History of the Auto transmission

PETE_XR6 · 14-12-2011, 12:06 PM

Does anybody know the length of time the falcon and Long wheel base cars used the 2 speed Auto, 3 Speed auto, 4 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Auto and the 6 speed. Which one was in production for the longest time?

Simple6 · 14-12-2011, 02:00 PM

Well the BTR 4 Speed was 1990-2010 (or there abouts).

The 3 Speed though was actually a couple of different boxes. FMX or C4(?) mainly.

2011G6E · 14-12-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowlerj

Well the BTR 4 Speed was 1990-2010 (or there abouts).

The 3 Speed though was actually a couple of different boxes. FMX or C4(?) mainly.

Don't forget the Borg Warner 35 three speed auto, which was used in Ford, Chrysler, Datsun, and a dozen other brands around the world...it's staggering how many different cars of all makes that auto was used in when you do a web search...
I think you'll find the BW35 was a lot more common in Fords than the C4 and certainly more common than the FMX.

mik · 14-12-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowlerj

Well the BTR 4 Speed was 1990-2010 (or there abouts).

The 3 Speed though was actually a couple of different boxes. FMX or C4(?) mainly.

i`m pretty sure borg warner 35 3 speed was also in there somewhere.

2011G6E · 14-12-2011, 02:14 PM

Read and be amazed at how many different cars the BW35 has been in...chances are everyone on this forum, and probably in general motoring life, has driven at least one car fitted with a BW35...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg-Wa...5_transmission

It doesn't mention Holden, but I'm dead sure that a Sunbird I owned many moons ago has the four cylinder "black" Opel motor backed by a BW35...

BigAL_250 · 14-12-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Read and be amazed at how many different cars the BW35 has been in...chances are everyone on this forum, and probably in general motoring life, has driven at least one car fitted with a BW35...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg-Wa...5_transmission

It doesn't mention Holden, but I'm dead sure that a Sunbird I owned many moons ago has the four cylinder "black" Opel motor backed by a BW35...

Yes, and it also only mentions FoA as early falcons, even though the BW-35 was used until the EAII (10/1989)

2011G6E · 14-12-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAL_250

Yes, and it also only mentions FoA as early falcons, even though the BW-35 was used until the EAII (10/1989)

It was also used in Cortinas as well, not just Falcons. Not sure about Escorts.

jcxr · 14-12-2011, 03:53 PM

Dont forget the model T had an auto as well.

Kieron · 14-12-2011, 03:58 PM

XK-XP For the 2pd FordOMatic

XP-EA SI For the BW35 although circa XF it was renamed BW40, may have had a reasonable update at this stage too.

EA SII- FG For the BTR 85LE/91LE/95LE, not sure if it had any further names/revisions though?

5 and ZF 6 speed autos iirc came out with the BF, someone more knowledgeable than me can fill this bit out

BW35/40 was used on 6 potters (OP was talking Falcons), 4spd autos used on both 6 and V8's.

5spd was 6 potter only I believe.
ZF 6 speeder, 6 and V8.

C4 was typically used on the 302's and FMX's used on 351's, although I forget all the details I believe the C4 was also used on some 250 6 potters?

By far, the ubiquitous BW35/40 was in production for the longest time.

Feel free to correct me

Road_Warrior · 14-12-2011, 04:01 PM

6 speed ZF transmission debuted with the BF.

5 speed 5R55 from Bordeaux Transaxle debuted with the FG. This transmission is/was a global transmission also fitted to Ranger, Explorer and Mustang.

Streets · 14-12-2011, 04:07 PM

Good old Borgy.

Mr Hardware · 14-12-2011, 04:10 PM

good thread, good responses. this is interesting.

PETE_XR6 · 14-12-2011, 04:14 PM

so the 4 speed went for 20 years?

Simple6 · 14-12-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Don't forget the Borg Warner 35 three speed auto, which was used in Ford, Chrysler, Datsun, and a dozen other brands around the world...it's staggering how many different cars of all makes that auto was used in when you do a web search...
I think you'll find the BW35 was a lot more common in Fords than the C4 and certainly more common than the FMX.

Certainly! I knew there was something obvious I was missing!

Ford_The_Win · 14-12-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PETE_XR6

so the 4 speed went for 20 years?

Just over. Introduced in August 89 with the series 2 EA as mentioned above and finally discontinued with the FG eGas in 2010.

XR6_661 · 14-12-2011, 05:11 PM

BTR stopped making the 4 speeds when the BAs came out...

It was some other mob...IOS...ION? Something like that.

Rodge · 14-12-2011, 05:22 PM

Its amazing how far the automatic gearbox has come over the decades and how much more efficient they've become. Many Falcon's are now more efficient with the six speed auto than their manual counterparts and that was only a development in very recent years.

Just a "small" difference between those old "slush-matic" 3 speeders and the current technology

jpd80 · 14-12-2011, 05:38 PM

Pretty sire that XR Falcon was the last to have 2-speed auto available...
When I was young, a friend of my older brother had one with the 170 CID engine

madmelon · 14-12-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_661

BTR stopped making the 4 speeds when the BAs came out...

It was some other mob...IOS...ION? Something like that.

Borg Warner transmission became BTR became ION became DSI (owned by Geely).

The place I work is mostly former Sydney employees of Borgwarner / BTR- before the move to Melbourne.

Kieron · 14-12-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_661

BTR stopped making the 4 speeds when the BAs came out...

It was some other mob...IOS...ION? Something like that.

Borg Warner was taken over by BTR Nylex in the late 80's and in the early 90's, ION took over.

last fairlane · 14-12-2011, 08:43 PM

Good write up
JPG you are not quite right
from memory and Im 65 now
and have had many many Falcons
here we go
XK to XL had the two speed
which was air cooled as against
using the coolant lines in the radiator
after the XL they used water cooled transmissions
XK had the 144ci six
the XL had a choice 144ci or Pursuit 170
then the XMs and XPs had a choice of
170ci Pursuit six or 200ci Super Pursuit six
XM and XP had a 3 speed Fordomatic "3S'
that 3S went into the XRs also called the fordomatic
the V8s had the Cruise o matic 3S
not sure about XTs and XWs but XYs had the BW35
then on through to the early EAs
so that makes them being used for almost 20 years
so that would make the BW35 one of the longest running boxes in the Falcon
just my observations over the years
and all you youngens thought the Pursuit name was new
thanks John

PETE_XR6 · 14-12-2011, 08:59 PM

20 years is a long time for one box, i guess the 5 speed? was the shortest time? maybe 3 years?

foxtrot3 · 14-12-2011, 09:10 PM

Hi. The Borg Warner 35 used in some falcons was similar to the one used in MK3 zephyrs and was known as a dual gate with gear positions of park, reverse, neutral, drive and low. From take off if you put it in low it would stay in 1st gear but if you were in drive and pulled it into low it would change down to 2nd. Cheers MD

Bossxr8 · 14-12-2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

Just over. Introduced in August 89 with the series 2 EA as mentioned above and finally discontinued with the FG eGas in 2010.

It actually continued with Territory until around March this year.

frvellm1 · 15-12-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Good write up
JPG you are not quite right
from memory and Im 65 now
and have had many many Falcons
here we go
XK to XL had the two speed
which was air cooled as against
using the coolant lines in the radiator
after the XL they used water cooled transmissions
XK had the 144ci six
the XL had a choice 144ci or Pursuit 170
then the XMs and XPs had a choice of
170ci Pursuit six or 200ci Super Pursuit six
XM and XP had a 3 speed Fordomatic "3S'
that 3S went into the XRs also called the fordomatic
the V8s had the Cruise o matic 3S
not sure about XTs and XWs but XYs had the BW35
then on through to the early EAs
so that makes them being used for almost 20 years
so that would make the BW35 one of the longest running boxes in the Falcon
just my observations over the years
and all you youngens thought the Pursuit name was new
thanks John

I could be wrong but thought the BW35 was introduced in the XP. First seen in the Fairmont if I recall.

Zedjay · 15-12-2011, 01:55 PM

i had a ZA fairlane with a 2 speed auto..i think it was called a fordomatic ??

jpd80 · 15-12-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zedjay

i had a ZA fairlane with a 2 speed auto..i think it was called a fordomatic ??

Pretty sure the 2-speed box evolved into the FMX.

Mickxr8 · 15-12-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Pretty sure the 2-speed box evolved into the FMX.

Interesting, knew there was a 2 sp variant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise-O-Matic

but didn`t think they made it into aussie cars ?, our 59 fairlane had the 3 sp ( us import though )

billy302 · 16-12-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PETE_XR6

Does anybody know the length of time the falcon and Long wheel base cars used the 2 speed Auto, 3 Speed auto, 4 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Auto and the 6 speed. Which one was in production for the longest time?

1955 or 56 Ford Customline y block engine 2 speed cruiseomatic gearbox.
Ford Thunderbird, Fairlane, Crown Victoria and just about any other large car Ford produced from the mid 50's onward. The early Falcons also had the cruiseomatic gearbox in them. I think probably a smaller version of the same box. Model No difference only.

aquahead2001 · 16-12-2011, 01:15 PM

I have a '64 Compact Fairlane and it has a 3 speed cruise o matic, the '62 & 63 versions and some '64s (I've been told) had the 2 speed auto. My dad had an XR Fairmont with a 289 and a cruise o matic.

If I remember right, the 2 speed auto was always called the "Fordomatic" in both 6 and 8 cylinder configerations.

My Fairlane has the gear selector shaft on the passenger side, which is common to all Ford USA Autos, the Borg Warner Trannies had it on the driver's side. Some XA & XB 6 cylinder cars had C4's so the easy way to tell was which side was the transmission selector.