What tranny fluid?

[Darel]

What tranny fluid do the Cruise-O-Matics take? Owner's manual says "type A" - what does that convert to in modern terms?
Darel

[t-bird-art]

Ford Type "A" is still available. You don't want any "modern" trans fluids--nobody knows if they are good/bad for the older transmissions. .

[Robert]

It's called Type FA nowadays. You can get it at NAPA or any auto parts.

[A.J.'s Superior Automotive]

Hi I'm new to the forum. I bought my '61 Bird while working at a Chevy dealer it was traded in sight unseen. Lucky for me it scared the sales manger into wholesaling it. I offered to buy it and got it for less than the trade in was credited for. Apparently 1 of the other mechanics nearly got ran over when the car jumped into reverse. Hmm.. seems he had the steering wheel centered idling in park. I guess I won't be replacing the trans after all.
Spring of 1998 I flushed my cruise-o-matic with Dextron III. While my Odometer does not work I commuted to work 30 miles a day for 2 years, and now 5 miles a day. Approximately 20,000 miles total.
The car sat for 10 years and the transmission had been rebuilt before I owned it, but I don't know when. I did replace the filter and adjusted the bands witch were way out of spec.

I'm not recommending Dextron III, I'm just sharing my experiment. Please use your own discretion.

[CANNEDBAND]

I've heard that modern DExron will hurt the tranny.After going thru mine I refilled it with Dexron and since have driven 2-3 hundred miles w/o any trouble,although I think I'll drain it and refill it with the Type it called for when built,"just for peace of mind."

[t-bird-art]

I hope you have fixed the problem of Gear Shift Lever dropping out of PARK. VEEERY dangerous. Just have to replace worn Gear Shift Lever with $35 aftermarket lever readily available.

[t-bird-art]

This is so important------ * * *
Re: "One of the other mechanics nearly got ran over when the car jumped into reverse" A very dangerous situation easilly fixed. ( 2 years ago a guy was was dragged to his death in Jacksonville Florida when the shift arm dropped out of park and he and the car went into his swiming pool. A friend with a 55 Bird had his shift lever drop into reverse. The open door was crunched against the garage door jam. ) The bottom of the shift lever ( the part inside the steering column) is worn out. A $35 replacement shift lever is readilly available. If shift lever EVER drops out of PARK position--park the car until the shift lever is replaced. Don't let anybody drive it including mechanics.