don't cover this. Thanks,
Tom

[surubet]

Here is a Ford Transmission Forum that has the information you are looking for most likely!
http://www.network54.com/Forum/260730/search

[Big D's 69]

Man that sounds like a lot of work.

[69rangerman]

Thanks for the link. I recently recieved the welcome donation of a never used chilton's manual covering 65-80 something ford trucks and believe it or not they have an fmx section for band adjustment. Sounds pretty straight forward - I just have to work up the nerve to try it.
Tom

[kid]

Yuck Bands Messy stuff get a clicker torque wrench you will save yourself a busted tranny. Deflection beam torgue wrenches have ruined more Ford trannies. From the Mouth of an ex Ford Service Tech

[69rangerman]

Thanks kid, I will definately be picking up a clicker inch and foot pounds.

[Sharkdance]

69rangerman

Ummmm, respectfully speaking. Im not trying to talk you out of anything dude. But please be carefull messin with those bands.
Ive never done it. Too scared of screwin up my tranny. Heard a lot of horror stories about folks busting internal tranny parts.

My question to you is: Why do they have to be adjusted? Is your tranny slipping or something?

[kid]

I have rebuilt a GM Turbo 400 on a windy dusty day in South Texas with no problems. Large junk in the tranny is murder and so is manhandling any part that has hydraulics going through it. The aluminum face that the valve body bolts to with all the grooves in them is a real nightmare to nick or groove. Drop the planetary housing and good bye.

I power braked an A4OD when they first came out during a test on a low mileage F250 and the tranny jerked then would not shift. I rebuilt it in the Truck shop twice then Ford flew in two engineers and they rebuilt it. It never worked again. Turns out the original casting on the A4OD warped and lifted a control valley far enough away from the steel valve body to allow fluid to go to the wrong place.

I have drained burned fluid out of a racing automatic GM TH400 that slipped in every gear with more than half throttle. I replaced the GM fluid with Type -F and blam back in the race with no problems.

So trannies are fun and a nightmare at the same time.

[ToughOldFord]

I thought 67 was the last year for the FMX in the pickup. A 69 should be a C6.

[69rangerman]

Thanks guys. My own built in sense of doom keeps me from jumping into alot of things. I'll take your wisdom and wait till something does happen, then take it in to a shop.

As far as it being an fmx I'll just say that some references have it being used into the 80's and other have it stopping in the 60's. I've built up about 5 pages of fmx info. enough to I.D mine as an fmx. 14 bolt pan, cast iron tranny with alum bell, and tail piece. I have references of it installed on f350's, mach 1 mustangs, and t-birds. From threads/forums in other places for the most part it is held to be a fairly rugged tranny. If it is the same thing as a cruise-o-matic as some folks say then it is original to my truck. It has the same underspray from the Ontario plant as the rest of the underside. Whatever it is, it works fine behind the 302.

Thanks again

[kid]

The FMX was a crossover tranny. It never caught on with the Hot Rodders but was great as it could move from a 289 to a big block by changing the housing. Working for Ford I saw more C-4s than anything damaged. A 289 with 600hp was too much for the C-4. You could shatter the case. The FMX was rarely around after the 70's downsizing. Trucks used the C-6 as did the Galaxie/LTD mustangs got small and T-Birds were specialized Galaxies. Fairlanes and Falcons were gone and they held on to the FMX longer as they were fazed out.

[69rangerman]

Thanks kid, I'll add your info to my fmx file. You sound like a guy that might be answering a lot of questions in the future - welcome aboard from another newbie who will be asking alot of those questions.