If you look at a stock 58-up Ford automatic indicator on the steering column the Second one below the neutral had a green dot at it. I believe this was to tell previous owners that this was the “drive” to use since the older Ford auto trans did not do this.. I do not know when Ford stopped this but for sure was not used with the C-4 or C-6.
The first D under N was a carryover from the earlier transmissions.
Since 6 spots were now needed on the column indicator of my 56 I had to lengthen the shift arm on the column and the shop doing the work shortened the arm on the transmission.
Your 1 is my L. The governor and vacuum modulator determine when it can stay in a gear along with what’s selected. I do not know how that works. I’ve never tried to hold mine in second gear.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I am a bit confused with all this dots,when i put mine in 1 it stays in first gear,when i select 2 it shifts 1-2-3,when i select D it shifts 2-3. I have no way for the trick to shift first then second and stay in second gear.Here by a couple of pictures of the trans.

John you are right it’s how the 1962 medium case one I have works. The green dot style started in first and white dot in second.
The first ones in 58 did not have a vacuum module from what I’ve heard not sure on that. I was told that the one I have also could have the later 1-2-3 valve body installed but I wanted the green dot style.
There is no detent for park. There are 5 detents 1-2-3-N-R and a pressure above R held in by the column shift or floor shift.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

The detent is commonly called the "rooster comb".  It is a notched plate controlled by the shift lever and located inside the trans.  Its notches actuate a spring loaded bearing ball to hold the control valve in its proper location.  I always thought the dual range cruisos with the dual "drive" selection on the shifter took off in 2nd and shifted to third in one position and took off in 1st, shifted to 2nd and then shifted to 3rd in the other position.  I could be wrong.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

My transmission already has the vacuum modulator and cooling lines,so schould it be a simple swap of the valve bodies? I have to ask what the "detent" is?

Chris, the FMX valve body and detent will cause it to take off in low, shift to 2nd, then shift to 3rd.  If your trans has no vacuum modulator, you will have to drill and tap the case and install a modulator.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Hello everybody,i have a COM trans in my truck,the one that starts in second when you put in drive and strats in first when put in second,did i get it right that by changing the valve body with one off an FMX from 1967 or later it will shift like a C4?
Thanks Christian

DLR, that's ingenious and well done.  Beautiful!

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Hoosier: needs to look like this when your done. The Drive detent in the column needs to be bigger by about 1/8” for 2 positions now; this was done by a die grinder and a file after the steering wheel is off and the turn signal unit is laid out.
Last the column shift arm needs to be longer 7/8-1”.
As a final thing. The “park” on the transmission arm from the internals does not have a detent like R-N-D1-D2-L; you push up your shifter arm (column or floor) and it has the slot to keep it in park. Ford has had problems over the years and with the steering wheel off along with the turn signal mechanism you can really see this.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Cokefirst, yes you can do what you asked, and by the way there are no stupid questions if they are asked in sincerity. You will need a donor FMX transmission.  You need the valve body and "rooster tail" detent, and to drill and tap the back of the case to accept the vacuum modulator.  If your present transmission does not have a ne-way clutch (sprag) in the center of the transmission drive train then you will have to swap that also.  It would be a good idea to use the FMX pressure regulator as well.  I hear that you can also use the parts from a Cruisomatic with the double drive range on the shifter and vacuum modulator.  In either case, your shift lever may have to be modified to allow enough travel for the extra gear position, or you can leave it alone and not have a manual low gear position.  Other options would be to use the dual range Cruiso transmission complete or adapt the FMX to your bellhousing and converter and use it pretty much "as is".  The FMX swap is more involved than the Cruiso swap.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"