how good is the c6?

[hughjazz]

Is the c6 any good? I have the impression that they are pretty bullet proof. They just suck for the highway. Is this correct? Most of the idi's that I think are good value are from the '80s.
I've had luck with my 7.3 so far but I still would feel a little better with a 6.9 But with that comes the non o.d transmissions. I will spend moderate time on the highway,so vehicle speed and economy is a legit issue to adress.
Is the c6 costly to rebuild like a e4od? Can a e40d be put place of a c6,with an aftermarket programmer to do the thinking? Also How hard is it to put in a 5 speed? Is it really practical if I have a complete 89 donor vehicle. This is regarding an '85 4x4.
Maybe a gv overdrive? On that note any recomendations on an overdrive unit. In the long run do they actually pay for themselves? I know lots of guys have the old c6's Or even the 4 speed manual. any insight or recommendations regarding this is welcome and appreciated.

 

[f-two-fiddy]

The C6/Gear Vendors is prolly the most heavy duty combo you can use.

The E4OD is a very troublesome tranny. Unless it's built and setup right, you'll have headaches, eventually.
A properly built E4OD, Torque Converter, and electronics, prolly cost's more than a Heavy Duty C6 build, and a Gear Vendors.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Swapping automatics for manuals isn't hard, especially when you have a complete donor. I put a Toplader 4 speed in '73 Torino and a Muncie M-22 in a '68 Impala and those cars never even came with manual trannies. Took about 4 days to swap and fabricate everything......Including breaks . With a donor like you mention, it shouldn't take more than a day.

On the C-6....... IMHO it is one of the best autos Ford ever made but definatly could use a GV if you plan on getting any economy out of it.

 

[Exekiel69]

Here You go

 

[tonkadoctor]

Here You go

Ohhhhhhhh.....Good price, I'd hit the Buy now if I was serious about getting one for a C-6

 

[hughjazz]

Here You go

That is a fantastic price but will that work with a 4x4? Im not sure how a transfercase will bolt up to it.

Another question, is ther a lock up torque converther for a c6?

 

[troutwest66]

There might be two ways to do the OD. The Gear Vendors I believe is behind the transfer case but I think a US Gear OD unit goes between the tranny and transfer case. I'm sure there are adapters involved and drive line modifications either way. I know the C6 is a tough tranny. My dad had two different '70s Fords with the C6 and neither one gave a lick of trouble towing heavy trailers and hauling tons of firewood. He had a '75 4X2 for two or three years then traded it in on a '77 4X4 and the '77 went through three motors and the tranny had no more than a front seal put in it at motor changes and fluid changes.

 

[The Warden]

That is a fantastic price but will that work with a 4x4? Im not sure how a transfercase will bolt up to it.

That unit won't. That one's meant for the driveshaft to go directly into it. There are versions made that are meant to work with a 4 wheel drive truck, but they are different from the 2WD version (as someone else mentioned, with the U.S. gear unit, it goes between the tranny and the transfer case; GearVendors OD's go behind the transfer case).

Another question, is ther a lock up torque converther for a c6?

Not from the factory. If someone made one aftermarket, I've never heard of it...but, if such a thing exists, I'd be quite curious...even though I haven't owned a C6 since 2002...

 

[tonkadoctor]

That is a fantastic price but will that work with a 4x4? Im not sure how a transfercase will bolt up to it.

Ohhhhhh........Sorry, I missed the fact that you have a 4x4. You'ld have to get a divorced transfer case to make that one work. Best to keep looking.

 

[h2odrx]

wow with that one do you need to shorten the drive shaft? and can some body loan me $750??? I NEED THAT THING!!!!!!!!!!

It would go nice on this truck that has 4.10 rear???

 

[towcat]

That's a USG unit imho, after owning and killing GV's. the USG is a tougher unit. You can power decel with it. Not so with a GV. If that was set up for t-19, I would have to get a fleabay account and do the buy it now thing.

 

[h2odrx]

Gee what to do... make a house payment or a buy GV???????

 

[Guntherx]

Yeah, it definitely is a GV unit. I can tell because he says so. no but seriously, I installed one before my big trip to CO last year. Now that I have it I cannot even imagine not anymore. I have 150K on my truck and only rebuilt the C6 once and it still goes great.
As many of you know, I am not afraid to put the truck to the limits towing. The C6 and now with the GV work great and do not give me any problems. The install of the unit is very straight forward and easy. You already have the tail shaft converter, so there really isn’t much else you need. However; I didn’t know they had a cable model. Mine is electric solenoid. Shifting is very easy and what is nice is you can split the gears even with the C6. there were times pulling a mountain where I would drop from 3 od to 3 dir., then go to 2 od & 2 dir. It helps keep your speed up and is less taxing on the motor. If you downshift with a straight C6 you will actually slow down faster.
Another plus are the people at US Gear. They answered questions for me all of the time without making you feel bad for buying it off of eBay. With mine, I bought it and let it sit for a year or more. When I got to installing it I called USG to ask what it was and to be sure it was an over (it was supposed to be). WRONG!!!!!!! They told me to look at the rings on the input shaft and it tells you whether it is OD or UD. BTW the C6 does not need UD unless you have 3:55 gears in it. Anyway I ended up having to buy a gear replacement set, an install kit with that tail shaft, the electronics to shift it, and you know what????? I’m still a happy gear jammer. If only I had some to actually jam. Sorry I was digressing. Anyway to sum this up its worth it.

 

[Diesel JD]

I like the C6 its pretty tough. I still get decent economy out of mine with the 3.55s on the highway, maybe 16-18mpg, still haven't had it on a LONG road test empty on the highway. With the 4.10s you really will be wishing for that O/D. I was at 3000 RPM at 68mph with the 4.10s, probably 2600 now with the 3.55s

 

[h2odrx]

So what would i need to put it on a crew cab with 4.10's?