C4

[RustyRed]

I picked up today a C4 off a guy that was converting to AOD.

Got a pretty good deal at a couple hundred.  The tranny was rebuilt several years ago but includes a B&M shift kit already installed, a non-stock stall converter, etc, etc....even has the Trick Flow aluminum pan with it so I guess I have two of those pans for the time being.

My general plan is to clean it up and repaint it while it is out of the car.

For the install it should be pretty straight forward since I am pulling a C4 out and putting a different C4 in.

Now all I need to find is someone with a strong back to help me with the remove / install, LOL!

[70_Fastback]

What was wrong with your old one?

And while it's out of the car.  I would drop that pan, change the filter & fluid though.

[RustyRed]

What was wrong with your old one?

It's getting pretty worn...been at least 10 years since it had any kind of rebuild / overhaul done to it.  I didn't want to spend a bunch of money putting a shift kit, etc in the old one just to have it crap out on me.

I came across this one pretty much by accident when I came across someone with a decent transmission that was already beefed up.  Only reason he was trading them out was someone gave him the AOD one.

Looking for a gasket locally now so I can pull the pan off while it's out of the car.  O'Reilly however didn't have one and couldn't say when it would be in...that seems unusual for them.

[daveSanborn]

Looking for a gasket locally

Securing a gasket from a local parts supplier for a C4 transmission should not be difficult.  I'd call a different DIY store.... Autozone/PepBoys/Etc.

[70_Fastback]

That is odd.  My O'Reilly can "typically" order stuff in same day - but there is also the "main warehouse" pretty close as well.

[RustyRed]

I called O'Reilly back when I got a chance after the boys' Aikido class last night and talked to Kenneth.  By the way, you know you own a classic when you are on a first name basis with the guy at the local auto parts, LOL!

Anyway, the guy who answered the phone the first time I called was just a moron...Ken found what I needed and put it aside in the will call for me.  I am running over at lunch to today to pick it up.

I've found at the local O'Reilly there are a couple of guys that really know their stuff and have rebuilt cars, etc in the past and if it's a slow day I've had them see what I was carrying in and meet me at the counter with the part I need before if its something basic like a headlight. The rest that work there not so much, they seem to be punk kids who don't know much. 

I figured they had it and the first guy must have just been clueless.  Ken gave me the part number suggesting you never know who might be helping me when I walk in, LOL!  I've had to wait a day or so at times for them to special order something along these lines but never had issues with them flat not having it before so I knew something was off when I called the first time yesterday, hence why I waited a long while to make sure someone else got the phone then called back.

[70_Fastback]

I also prefer the 2 local O'Reilly's in lieu of the damn AutoZone (which is the closer of those 3).  The 'O' guys all have nice, home built hotrod/cars, etc.  They all know their shart pretty well.

The Autozone guys.... not so much.  When you pull in, the employee parking area looks like a junkyard for 'Fast & Furious III' stunt cars.  If you know what I mean...

And then there is also Napa - which never has what I need in stock; and they are always the most expensive.

And there is one more major parts store too -- the name escapes me at the moment -- but you have to be able to speak spanish to even try to attempt to get a part...  That store just plain pisses me off.

[AtlantaSteve]

The Autozone guys.... not so much.  When you pull in, the employee parking area looks like a junkyard for 'Fast & Furious III' stunt cars.  If you know what I mean...

ROFLMAO!   HAHAHAHA Perfect Description! Same at my Autozone.

[70_Fastback]

ROFLMAO!   HAHAHAHA Perfect Description! Same at my Autozone.

Odd huh?  LoL.

[RustyRed]

I got one today at O'Reilly because I had to go back and get the couple of things I forgot yesterday. 

The guy was clearly an FNG and didn't even know what one of the donut gasket rings for the exhaust are.  I had started thinking one of mine is leaking anyway and will possibly (or probably?) have to unbolt the pipe from the manifold to get the transmission out / in so when in Rome...

While I was there I also picked up about four quarts of type F that I forgot yesterday.

Fast (and probably stupid) question though...when I get the new transmission installed I obviously add type F to the pan till it's full but do I need to add fluid anywhere else?

[AzPete]

I believe you can fill the torque converter to almost full too. Make sure to check/fill the fluid after starting the engine and warming things up.

[RustyRed]

I believe you can fill the torque converter to almost full too. Make sure to check/fill the fluid after starting the engine and warming things up.

I was thinking putting some fluid in the converter was the way to go but couldn't recall.  I think if I pull it out I should be able to put some fluid in it.

Question though...either this pan didn't have a magnet in it or it was misplaced after I pulled it off.  How important is it to have a magnet in your pan and is there some place I can get another one? 

[daveSanborn]

How important is it to have a magnet in your pan and is there some place I can get another one?

You're referring to the drain plug being magnetized?  It wasn't a magnet drain plug from the factory.

If you don't have a magnetized drain plug, you can affix any magnet to the bottom of the pan and it will attract and hold small metal particles to the inside of the pan directly over the magnet.

[apollard]

I also prefer the 2 local O'Reilly's in lieu of the damn AutoZone (which is the closer of those 3).  The 'O' guys all have nice, home built hotrod/cars, etc.  They all know their shart pretty well.

The Autozone guys.... not so much.  When you pull in, the employee parking area looks like a junkyard for 'Fast & Furious III' stunt cars.  If you know what I mean...

Just the opposite in my neck of the woods - O'Reilly & Advance are the ricer counter guys, the Autozone has the rodders & truck guys. NAPA here has every damn thing (or can get it from the Charlotte whse), but $$$. Unfortuantely, Autozone doesn't have good books, so if I need to find something outside the ordianary, NAPA it is.

[RustyRed]

You're referring to the drain plug being magnetized?  It wasn't a magnet drain plug from the factory.

If you don't have a magnetized drain plug, you can affix any magnet to the bottom of the pan and it will attract and hold small metal particles to the inside of the pan directly over the magnet.

Thanks Dave...it's the Trick Flow pan and it has a drain plug...no idea if it is magnetized or not however.  Guess the quick way to find that answer is to stick a screw driver or wrench next to it...

[66gt350]

If you don't have a magnetized drain plug, you can affix any magnet to the bottom of the pan and it will attract and hold small metal particles to the inside of the pan directly over the magnet.

Wouldn't this be difficult to do with an aluminum pan?? :craz

[70_Fastback]

Wouldn't this be difficult to do with an aluminum pan?? :craz

[daveSanborn]

Wouldn't this be difficult to do with an aluminum pan?? :craz

Whoops.  Um yeah, I forgot about the aftermarket AL pan being used.

[RustyRed]

I believe you can fill the torque converter to almost full too. Make sure to check/fill the fluid after starting the engine and warming things up.

When we were installing the transmission the other day we filled the converter about half full.  Any higher than that and it came back out when it got over the edge of the hole in the center.  We put roughly half a quart in there though.

Any guess on how many quarts I should put in it to start with.  Guessing I'll have to put some in then let it run a while before doing a final check while it's warm.

Still haven't made any progress the last two days.  Getting dehydrated sucks royal but I am starting to feel better today and want to get out there some evening this week and get her up and running for the long weekend coming.  It's driving me crazy though...it's really close to being done but I've been laid up in the house on the couch for the last couple of days (well...minus going to work yesterday and church on Sunday)

[66gt350]

When we installed the c4 in the wife's coupe, I believe we put in about 5-6 quarts initially -- plus one in the torque converter.  That put the fluid to about the full mark.  Started the car, let it idle and checked the level and added some more. It took several more quarts to get it to the full mark.

[RustyRed]

When we installed the c4 in the wife's coupe, I believe we put in about 5-6 quarts initially -- plus one in the torque converter.  That put the fluid to about the full mark.  Started the car, let it idle and checked the level and added some more. It took several more quarts to get it to the full mark.

Thanks!

I think we could only fit about 1/2 a quarter in the converter but figured as long as we got something in there for initial start up we should be cool.

[RustyRed]

When we installed the c4 in the wife's coupe, I believe we put in about 5-6 quarts initially -- plus one in the torque converter.  That put the fluid to about the full mark.  Started the car, let it idle and checked the level and added some more. It took several more quarts to get it to the full mark.

I started adding fluid to mine last night and after about 4 quarts the dipstick was registering well over full.  My guess is it will need more after I start it up but it seemed like it should hold more than four quarts before reading "over fill"?

I also need to throw a couple of gas cans in the Explorer and hit the gas station for five or ten gallons.  Mustang is pretty low since some dummy forgot to fill it up last time they drove it and I am guessing I am going to have to let it sit at idle a good deal when I first get it started.

I am hoping to start it up today.  Last night I couldn't find an 11/16 deep socket so I have to swing by Sears today and pick one up...need it to tighten down the exhaust pipe to the manifold.  I also need to bolt the neutral safety switch back on but I am basically done.

[66gt350]

That sounds about right.  Once you start it and it fills up the torque converter and all of the passages, you'll be adding quite a bit more.  It's been a little bit since we done this, but it didn't take too long idling initially.  IIRC, we quickly hit all the gears, and then turned it off and checked the level.  And added several more quarts.

[RustyRed]

That sounds about right.  Once you start it and it fills up the torque converter and all of the passages, you'll be adding quite a bit more.  It's been a little bit since we done this, but it didn't take too long idling initially.  IIRC, we quickly hit all the gears, and then turned it off and checked the level.  And added several more quarts.

That's what I was thinking of doing.  Getting it running and then switch from one gear to the next and shutting her back off.

Probably going to be a pita to get started however since it hasn't run in two weeks.  When I've been driving it some it fires right up but when it's been sitting, well it's a tad "cold natured" at first.

[johnpro]

Rob is right.  You need to shift it through the gears a few times, then re-fill the case.  All you've done so far is fill the pan.  The torque converter holds more than the pan does.

You'll add 8-10 quarts into a bone dry C4.