recently pulled engine and hydro tranny from our 50 OLDS. RE-INSTALLED THE PIGS AND HAVE A QUESTION FOR AUTO TRANS EXPERTS(Pretend this question is for a 53 vette powerglide): 50 olds shop manual calls for any brand name including the words "Fluid type A, plus an Armour Qualification number embossed on the top of the can as follows, AQ-ATF-number". My question--can i safely use Dexon type atf in this old hydro? thanks, mike
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Re: ATF Question
Mike-----
I'm certainly not an automatic transmission expert, but I can tell you this: Dexron III automatic transmission fluid is approved by GM for use in ANY GM automatic transmission from 1949 to the present. So, your 50 Olds qualifies.
The original Type "A" automatic trnamission fluid used in your 1950 Olds was GM #3694666. The same stuff was used for 1953 Corvettes, too, in case you're interested. This fluid went through several part number "iterations". It was last known as GM #1050568. This item was discontinued in September, 1985, though.
It's a good thing that Dexron will work for you; I don't know of a source for the Type "A" stuff unless you could find some NOS cans of the 1050568 product.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: ATF Question
Thanks joe. since you and ex-pres and ex-oldsmoble NHRA competitor bill clupper agree, i'll use the Dexron. BTW, the 50 only had 50k miles on it and when i drained the tranny, it had the smell and appearance of what i drained out of the old 54 vette years ago. mikeComment
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Re: ATF Question
Yes.Comment
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Re: ATF Question
Automatic transmissions have wet clutches similar to the positraction clutches in Corvette axles. Thus they need a "fiction modifier" to prevent the stick-slip friction than can cause chatter.
The original Type A Suffix A ATF from the fifties had a small amount of whale oil additive that gave the old ATFs (and positration additives) the friction characteristics they needed to operate without chatter. Guys used to refer to the positraction additive as "whale sperm", probably both because it was whale oil based and the cost per ounce was (and is) pretty high.
Whale oil products were outlawed in the U.S. in the seventies and a synthetic substitute to the whale oil was developed, which probably lasts longer and is more resistant to oxidation than an animal product such as whale oil.
As far as I know, the current Dexron III spec fluid will meet (and probably well exceed) all the specs for the old type A suffix A fluid.
DukeComment
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Re: ATF Question
Duke: prior to medical school, i did Pharmacy school and we routinly used Spermaceti in our pharmaceutical compounds. You right--its was super expensive in the early 70's. regards, mikeComment
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Re: ATF Question
Hi Mike,
Just cruizing some of the postings and came upon your '50 Olds Hydro question. The Dexron will work just fine. I rebuilt the hydramatic in my '53 Olds about 7 years ago and refilled with Dexron. Then tore up a front seal last winter and out came the two ton tranny again for a partial tear down! bummer. Everything looks and works perfectly with the Dexron. My Hydro has about 100,000 miles and the car has well over 300,000. (my first car from high school, drove through college. you can imagine the abuse this Olds took)....terry plataComment
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Re: ATF Question
Terry: i have my first car also, a 49 chevy coupe , in which i installed a 60 old 394 in 1961. 37 Lasalle top-shifter., 456 pontiac rear, lakewoods, bucrons, mt wheels, all this in 61. the ole 49 out-ran all the 56-62 vets as well as a 63 fi that roamed the streets of West. md. in 61 thru 65.Still have the ole 49, now 454 powered. my 50 olds, a 98 holiday 2 door hardtop, has 50k orig miles. Just recently built a 64 394, pulled the worn out 303 and installed the 394 in front of the hydro. fired it up yesterday. went from 140 hp in the 303 to 345 in the 394. the ole pig is gonna fly. nice to re-visit obe's youth. mikeComment
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