The question is if you plug the in and outlet fluid lines to the radiator on a water cooled fordomatic can you use the air cooled torque converter instead of the water cooled torque converter or is there I difference in the two transmissions.I know you would have to change the bell housings,but not sure on the trans  Carl

I really can't answer your question.  Do you want to use a water cooled trans but don't have the correct radiator for it?  If so, you can run an aftermarket cooler.  I have done this on my 56 Bird and my 48 Ford, both with C-4's.  I mounted on the chassis about half way down the length of each car.  You could also mount it in front of the radiator and run lines to it.

On the 48, I have run it this way for 25 years and only in the last year did I have to have it serviced.  The rebuilder said there was no heat related problems with it.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Carl.  My understanding is that the cases on the '55 and early '56 air cooled FordoMatics are the basically the same as the late '56 and '57 water cooled FordoMatics.  I haven't done it, but I've been told that the water cooled transmission could be used with the air cooled '55 and '56 torque converter coupled with the air cooled bellhousing.

Since heat is said to be the biggest enemy of automatic transmissions, I'm told a '55 or '56 air cooled transmission could be drilled and tapped for the late '56/ '57 oil cooler lines (same hole locations on the case), the appropriate late '56 or '57 radiator installed and the transmission oil (fluid) then cooled by both the air cooled torque converter AND the oil (fluid) circulated through the radiator internal tank.  Extra cooling!  

To verify the interchangeabilty of the two converters, I'd check the hub diameters on the air cooled aluminum two piece converter and the one piece steel converter.  The concern would be the front pump seal size being the same.

Hope this helps!    


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I I've seen several water cooled Ford-0 s fail because the cooling lines were plug off. 

The reason for the question was,a guy called me in search of two air cooled fordomatic transmissions. I only have one but also have a water cooled trans.I told him they were the same other the torque converter,bellhousing and cooling lines .Just wanted to get some opinions to make sure on that.Thanks for the info Charlie ,now I know what to check.  Carl

You're right,the air-cooled FOMs can be drilled and tapped for cooling lines.In fact most of them have a dimple cast into the housing to indicate where to drill.That's because the same housing was used in pickups which came with an external cooler.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO