The only time my 1966 Tbird starts out in 1st gear is when I put it in L manually. I just rebuilt the transmission and it did this before the rebuild and afterwords.

I also need to know which way to turn the modulator adjustment screw for a more harder later shift. Before I rebuilt it the old modulator made a hard shift that made your head snap back, that's what I want now. I used the high performance Alto Eagle Red clutches and steels. I also added the steel ball in the vb for a harder shift.

Does the kickdown lever force the trans to go in 1st gear? I was going to hook a cable to it to control from inside the car and shift into 1st gear that way if possible. Any info on the kickdown and 1st gear would also be greatly appreciated.

Any information would be good, thanks in advance,

I have a '66 but I'm not sure what trans is in it. The first "D" position, the one right after "N" will start the car out in second gear, the "D" position after that, the one just before "L" will start the car out in first gear. I thought my trans wasn't working right when I first got my car as I was putting the shift lever in the first "D" position instead of the second one. If you are putting the gearshift lever in the proper "D" position and it is starting out in second gear, maybe the shift linkage has to be adjusted. Keep us informed on what you find out.

Thanks Jim, I never knew that. Yes I have always put it in the first D after N and like you said it starts out in 2nd gear. I never thought to put it in the second D. So will it change into 3rd gear as well as 1st gear when I put it in the 2nd D?

If that's the case then you've just saved me from pulling the trans again and replacing the governor. I am getting ready to test it now to see if it starts in 1st and ends in 3rd gear.

Doesn't matter if you have the cruise o matic or the c-6, There both the green dot trans shift pattern. Small black dot shifts 2-3 Large green dot shifts 1-2-3. Fords theory was if you started in second it would give you better traction
in the snow.

Bingo! That's what solved my "supposedly" problem I had since owning the for 3 years. She shift just as you said also Bob, 1-2-3. And to think I have had a brand new owners manual for over a year and a half that I just decided to open and read today after test driving it in the 2nd D position. Breaks it all down just as you both said.

Thanks again to a wonderful forum!