Rebuilding the Ford C6: Band Adjustment Procedures

I show you how to perform the band adjustment procedure on a Ford C6 transmission on the bench.

[@cs2-llc]

Appreciate the C6 series videos. Gathering all the parts to build mine now. Your comprehensive teardown and rebuild, plus all these tips, has given me 100% confidence to take this on. Watching Broader Performance videos as well. Ironically, my transmission rebuild is for a 1979 Ford Bronco.

[@nickstransmissions]

You're welcome, CS2 and thank you for watching and good luck with the build! Your transmission should the same as the ones I have on the channel...1976-1977, there were a fairly significant amount of changes to the C6 which impacted various parts of the case and valve body but afterwards, changes were fairly minimal...

[@sps-vf4qq]

Thanks so much for these c6 videos! You explain everything so well!

[@nickstransmissions]

Thank you for watching them! Appreciate the kind words!

[@monkeywrenchization]

Everybody has their own way of doing things, and I'm not faulting yours. I used to take a short 5/16 open end wrench and all you could pull with 1 finger, then back off until the driveshell would rotate, then one or two flats on adjusting screw. Gave it a short shift into 2nd.

[@nickstransmissions]

Great tip, Peter! For sure, there's multiple ways to skin the cat...I'll try your method on the next C6 I build.

[@AlbuquerqueImaging]

Thanks for another informative lesson and the C6 is important to me. As I am learning the various cases and parts and problems all of which are spellbinding I came up with a question about lockup in the late models vs. early and when it happens in the shift cycle? does it go on and off? Why is there a pulse solenoid for the converter?

[@nickstransmissions]

Thanks, Keith - appreciate the kind words! I'm not aware of any models/variants of C6 that came with a lock up converter (IE converter with a clutch). Are you referring to the E4OD?

[@AlbuquerqueImaging]

@@nickstransmissionsThank you! this is the c6 video i know but I have this question : I was wondering about the timing of the lockup in my 4r100 mostly but looking at the late models like the ten speeds and how they operate what is the converter doing the whole time in those during the upshifts?

[@joseduranjr4963]

I have a 1979 Lincoln Mark V with the 6.6 engine and C6 transmission. When the engine is cold at start up all gears work…reverse, 1,2,3. But as soon as the engine warms up only gears 1 and 2 work. Reverse and 3 don’t work. Do I need a new transmission or just the band adjusted. From Espanola New Mexico

[@AlbuquerqueImaging]

@@joseduranjr4963 that is interesting. are you sure its not 13? maybe 23? it does sound like a real problem so if the filter is not clogged pull it out before it goes bad. maybe pull the tail housing while still in the car and clean up the governor if its the problem. there is a little ball quida lo turn it to the top

[@joseduranjr4963]

What does the band adjustment do to the transmission

[@nickstransmissions]

Ensures it shifts correctly and timely without slipping or causing a tie up between 2nd and 3rd gear.

[@joseduranjr4963]

I have a 1979 Lincoln Mark v with the 6.6 and a C6 transmission and the first 1 and 2 gears engage but 3 and reverse don’t work when the engine warms up. They only work when cold during start up. Do I need a new transmission or the band adjusted?

[@cfreezy45]

I've got a 460 with a c6 and first gear it lugs really bad with a trailer and without can't even spin the tires. Would you think that's band adjustment issue? Also it really doesn't like being in reverse with a trailer and slight incline. Makes a popping sound

[@nickstransmissions]

Hi Cameron, thank you for watching. How long has this been going on? What recent work has been done on the truck? How many miles on the transmission?

[@cfreezy45]

@@nickstransmissions odometer has rolled so either 135k or 235k unknown. I've recently done a full tune up to the engine. I've only had the truck 6 months but it's been weak in first gear ever since I've had it.

[@nickstransmissions]

Gotcha...I wonder if your torque converter's stator one-way clutch has failed in the unit...If the one-way clutch in a torque converter fails, the first part of the drive cycle will feel as though the engine is missing half of its cylinders but once you get up to road speed and fluid coupling occurs, torque multiplication ends and the stator free-wheels normally (the engine speed where fluid coupling occurs is the converter's stall speed).

[@MattsRageFitGarage]

@@nickstransmissions You know, my truck I've had for 12 years, 86 F250, 351W C6 auto has always felt like it was dragging an anchor taking off, like the brakes are dragging slightly even though they are not and it felt that way accelerating anything below I'd say 40 MPH, I wonder if that was the issue. Once the trans gets warm the feeling isn't as noticeable and it wasn't anything to do with the engine and the rest of the transmission overall looked incredible for the age, mileage and abuse it went through. Trans always worked fine but it had just shy of 254,000 when I tore it down - putting a new engine in it and decided to do the trans since it was still the original. I do have a new torque converter but I wonder if that was the issue. The truck always got 9-10 MPG no matter what I did to it, think it should have done a little better than that driving around empty. We'll find out here the next couple weeks. I think with the TCI low drag kit and the 2000-2500 stall converter I have it should take off like a rocket now lol. Having an engine without a bent connecting rod on cylinder 5 should help some too.

[@botoepfer8588]

Hello Nick, I have a 79 Bronco I am building I bought an 88 460efi it came with a 2wd C6 I have bought a 4wd C6 and am wondering which to rebuild? (add the SK6). The 2wd C6 has about 88k miles it came from a Motor home I don't know anything about the 4WD c6 your thoughts please.

[@nickstransmissions]

Hi Bo, thank you for watching. Since they're largely the same in terms of vintage (i.e. both C6s are post-1975), I'd compare the servo codes to see which one had the larger diameter servo and prioritize that one. If they're both the same, I'd prob focus on the 88 C6 and convert it for 4x4 use. This assumes you aren't already planning on upgrading to an aftermarket HP servo/cover assembly.

[@botoepfer8588]

great thanks I will take a look tonight @@nickstransmissions

[@nickstransmissions]

You're welcome, Bo.