Hey guys, I got a couple simple questions...

First of all, did the '73 Maverick come with a C4 transmission? That's what I've been lead to believe, and I don't know how.... Is there a transmission that will work with the inline six 200 thats maybe more than a 3 speed? When I use the freeway, my car eats gas like a slob... What are shift kits? What do they do? If shift kits don't change where the gears shift, is there a way I can increase gas mileage on the freeway with my three speed? Thanks a lot, guys.....

 

Yes, your car probably has a C4. There are a few options, you could install a T5 5 speed out of a Mustang for example. What is your rearend gear? My 250 6 cylinder does excellent on the interstate unless I run like 85+ mph.

 

The tranny in your car is a c3. You would need to upgrade to a 250 engine to use a t5(stick) or AOD (auto) to get overdrive. Both would require a major effort. First thing I would do is tune up the old cars igntion system. Check the timing and rebuilding the carb and tuning it wouldn't hurt.

 

What leads you to believe it's not a C4? My '73 had a C4. There are guys on Ford Six running T5's behind 200's. But I agree, a tune up wouldn't hurt if it hasn't been messed with in a while.

 

i vote it's a c-4 also.

 

They look very similiar. It is a C3. Much like a C5 looks like a C4

Jamie you are correct they do in factrun a t5 behind the 200. It does require an adaptor. The 250 which shares the same bell housing pattern is a much easier to accomplish.

 

A C3 is a light duty C4. It was introduced in the 70's. My car may have been swapped in for all I know. Get the ID tag on the transmission and clarify which you have.

 

It's a C-4.

 

Thanks for all the help so far guys... everything's been tune up as much as possible.... help from my father, we checked the timing again recently, and it was actually ahead a few degrees, i wanna say like 14, but that doesnt sound right.... anyway, we rebuilt the carb, too, and he even put in a high voltage ignition coil to burn the fuel better.... i was going to put a tri-power on it, but my dad said that with the money it would end up costing, i might as well drop a 302 in it... i think ill do that, but i still wanna keep the 200, its an antique! do you guys think i should keep it?

 

i had a 170 with a 3 speed in my car.. before i did the 302 swap...

i drove it from kentucky to arizona... it had a 2bbl carb on it.. and i got 36.4 mpg the whole trip at 65 mph...

now i get 10 if i am lucky.. lol

 

Shift kits will improve a transmissions performance. Most kits have two stages, R.V. and performance. They both install in the valve body and can be done while the trans in still in the car. Basically what they do is give you a nice,firm shift,this helps the trans live longer. It could give you better mileage around town because,(imo), any time you can increase efficiency in the drive train, you can notice a gain in mileage. Word of caution....if your trans is not heathy (i.e. slipping) than a shift kit will not help, it will hurt. Hope this helps.

Jamie

 

Yeah, it did.... thanks a lot!

 

I would not recommend a shift kit on any of our cars unless the trans has been rebuilt. Mine had low miles on it, and acquired a slip between 2nd and 3rd gears after installing a shift kit, just because all the internal parts are old and crusty, and the seals are probably worthless at this point.

According to the 1970 Preliminary Shop Manual "Two transmissions are available for the 1970 Maverick: a C4 fully automatic and a C4 semi-automatic."

So if there is a C3 in a Maverick, it may be specific to just one or two years, and most were equipped with C4.

 

Thanks scooper, I have another question fellas, sorry to be so inquisitive.... has anyone ever heard of/used or is using that RustStop??? Would you recommend that over an undercoating?? I think RustStop would be less messy, if it even works.... Thanks again, guys

:bananaman

 

If Ruststop is like POR-15 and Rust bullet, I would take the undercoating off, paint the rust protection on, then recoat with undercoating. Those rust chemicals need to bond to the metal to work, as they seal the metal pores preventing any oxygen from getting to the metal and starting rust.