I have a 63 Fairlane w/ a 3spd manual transmission and a 260 V8 engine. I'd like to replace the 3 on the tree manual transmission with an automatic (floor shift is fine) and I am willing to get a new engine/transmission combination if necessary to get a good automatic transmission and an easy installation. I'd rather not do a lot of fabrication so I strongly prefer something that I can just bolt in place. Can anyone recommend a good conversion strategy? My goal is to make the car a reliable easy-to-drive daily runner.

Dan in Durham NC

I changed the one I had in 1976. I don't know if a C4 transmission will bolt to the 260. When I changed mine I switched to a 1971 302 with C4 transmission and used a auto shifter from a Mustang. Very little changes to the transmission tunnel. Everything else bolted in fairly easy from what I remember.

THE SWAP IS VERY EASY, THE TRICK IS TO MAKE SURE THE ENGINE AND TRANNY ARE COMPATABLE. YOUR BEST BET IS TO A 1967 OR NEWER 302 AND A C-4 TRANNY. THE SMALL BLOCK FORD WENT TO A SIX BOLT BELL HOUSING IN LATE 66 AND THE C-4 WILL BOLT RIGHT UP AND IS CHEAP. THE CROSS MEMBER ISN'T A PROBLEM(ITS UNIVERSAL) JUST DITCH THE CLUTCH LINKAGE AND HOOK UP SOME TYPE OF AFTERMARKET OR STOCK CABLE SHIFTER AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.