• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

C-4 ??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bad67MF
  • Start date Start date Apr 4, 2005

Bad67MF

Member
Sep 29, 2004
60
0
6
Sparks Nevada
Apr 4, 2005
#1
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #1
I just bought a C-4 used "HP rebuilt" I just put it in and it shifts fine manually but if I let it shift auto. it will shift from 1-3 w/o 2nd sometimes it does shift right but not smooth. I have no background history on the rebuild could this be a full manual or do I have a problem?
 

Edbert

Founding Member
Jul 13, 2002
3,548
32
109
Austin TX
Apr 4, 2005
#2
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #2
If it shift at all without you doing anything it is not a manual only. I don;t know enough to diagnose the skipping of 2nd but if it is a high performance build it will NOT shift smooth. Short and abrupt shift are what you want for short ETs and reduced heat/wear (of the tranny not the tires, LOL).
 

geostang351

Member
Mar 30, 2005
946
0
17
Danb., CT
Apr 5, 2005
#3
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #3
Sounds like a shift kit is installed. As for the shifting itself, is the vacuum hose hooked up?
 
T

The Dan

New Member
Jul 16, 2003
319
0
0
Orange County, CA
Apr 5, 2005
#4
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #4
I agree with geo, sounds like the vacuum modulator might be an issue. It will defineatly mess with the shifts if not working properly. You could always change it out just to rule it out. They're pretty cheap.
 

golf4283

Active Member
May 30, 2003
1,253
1
39
Orland Park, Illinois
Apr 5, 2005
#5
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #5
maybe he has a green dot c4 so he has it in the start in 2nd gear and go to third. The C4 tranny's of 65-6 used a c4 that you can either set it in low or set it in drive or you can set it in 2nd gear start to 3rd gear because if slippery weather.
 

84convertablegt

New Member
Nov 6, 2004
589
0
0
Columbus, OH
Apr 5, 2005
#6
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #6
yeah, sounds like a green dot issue. make sure when u shift into drive, you go 2 clicks past neutral, not 1. otherwise youll be starting in 2nd gear, and shifting directly to third... and your performance will feel like crap... i was a little confused when i first got my 65, but now i have a late model style streetfighter c4 in there, so i dont have to worry about that. or possibly a vaccum mod. problem, they are cheap and easy to replace. just make sure you get the right one.
 

Bad67MF

Member
Sep 29, 2004
60
0
6
Sparks Nevada
Apr 5, 2005
#7
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #7
geostang351 said:
Sounds like a shift kit is installed. As for the shifting itself, is the vacuum hose hooked up?
Click to expand...
Yes it is hooked up, and holds vacume but I guess that doesn't mean it works. I will switch it out anyway I also had my suspicions about that.
I don't think it is a green dot, whatever that is. it is out of a 1978 F100
Also it is in D when it misses 2nd. When I get in the gas a little more than normal from a stop it will go from 1st to 3rd with no 2nd.
 
T

The Dan

New Member
Jul 16, 2003
319
0
0
Orange County, CA
Apr 5, 2005
#8
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #8
If it is from a 1978, then it is not a green dot. If the modulator is not the problem, then you may be in for some difficult trouble shooting. If it is a recent rebuild, then the obvious would be that something didn't get replaced correctly. Good luck with figuring it out, I know how frustating it can be.
 
R

ravenblack67

New Member
Apr 2, 2005
46
0
0
Apr 5, 2005
#9
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #9
Readjust your bands.
 

Bad67MF

Member
Sep 29, 2004
60
0
6
Sparks Nevada
Apr 5, 2005
#10
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #10
ravenblack67 said:
Readjust your bands.
Click to expand...
Did that.
 
R

ravenblack67

New Member
Apr 2, 2005
46
0
0
Apr 6, 2005
#11
  • Apr 6, 2005
  • #11
I dug into the manual last night. You may have a bad low/reverse clutch pack. It could be the clutches or the clutch piston or the clutch drum. The only way to be sure is to pull the pan and conduct air checks.
 

Bad67MF

Member
Sep 29, 2004
60
0
6
Sparks Nevada
Apr 7, 2005
#12
  • Apr 7, 2005
  • #12
I changed the modulator. While I was under there I re-adjusted the bands-10ft.lbs.ea. backed off the low reverse 3 turns and the intermediate 1 3/4 is this correct for a 1978 C-4? One book I have says ft. lbs and one says in. lbs. Anyway when I went for a test drive it shifted VERY smooth, you almost couldn't tell it switched gears. Then from the next stop and start it went from 1-2 and then almost stoped the car like the brakes were on I then put it in N and back to D and it seemed to shift fine after that except for being super smooth . Any answers??
 
T

The Dan

New Member
Jul 16, 2003
319
0
0
Orange County, CA
Apr 7, 2005
#13
  • Apr 7, 2005
  • #13
Not to sound insulting, but is the fluid level correct? For it to "feel like the brakes were applied" sounds like the bands are getting a lot of friction. If it is not the fluid, than I say it has to be the band adjustment. I know the book says 10 ft lbs, but something like band adjustments are ball park figures, you may have to keep tweaking it until it finds its happy place.
 

Bad67MF

Member
Sep 29, 2004
60
0
6
Sparks Nevada
Apr 7, 2005
#14
  • Apr 7, 2005
  • #14
The Dan said:
Not to sound insulting, but is the fluid level correct? For it to "feel like the brakes were applied" sounds like the bands are getting a lot of friction. If it is not the fluid, than I say it has to be the band adjustment. I know the book says 10 ft lbs, but something like band adjustments are ball park figures, you may have to keep tweaking it until it finds its happy place.
Click to expand...
The fliud is full, I will play with the bands a little a see what I get Thanks
 

Bad67MF

Member
Sep 29, 2004
60
0
6
Sparks Nevada
Apr 11, 2005
#15
  • Apr 11, 2005
  • #15
Bad67MF said:
The fliud is full, I will play with the bands a little a see what I get Thanks
Click to expand...
Would it be better to run the bands a little looser or tighter??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Drivetrain Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd issue
  • Scott_S
  • Apr 23, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
800
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 14, 2026
Mindseye007
C
1992 LX 2,3, automatic problems, oil dissapears.
  • Carpimp
  • Aug 10, 2025
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech
Replies
2
Views
218
2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech Aug 10, 2025
General karthief
O
My rebirth, Hi from PA
  • onemore1987
  • Jun 28, 2026
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
3
Views
139
The Welcome Wagon Jun 29, 2026
onemore1987
O
T5 5th gear 89 gt
  • mac_55
  • Mar 19, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
202
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 20, 2026
Mustang5L5
Fox Turn signal flasher keeps failing
  • keel
  • Jul 9, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
10
Views
163
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 9, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?