Newbe

[turbinesurgeon]

I am new to Fords, I just bought a 72 fastback without an engine and I have several question.

1. I just bought a 302 that had a manual transmission and I will be using a FMX automatic. Since the motor is balanced with a manual flywheel should I be worried about the motor being balanced properly?

2. Is there any decent overhaul kits for the FMX?

Thanks

 

[tylerrocks]

Not too familiar with autos, but I'm pretty sure your gonna need to ditch the flywheel and get a flexplate.

 

[Max Power]

Well, of course you are going to have to ditch the flywheel and get a flexplate. If you bring your old flywheel and your new flexplate into a competant machine shop, they can match it up for you.

FMX stock rebuild kits are available, and you can get a shift kit from B&M or Trans-go. Stall converters are rare as hens teeth, and high performance internals are not made, for the most part.

 

[Edbert]

The FMX has a poor reputation, they are quite strong but also quite heavy, generally not a good choice for a performance buildup. All early fords were 28oz imbalance, FoMoCo switched to a different design later (I'm thinking 1981 but better verify the date), so as long as you are using all old or all new style SBF parts you should be okay. It gets a little more complicated when you mix them up. For example my AOD came with a different sized (number of teeth) flexplate than the C4 my car had. The AOD flexplate was 50oz and my crank was 28oz, so I bought an AOD flexplate with latemodel teeth and early model balance.

Clear as mud?

 

[HistoricMustang]

delete

HistoricMustang

 

[turbinesurgeon]

Thanks for the help guys, I do have a flexplate that came out of the original 302 and the motor has the early style original dampner so I guess I can just bolt the flexplate on and go.

 

[Edbert]

I've found that using the word "guess" like you just did can often lead to regret.

The front dampner is a good hint, you're sure it is the right one. You still have to be reasonably sure that it is the correct damper for the crank...in other words...was the engine in running condition with the parts you have now?

The flexplate may have come from a C4, are you sure the bolt pattern is the same from a C-series to an FMX? If iit came from the FMX you're good to go.

 

[turbinesurgeon]

I've found that using the word "guess" like you just did can often lead to regret.

The front dampner is a good hint, you're sure it is the right one. You still have to be reasonably sure that it is the correct damper for the crank...in other words...was the engine in running condition with the parts you have now?

The flexplate may have come from a C4, are you sure the bolt pattern is the same from a C-series to an FMX? If iit came from the FMX you're good to go.

The flexplate came off of the original 302 that had the FMX attached to it so I am positive this flexplate works with a FMX. The new motor I have had a 3spd attached so I was just wondering if the balancers are the same. Both engines are 1972. I was just wondering since this motor was balanced with a flywheel would there be any harm converting it to an auto?

 

[MustangMatt1966]

Why not just leave it a manual???? they are more fun anyways

 

[jadesville]

Just to throw in my 2 cents, I would be looking for a C4 instead of a FMX, they have a weight difference of ~65 lbs, and the C4 parts are more readily available. To answer your question, no, you just need to find the same balance flexplate and Edbert what said, double check to make sure your dampner is the correct balance for the engine.

 

[Edbert]

I was just wondering since this motor was balanced with a flywheel would there be any harm converting it to an auto?

No, if they were both 28oz then you're golden.

 

[turbinesurgeon]

Why not just leave it a manual???? they are more fun anyways

I couldn't agree more, however the car is an automatic so I am not going to go through the hassle of converting it to a manual.