1953 fordomatic fluid question

D

donald1950

Senior Member
hello all, i just picked up a new, to me, 1953 ford with a fordomatic. it is down a quart of transmission fluid.

does any one have suggestions as to what type of brand of fluid to use?

i do not know what is in thee now but am hopeing it is correct. i believe there was a fluid called "mercom". i do not know if that is still being made. i have to chace some parts later today and wanted to get some advice before i head to the parts store.

thank you for any suggestions, don
 
It ought to say type F. Not Dexron (that's for GM). Mercon (with) an N is the right stuff.

99% sure on this, if someone can confirm or refute that would be good.

Mart.
 
Those early ones still used the type A. If you look at a container of Type F now days, it usually is marked Type FA. Type FA is what I'd use.
 
thank you all for your input. i found some Mercom F at pepBoys that said "for pre 1980 ford automatic transmissions" don
 
Hi all; I just got my '53 home with its third fordomatic in 2ooo miles. The transmission kept eating pumps, first front then rear. With the iron case it also damaged the same, apparently all parts available are used and original orientation is lost so the parts will reseat with bad results. Cores are expensive due to scrapping, so take good care of a working Fordomatic. thanks Newc
 
Mercon and Type F are two different types. Type F will either be type F or type FA. No Mercon/Dextron fo the old FoMoCo units.

The hard parts are harder to source. It's kind of like looking for a good flathead. You may have to tear down more than a few to get enough parts to build one. The 1951/52 types have the short dip stick but similar to 53/54. The 51 through 54 are a lot alike but they changed even more in 1955. There are a lot of parts that will interchange but you have to either ask someone who knows them very well or do a lot of research to verify stuff
 
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Type F fluid was made to work with the asbestos clutch plates used at the time, newer clutch plates are an organic material. Type F fluid probably also had some Sperm Whale oil in it to prevent chatter. I am just indicating that both the clutch material and transmission fluids used today do not have the same caracteristics as they had in 1953 and your results might vary.
 
Ford didn't use friction modifiers like GM did. Type A was nearly a straight mineral oil. Type C was the whale oil that evolved into Dextron.
 
I used Type F in my air cooled 56 Fordo when I had the trans serviced (new filter) and I didn't have any problems with it. I knew nothing about the trans history. Made a trip to the west coast (from NJ) that way and had zero problems during and after the trip.
 
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