[rick laplante]

have a question: what type of fluid should i use in the 1955 thunderbird auto. transmission and should i fill the converter before i hook it up to the engine.
i am planing on putting the transmission and engine together and then installing them in the car as one unit.
also can i use a synthetic oil in the rear end?
i am planing on using a pensoil 5-20 in the new engine is that the one i should use?
thank you all for the help in the past and with this question
rick

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by rick laplante

...what type of fluid should i use in the 1955 thunderbird auto. transmission and should i fill the converter before i hook it up to the engine.

DEXRON III or it's equivalent. Put one quart in convertor and lube front seal lip.

...also can i use a synthetic oil in the rear end?

Yes.

i am planing on using a pensoil 5-20 in the new engine is that the one i should use?

If this is a Y-BLOCK, you should use no lighter than 5W-30 (IMO).

[briscoe]

You will definitely want to install trans and engine together, then install.

Because of the frame [x frame ] installing the trans after the engine is in requires partial dissassembly of the trans, the back half in fact.

Not impossible, but a less than desirable method.

[rick laplante]

yes this is a 292 y block
thanks for the help i will do the dexron 111 and lub the front seal
rick

[Pro Built Automatics]

TYPE A ATF is specifically designed for older vehicle automatic transmissions and should be used whenever the manufacturer specifies Type A automatic transmission fluid. You can get this from CHAMPION BRANDS, 800-821-5693

[KULTULZ]

TYPE A and TYPE A SUFFIX A were replaced by DEXRON in the sixties. Please don't get this man confused.

[rick laplante]

thank you all for the help
rick

[rick laplante]

now one more question on the transmission is there any tricks i should know when installing the transmission and engine together like how do you keep from tearing the dust boot up on the end of the transmission? or any other tricks i should know
thank you
rick

[KULTULZ]

It is fully covered in the shop manual. Have the car on stands so that you can ease the tailshaft into the tunnel and use plenty of pads/blankets.

[rick laplante]

thank you for the help i will do as you say and protect it with padding
rick

[red65mustang]

rick,
you posted that it is a NEW engine......

"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

stop by any GM dealership and buy a 16oz bottle of GM EOS (<$10?) (part #1052367?) and add it to the motor oil to help the cam and motor to break in properly

todays oils don't have the the extreme pressure additives needed by a flat tappet motor during break in....they were removed because they destroy catalytic converters

[briscoe]

One more thing. As you are breaking in your new engine, don't forget the trans. As in make sure the trans has enough fluid as you run the engine.

Put 4 quarts in before you start the engine, as soon as it's started pour 4 or 5 more quarts in, so the trans does not run dry.

Many times during the excitement of hearing the new engine run, the trans gets neglected. When it happens, it's ugly! Good luck!!

[rick laplante]

hey thanks loads for the information i will do as you say
thanks again for all the help lord knows i need all i can get

[techron]

hi, i would break the engine in with either shell rotella 15-40 or valvoline racing 20-50. both have zinc additive ( ZDDP ) needed for cam breakin and are a little higher viscosity, the gm eos is a good recomendation too. use an oil with the zinc addative if you want the cam to live.

[rick laplante]

thank you all for the help i am not sure where to post this next question if some one could tell me i will post it, it has to do with hanging a 6 volt alternator on a 292 engine i am trying to hang it on the org. bracket but have some mod's to make to make it work. any idea's ?