Ford's C4 automatic transmission was first produced in 1964 and was one of Ford's most durable transmissions. The C4 provides three forward gears, one reverse gear and a "Park" setting. To shift through the gears, a cable or "linkage" was used to connect the shift knob within the interior of the car to a shift lever on the side of the transmission. The cable is held in place with a single nut. If that nut loosens, the cable will fall out of alignment. Fortunately, adjusting the cable is easy to do.
Turn the ignition key in a clockwise direction until it reaches its first position, meaning the position the key occupies before it begins to crank the engine if turned further, then move the transmission's shift knob to the "D" position. Turning the key to this position is necessary to unlock the transmission's shift knob. The engine need not be started to adjust the transmission's cable.
Jack up the vehicle with a shop jack, then lower the car onto safety stands to increase the workspace underneath the transmission.
Loosen, but do not remove, the single nut which attaches the end of the transmission's shift cable to the driver's side of the transmission with a wrench.
Position the shift lever on the side of the transmission, where the end of the shift cable attaches to, to the "drive" setting by first rotating the lever in a clockwise direction until the lever stops. Slowly rotate the lever in a counterclockwise direction. As the lever is rotated, it will click. The first time the lever clicks, the transmission is in second gear. The second time the lever clicks, the transmission is in the "drive" position.
Tighten the single nut which attaches the end of the transmission's shift cable to the transmission's shift lever to between 10- and 20 foot-pounds of torque with a torque wrench.
Lift the vehicle with the jack and remove the stands, then lower the vehicle to the ground.
