I'm having trouble finding type A fluid. Does anyone run something different? Will type F work? I have a '56 ford o matic in a 2 door hardtop Victoria. I have had the car for a few years, never needed fluid until I broke a u-joint that wound up cracking the bell housing. I found a bell housing, ready to go back in, but not sure of the fluid I need to use since I can't find type A. Any help is appreciated and thanks in advance!
Ford o matic fluid
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Manual calls for type A. I have heard that was the predecessor to Dexron, I just want to be sure. What are the rest of you guys running? I've completely drained this thing (including the converter) so whatever goes back in there should be alone... I just want to be sure I don't put something in that is going to kill her. I like that old fordomatic.
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Lanny
Well-known member
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I agree with what Paul has said, and will add, that I allways used type 'F'
in the old "Ford O'matics" and "Cruise O'matics" and had good ****** life.
I have seen type 'F' at our local Wallmart not long ago, and I'm sure
most auto-parts stores should still have type 'F'.
.
That pretty much settles it. Thanks for that!
Big Red 51
Senior Member
I got Type A at NAPA last year(2010) and ran in my '54 Trans.
Some thoughts on ****** fluid I've picked up over the years: cast iron Ford-O-Matics until the early or mid '60's, I believe, used bronze friction plates in the clutches. The fluid then had sperm whale oil as an additive to prevent the bronze plates from welding themselves to the steel plates. This use of whale oil was depleting the population of sperm whales so use of it was stopped (can't remember if it was outlawed or just got too expensive and scarce). The bronze plates did not last with the new fluid so were replaced with the paper-faced plates still in use. This was all around the time the C4 and C6's came out and Type F also. Type F had different friction characteristics than Dexron (formerly Type A); Dexron was "more slippery". Racers would run Type F in their GM trnnies to get a firmer shift. Interestingly, if you read the fine print on a bottle of "B&M Trick Shift" fluid, it will say "Meets Type F specifications"! A Ford-O-Matic rebuilt any time in the last 40+ years would no doubt have the paper clutches so Dexron or Type F would be fine. The modern world of electronic controlled transmissions, synthetic fluid and lock-up converters is a confusing place! GM uses Dexron VI except in the Allison pickup transmissions which calls for Dexron III. Chrysler has their 'Plus 4' while Ford has Mercon V and there are other fluids used, and WOE unto anyone who mxes fluids or uses the wrong one! Warranty goes bye-bye!
raceron1120
Well-known member
That makes a lot of sense & mostly what I have heard too, altho' I hadn't heard about the sperm whale oil part. Not surprising though.
Just a brief FYI - Typically, Ford's first 2 digits in their old-style numbering system usually were first year into production or engineering design, fr'instance - a new part in '64 would've been something like C4AZ1234A, something in 1958 would've been like B8AZ1234A, etc. It's confusing cuz the #s don't always follow this logic but that's another story.
So... the C4 trannies intro'd about 1964, and C6s about '66.
Another rule of thumb some of the experienced dealership trans guys told me years ago was they'd use Type A (Dexron) in a rebuilt transmission, no matter what type trans. And make sure to indicate it on the dipstick, what type fluid was being used.
Not being a mechanic, maybe someone else can chime in on this? I just know that being a parts guy, we sold LOTS of Dexron/Type A fluid - much more than Type F; that was in the early&mid 70s.
I'm not sure but I think they did it cuz the Dexron was slicker and probably provided a smoother upshift than Type F.
Ron