Darel
Member
What tranny fluid do the Cruise-O-Matics take? Owner's manual says "type A" - what does that convert to in modern terms?
Darel
Darel
What tranny fluid?
- Thread starter Darel
- Start date
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t-bird-art
Well-known member
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
Member
It's called Type FA nowadays. You can get it at NAPA or any auto parts.
A.J.'s Superior Automotive
Member
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.
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
Well-known member
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
Well-known member
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
Well-known member
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.
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.
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