[hardfordcore]

I serviced the Cruiso on my 65 Galaxie 352 today. Drained all the fluid, new filter, 10 3/4 quarts of Valvoline Type F etc. Adjusted the bands. I adjusted the front band according to the manual. Released the lock nut, pulled the actuator arm back and inserted a 1/4" gauge block, tightened the adjusting screw to 10"lbs (I don't have an inch/lbs torque wrench so it did it with my fingers and a small screwdriver by feel very lightly), removed the gauge block and tightened another 3/4 turn, secured the locking nut while holding the adjuster screw in position. Now, the trans has a hard shift when shifting to reverse. I set the idle speed low, 500 rpm in gear, and it still hits pretty hard. I know the earlier Cruisos would crack the servo cover and sometimes the trans case because of this condition. I am thinking of dropping the pan again and backing off the adjustment. Any ideas?

 

[Beoweolf]

I serviced the Cruiso on my 65 Galaxie 352 today. Drained all the fluid, new filter, 10 3/4 quarts of Valvoline Type F etc. Adjusted the bands. I adjusted the front band according to the manual. Released the lock nut, pulled the actuator arm back and inserted a 1/4" gauge block, tightened the adjusting screw to 10"lbs (I don't have an inch/lbs torque wrench so it did it with my fingers and a small screwdriver by feel very lightly), removed the gauge block and tightened another 3/4 turn, secured the locking nut while holding the adjuster screw in position. Now, the trans has a hard shift when shifting to reverse. I set the idle speed low, 500 rpm in gear, and it still hits pretty hard. I know the earlier Cruisos would crack the servo cover and sometimes the trans case because of this condition. I am thinking of dropping the pan again and backing off the adjustment. Any ideas?

Check the vacuum module .... more often than not it is either disconnected, missing or leaking.

If that ain't it, you haven't lost anything by looking.

 

[jgbrueck]

I've also had mine do that when I'm low on fluid - I added another 1/2 qt and it was a lot smoother. Just a thought...

 

[puttster]

I read reverse is ruled by the rear band, not the front one, so maybe something else went bad while you were in there.

You could try something from these guys, shift kit SK 3VL,and let us know!
Ford Lincoln Mercury Shift Kits

 

[hardfordcore]

Hey now...that is what I need. The trans is better today so I think I adjusted it correctly and the hard engagement may be the way it was built. Low mileage car and trans (75k original). The trans shifts fine otherwise and the fluid wasn't burnt with very little metal in the pan. I called Transgo and found a distributor in Concord, Ca who will attempt to find out availability and price. They don't stock the kit. Thanks very much. I forgot about those folks, I used one of their kits for the E40D in my 95 F150 Lightning years ago.

 

[432bullet]

If your trans had dexron fluid in it, Which most trans shops are now using, [ not what they will tell you] And by changing to type f fluid you will get a more positive feel in the trans. This might be some of your problem. Most of the performance trans guys recomend type f for ford trans.

 

[hardfordcore]

I can't say what fluid was in it when I bought the car. I hope it wasn't Dextron. The trans did shift slowly on the 1-2 upshift and tended to downshift to 1st to easily. I adjusted both bands and did the service with F type and the shifting is very smooth now. I use F type in my 57 Bird as well. The only early trans I use Dextron in is a C6 behind the 390 in my 66 F100 which was built by Broader Performance a few years ago and he recommended Dextron because the upgraded friction parts. My problem now is intermittent hard engagement when shifting to reverse. It seems to be improving though. I hope the shift kit can compensate for that.

 

[puttster]

inserted a 1/4" gauge block, tightened the adjusting screw to 10"lbs, removed the gauge block and tightened another 3/4 turn.

Now I might have the wrong shop manual for my 1965 but the COM instructions there are to adjust the screw to the 1/4" spacer to 10"lbs, then back off - one turn for the front band, 1 1/2 turns for the back - and lock.

Might be worth a check

 

[hardfordcore]

Pulled out my 65 CD shop manual and checked the adjustment. You are right. I was apparently using a 67 adjustment procedure instead of the 65. There obviously is a difference. I had set the rear band adjustment several weeks ago through the floor boards using the 65 adjustment. Thanks, I am draining the trans pan now to reset the front band adjustment....again. Being that I set the 10 inch pounds by feel, I suspect I was close but I am going lighten it up anyway.

Mark

 

[hardfordcore]

I finished re-adjusting the front band and road tested it. Seems better. I don't think my initial adjustment was too far off but I went through the procedure several times this morning to make sure. I checked the power flow charts for the Cruiso, and the front band is applied in D1 and D2 but not in reverse so hard to say if it really has that much effect. Thanks for your help.

Mark

 

[puttster]

Mark

What did you ever do with your brakes, do you still have your drums on?

Tom

 

[hardfordcore]

Yep...still cruising the Bay Area freeways with drum brakes. Haven't found time to go to the pick and pull to get some 77-79 Tbird/Cougar spindles, hardware, etc. Plus it has rained here and most of the places are muddy at present. Also, those years are harder to find these days. I may have to look farther than the Santa Cruz/Monterey area to get some. BTW, my wife and I have place a in San Francisco we stay at and the 65 Galaxie lowrider is very rare in SF. My daughter works at Fisherman's Wharf. When I occasionally pick her up, lots of the foreign tourists start snapping photos while I am waiting at the stoplights.

Mark

 

[hardfordcore]

I ordered this Transgo Shift kit for my 65 Galaxie Cruisomatic. I received an email today saying it has been shipped. I will install it and let folks know how it measures up

4L60E, 700R4, 4L80E, 4R100, E4OD, 2004R, C6, TH350, TH400 Transmission: SK3VL Cast Iron 3 Speed 63-66 Shift Kit with Vacuum Modulator

.


SK®3VL 64-66 "With Vacuum
Modulator"
Cruise-O-Matic
Cast Iron Ford
"Except Lincoln Type" Includes: Cushioned Reverse Engagement Kit.
Shift Correction Package &
Compensator Valve Repair Kit

 

[puttster]

I ordered this Transgo Shift kit for my 65 Galaxie Cruisomatic. I received an email today saying it has been shipped. I will install it and let folks know how it measures up

Let me ask you this, before you put the shift kit in. When you are on the green dot and take off, do you feel both shifting points? At what speeds (moderate acceleration)?

 

[hardfordcore]

Yes...I get 3 gears on the green dot and 2 on the white. Shift points are good. Not too high or too low. Someone had put a modulator valve for a C-4 in it and I replaced it with the correct one. I had some shifting problems early on. The car had only 71k when I bought it and the trans needed servicing. New fluid circulating in the trans cleaned up most of that. The trans feels strong, shifts good for a cruiso and doesn't leak. My wife and I have an apartment in San Francisco and I also do volunteer work there some weekdays so I put the trans through plenty dealing with the hills and traffic. I don't drive it like Steve "Bullit" McQueen but don't baby it either. Now if I could just find the "cheat code" for a 65 Galaxie in Need For Speed-Shift on Playstation 3.

 

[hardfordcore]

I finished installing the Transgo shift kit this afternoon. Lots of work. This kit is for the pro and not for the amateur hot rodder. If you haven't done valve body work or rebuilt servo's it is probably out of the realistic realm. I road tested the Galaxie but it was getting wet and dark so it was a short run. The 2-3 shift is a bit more positive giving a little bump into 3rd on a full throttle shift. The 1-2 shift in the Green Dot mode is a little less lazy. The shift from manual low to D at full throttle is a lot sharper but no barking the rear rubber this way. The reverse engagement is revised. It feels now as if there is a split or two quick step engagement into reverse and drive as if the idea was to step into reverse with a double "bump" instead of a one hard single shift. Not what I was looking for. All in all, the cost of the kit, filter/pan gasket, trans fluid and labor, the results are minimal. I need to put some miles on the car tomorrow so my opinion may change but for now, save your bucks.

 

[puttster]

Interesting update, hope you get some improvement after all that.

Let me ask you about the vacuum modulator you put in. AZ sells a MV200 and MV201 but to look at them they are identical. I read here about a MV209 and MV317; O'Reilly sells a universal VM112. I hear green stripes, yellow stripe, black stripe, no stripe. (Also to try different size pins until it works.) Are any of these the right one for a 1965 COM?

Where did you get yours?

 

[hardfordcore]

I used the MV201 from Autozone if I remember correctly. Green stripe I think. The MV200 is for the C4. They are identical other than internal shift point calibration I presume. The stripe color determines which trans it is for.

 

[hardfordcore]

Wanted to finish up this thread. I have about 400 miles on the 65 Galaxie with the shift kit installed in the Cruisomatic. All in all, it has improved the way the tranny behaves. The hard engagement problems are gone and the shifts are more predictable and steady. Under hard full throttle from a stop it gets through the gears well, not enough to chirp the rear tire but sharper. The inherent lazy 1-2 upshift under normal driving is better. I had problems early on with D1 and D2 mixing themselves up, never know which shift program would appear, but that has been corrected also. The kickdowns are functioning better. After replacing the modulator, adjusting the bands, installing the shift kit and a complete trans service (torque converter drained) with a new filter the 75k original is operating as it should. If the Cruiso ever decides to give up, I will probably switch to a C6 or an AOD (if the prices come down) but for now I am satisfied with the way it is. No leaks, no drips, no goofy shifts.

 

[meandogpawpaw]

I serviced the Cruiso on my 65 Galaxie 352 today. Drained all the fluid, new filter, 10 3/4 quarts of Valvoline Type F etc. Adjusted the bands. I adjusted the front band according to the manual. Released the lock nut, pulled the actuator arm back and inserted a 1/4" gauge block, tightened the adjusting screw to 10"lbs (I don't have an inch/lbs torque wrench so it did it with my fingers and a small screwdriver by feel very lightly), removed the gauge block and tightened another 3/4 turn, secured the locking nut while holding the adjuster screw in position. Now, the trans has a hard shift when shifting to reverse. I set the idle speed low, 500 rpm in gear, and it still hits pretty hard. I know the earlier Cruisos would crack the servo cover and sometimes the trans case because of this condition. I am thinking of dropping the pan again and backing off the adjustment. Any ideas?