Adjusting the bands on a Ford Cruise-O Matic automatic transmission

Question:

My 1970 Fairlane has a Ford Cruise-O Matic automatic transmission that worked perfectly until a couple of months ago. My father-in-law (a retired mechanic) drove the car and said the transmission probably needs a band adjustment.

I like to work on the car myself, but I never did any transmission work. How do I adjust the bands?

Answer:

I always encourage people to work on their own cars when they can. It normally is a very satisfying and enjoyable part of the old car hobby. However, there are certain things that are best left to professionals and adjusting the transmission bands on a 1970 Fairlane is one of those things. The procedure is outlined in your service manual and is fairly straightforward. The problem is that several specialized tools are required and the rear band is particularly difficult to adjust even with the right tools. Unlike Fords and Mercurys from previous years, your 70 Fairlane does not have an access hole in the floor to reach the rear band. This adds to the difficulty. Also keep in mind that if the adjustment is not performed correctly, severe transmission damage can result.