Drag racing a Ford O Matic

[JimNolan]

Guys,
    I need some good advice. I once asked the Hoosier Hurricane advice about drag racing a T85 and he said get rid of it. I didn't take his advice and it cost me $1200.00 before I did take his advice. This time I'm going to be a little bit smarter. Here's the deal. I'm buying a 57 ford with a fordomatic transmission. My main objective is to put my recently overhauled 312 ( bone stock ) in it and fix it up just enough to take it to the Y-Block shootouts and a drag strip down at Bunker Hill to run bracket. I want a transmission that will hold up to no less than 13 sec through a quarter and still be dependable. I'm not saying I'll go 13 sec, I'm just saying if I put big enough tires on it and low enough gears I don't want it coming apart on me. The way I figure it, time is money. The less time you go, the more money it costs.
   1. Can a Ford O Matic hold up to drag racing?
   2. If not, what Automatic would fit a Y-Block without too much adapting or having to change my gear selector?
   3. If a Ford O Matic would work, is there any alterations I should make to it and what stall should the torque converter be?
Thanks guys, Jim

[JPotter57]

do like John Gambill did and buy the bellhousing from Mummert for a C4...best all around trans for any kind of drag racing..  Mummert can also help you select the proper torque converter for the 312.

[57AGIN]

Jim:

I'll add my little input to the info, based on discussions with a guy who builds racing automatics for a living.  He said that years ago you could get replacement parts for the Ford-o-matics very easily and could rebuild them cheaply.  The various parts for the early Ford automatics are now scarce and parts that may have gone for a couple of bucks now may cost in the low hundreds. 

As James said, the C-4 is a great automatic for strengthening for racing.  Just my two bits.

Bob
57AGIN

[Lou]

The Ford-O-Matic became the Ford FMX, there are lots of parts around for them cheap. Clutches, bans, seals, pumps, etc interchange from 1951 to into the 1980s.

[shopratwoody]

Hell, I ran a Fordo behind a 427 many years ago. It never did give up. My Bro used one behind a
Supercharged 312 that ran 13's and it never gave up either.

[JimNolan]

Thanks Guys for the feedback,
       According to the YBlocksforever forum the Ford O Matic or later FMX has the least power loss of the bunch. Another website list the Ford O Matic as one of the better transmission to beat up on. Notwithstanding the 100 more pounds it weighs and the parts cost, I think I'll stick to the FOM. I've already got one along with a driveshaft anyway. Hopefully I can get this 57 bought, get it home and get it fixed up for the shootouts next year. Also, Shopratwoody's post was interesting. Jim