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By Glen Henderson - 16 Years Ago
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I ordered Flat o matic's C4 adapter for the Falcon gasser project. The bellhousing looks well made and a much thicker, heavier casting that a stock bellhousing, but I am a little concerned with the flexplate. I have not measured the thickness, but it looks like 1/8 plate steel cut out with a ring gear welded to it. My concern is will this thing hold up to 6500 + rpms. I have looked thru Summit's catalog trying to spot a SFI flexplate that might be adapted to a y block but they don't give much detail. I know that some of the Y block racer's are running C4's, anyone know what they are using or anybody got a suggestion. Ted I think I remember that you are using a 429 plate with a FE bellhousing. I want be running quick enough to have to have a SFI housing. I may be over reacting but after 61 years I've gotten attached to my old feet and want too keep them a while longer.
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By Johnson Rod - 16 Years Ago
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Glen,
I have a Flat-o adapter in my '55 Ranchwagon and although I have had no problems I was (and guess I still am) concerned about the spacers between the flex plate and the converter that hold the converter ~ 1" away from the flex plate.
I do not race the car but it does have a pretty stout 318" Y-Block and the C-4 has a TCI converter, shift kit with Kevlar bands and "C" Ratio Intermediate Servo. Also 3.55 8" rear.
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By Ted - 16 Years Ago
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Glen Henderson (9/22/2008)
but I am a little concerned with the flexplate. I have not measured the thickness, but it looks like 1/8 plate steel cut out with a ring gear welded to it. My concern is will this thing hold up to 6500 + rpms. I know that some of the Y block racer's are running C4's, anyone know what they are using or anybody got a suggestion. Ted I think I remember that you are using a 429 plate with a FE bellhousing. I want be running quick enough to have to have a SFI housing. I may be over reacting but after 61 years I've gotten attached to my old feet and want too keep them a while longer. Glen. I’m using a ½” thick aluminum adapter plate for my racing ’57 that adapts the SFI approved FE bellhousing (Performance Automatics) for the C4 auto trans to the back of the Y while also using a SFI approved FE 184T automatic trans flywheel and FE starter. The adapter and the correspondingly ~½” thick crankshaft adapter flange that permits the use of an unmodified FE flywheel on the Y are both homebrewed pieces. A standard thickness C4 converter works with this combination without any spacers on the flywheel. I’ve gone out of my way to use all SFI approved pieces only due to some of the stringent tech inspections I run into at a few of the tracks. An earlier post about this adapter The Church Brothers are using the Flat-O adapter on their Y without issue and on their last outing were shifting at 7000 rpms while also going through the traps at 7000 rpms. In their case, I’d be more worried about the factory Ford rods than the flywheel. I believe both Dave Fuszner and John Feistritzer are also using the Flat-O adapters and both run their Y’s hard. Dave and John, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on yours. I’m currently assembling a race only Y for someone else right now and it will also be the Flat-O adapter for the C4 going into a ’56 Club Sedan and will also be run hard. The Flat-O flywheels are definitely thicker and more robust than the stock automatic tranny flywheels and haven’t heard of any issues with them in the racing environment even with spacers being used to attach the converter. Probably the only negative is that they are not SFI approved but if they were, that would just add to the price tag. It would be nice if that was an option though.
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By bird55 - 16 Years Ago
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The Church Brothers are using the Flat-O adapter on their Y without issue and on their last outing were shifting at 7000 rpms while also going through the traps at 7000 rpms. In their case, I’d be more worried about the factory Ford rods than the flywheel. I believe both Dave Fuszner and John Feistritzer are also using the Flat-O adapters and both run their Y’s hard. Ted, when did John start running a c4, I thought he used an FMX?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Al: You are correct, I am still using an FMX. A C4 may make the car quicker, but if I go a little quicker than I am I will have to put a roll bar in the car. Not worth it to me. The FMX has served me well through the years, the only breakage I've suffered was at Columbus a few years ago when the rear end came apart and jammed the driveshaft into the trans and broke off the tail shaft and housing. Hardly the trans' fault. John in Selma, IN
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By Glen Henderson - 16 Years Ago
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OK, maybe I am just being overly cautious. If they are using it without problems, then I should be alright. John I had thought about just going with the FMX, but parts are everywhere for the C4 and it sure is a lot lighter. Like I said earlier if I can get the car to run 12's, I'll be happy, I just want something that I can bring to Columbus and play with you guys. I've sat back the last four years and let ya'll have all the fun, ain't gone happen again.
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By Ted - 16 Years Ago
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Hoosier Hurricane (9/23/2008)
Al. You are correct, I am still using an FMX. John in Selma, INJohn, Thanks for the correction on which tranny you're running. I should have known that but had C4 registered in the back of my mind for your car also. Glen. A Falcon with a Y sounds great. That would definitely add to the diversity of the cars already out there with a Y in them.
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By mongo - 15 Years Ago
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Hi Boys, I talked with QUicktime about fabbing me up some blowproofs for both y block and ford flathead, all their cones are SFI approved the adapt to the c4 , plus they have all flexplate blanks in stock. The big problem , is on a custom order, it's 25 unit deal. If things were different in the world , I would go it alone. I can't right now. Po ol Davie
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By yfreak57 - 15 Years Ago
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I was installing Flat-O-Matic C4-adapter behind my Y and surprise, surprise; With B&M converter those adaptor pieces didn't fit. They were for 3/8 bolts when B&M uses 7/16. Also when measuring adaptors I find out that there was not enough meat to drill bigger holes and tap to 7/16 thread. So I went to a local machinist who made new adaptor pieces from stronger and thicker material with proper measurements. Will send a pic when I find it...  
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By Barry L - 15 Years Ago
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E-mailed Quicktime Bellhousings about the Y to C4 ,sfi housing.They replied that it was doable if there was enough interest. How many here would seriously consider buying one? We would also need a flex plate and convertor to match the Y crankshaft. Might be a tough sell to get the 25 minimum order??? Barry .. just wishing
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By Glen Henderson - 15 Years Ago
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Barry, I don't think that the converter and flex plate would be a show stopper. The snout adapter that comes with the flat-o-matic kit is a simple piece and seems to work fine. John has made one for a FMX converter for his race car. I fill sure that a blank flexplate could be drilled for the Y pattern and Quick time should be able to provide that. I would be interested in one if you can convince them to do it. I have the flat-o-matic mocked up in the Falcon gasser now and it is in full view just asking for a inspector to question it. I am sure that others out there would be interested. If I need to contact them, just let me know.
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By Barry L - 15 Years Ago
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Hi I've e-mailed them again asking what we would have to do to make this a reality,also mentioning the flex plate and converter. I'll let you know about their reply once I hear from them.Keep your fingers crossed for an easier fix than adapter plates. Barry
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By Barry L - 15 Years Ago
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Well, latest news on C4 bellhousing ............Quicktime figures they would need a commitment of at least 10 bells to make this happen.They would make a 164 tooth flex plate that would mate a starter and converter from a 5.0 Ford. I'm not sure yet as to the fit of the converter snout to the Y crank. No mention of price, but most stuff on their site is in the $500 range plus the flex plate. Can we get 10 people that need sfi quality housings??? Barry
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By Barry L - 15 Years Ago
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Anybody............comments,ideas,criticisms....anything???? Forget the racing aspect of this...maybe daily driver conversions to C4's. Barry (putting out a call to the "Duck"...get ready for it...)
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By aussiebill - 15 Years Ago
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Barry, i cant see why another C4/Y adaptor kit is necessary when Gene from Flat O Matic has a succesfull and proven one, reasonably priced that works and has been around for ages. Best regards Aussie Bill.
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By Ted - 15 Years Ago
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Barry. I tend to agree with Aussie Bill in that Flat-O already makes a proven adapter for the daily driver crowd and the flywheel for that particular conversion has already been worked out. For those of us that need a SFI approved bellhousing, then something from Quicktime would be great but I would not be on the list of intial ten getting one. In my own case, I used a Performance Automatics SFI approved C4 bellhousing that was originally intended for a FE and simply adapted it to the Y while also using a FE starter and SFI approved FE 184T flywheel to make it all work together. I initially had the same problem as yourself when switching to a C4 in that there were no SFI approved tranny adapters and flywheels available for a Y and subsequently had to go the route that I did.
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By Barry L - 15 Years Ago
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Thanks guys, I overlooked the Flat-o-matic as an already existing product for the daily driver crowd....just was looking for an easier race ready application. I've started on a crank adapter based on my earlier discussions with Ted so I'll carry on with the FE style conversion.  
Barry
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By Glen Henderson - 15 Years Ago
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The Falcon is still in the construction stage, hopefully will be running by next spring. I have never raced with a C-4, but a lot of people do. In your case I would recommend a FMX converson, less work, less money and you have a transmisson that was designed for a heavy vehicle. Do a search for FMX and you will find some good info.
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