1974, with C-4, won't shift into drive.

RJRIFF · 4 Weeks Ago

Can anyone tell me what to check or do to find out why my 1974 with C-4 transmission will not shift into drive but works in reverse? I changed fluid and screen and it still does this. It did'nt happen suddenly but over a period of 6 months it won't be slow to shift into drive. Once warm it worked ok, but now after not driving it for a couple months it won't shift into drive and was making a low whine noise. What can I do?

dragorphan · 4 Weeks Ago

It sounds like it is time for a rebuild. The forward clutch pack and or bands are most likely worn out. reverse still should work due to much less wear. The c-4 in my 63 fairlane did the same thing. No hard parts were bad just the normal wear items. It would slip into 3rd and then it just stoped shifting out of second alltogether. A good trans shop should be able to rebuild the trans in one day if you pull it and bring it in. good luck.

VAMP_77 · 4 Weeks Ago

i used to have a 1978 Ford Fairmont (kill me cuz i've had 6 fairmonts). My 1979 Fairmont had a 302/c-4 outta a mustang. The trans started acting funny. I could go out, start it up and put it in drive. GO back into the house and 30mins later walk back to the car and it hadn't moved (no, parking brake wasnt on right). Took it to my trans guy after 3months of this and was told the "fluid pump'' was shot.... new pump and worked fine... MIGHT be same thing might not.. just my 2cents (again)

~Jim

RJRIFF · 3 Weeks Ago

Fluid pump sounds like it would be the problem, that or valve body sticking? Before it stopped going into drive completely I could rev up on her and feel the car nudging forward and sometimes get lucky and it would go into drive..Then after it did go into drive and I drove it a little, I could put it into park, reverse, back into drive with no problems. But the next morning, it would'nt work again, I would have to pull E brake put it into 2nd and wait 10-15 minutes and it would finnaly go into drive. So while at the parts store and guy said to put a small bottle of brake fluid in there and it should work. So, I did that, and it did work. Had no problems for a few months but then they re-appeared again til it is the way it is now. But to just say, when it did go into drive, all gears shifted normal, maybe a slight bit of slip going into 2nd, but after everything was warmed up, everything worked normal. And with that wining noise coming from the trans, and the slow progression over 6 months..

So, how does one get to the fluid pump?