Hey guys, I've got a few questions about my 1960 Rambler Amb***ador I got. It's been parked most of its life. It's got a push****on automatic trans behind the 327 v8, with less than 40,000 original miles. Nobody I've talked to at any parts store knows what type of oil the transmission uses. What type of oil should I use on this transmission? Also would it be ok if I poured marvel mystery oil down into the trans to help it since being parked for about 40 years? I got the engine turning free, now I'm concerned with the trans, and don't want to hurt either the engine or trans. Thnx guys, David.
It was originally spec'd for "Type A", but all us Rambler guys run Dexron III in them. I had one for 14 years and never had a fluid related problem. It was my second car (meaning the wife had a late model we used most of the time when together) and I put 5-7K on it a year during that time. Have a different Rambler now... The only concern with the trans will be sticking valves and maybe a shot vacuum modulator from time. If it doesn't shift right you may end up pulling the valve body for a good cleaning and replacing the modulator. You may as well get a gasket/seal kit if you have to pull the valve body and replace the band servo o-rings and rear seal also. It will likely start leaking out the front seal since that seal is so old, might want to pull the trans and replace that along with the other work. I know you didn't want to hear all that, but it may need to be done. Auto ******s don't take kindly to sitting for long periods without oil flowing through them. You might get lucky and it will work fine though. Wouldn't hurt to put some seal conditioner or stop leak in with the oil. Both soften hard seals and may buy you some time.
****** is more or less the same one used in 1957-1958 Fords, made by Borg Warner. You wouldn't think so given the torque tube and push****ons, but the diagrams in the Motors Manual are just about identical and some books cover them in the same section.
The ******s are the same design -- BW and Ford cooperated in the development. That said, only the seal kits, clutches, and maybe bands will interchange. Some of the hard parts might, but I'm not sure. They operate the same, but Ford made their own cases and valve bodies. So while all service procedures and adjustments are identical, many parts won't interchange.
Thanks guys I will use the dextron oil. I'm hoping the trans won't be stuck, I've heard about the automatic transmissions can stick from not being used, and had me concerned. I never knew fords came with push****on transmissions, that's cool. I thought only mopars had them. I also was wondering, is the trans linkage electronic or mechanical linkage? Many thanks guys, I will keep you informed with the progress on the car, I would post a few pics of the car, but I'm using my Droid phone, and don't got a computer no more.
Standard Fords didn't have a push-****on shifter. Rambler did in the 58-62 big cars. The trans case is different for the push-****on models from the standard column shift. It's a mechanical/cable rig. There is a mechanical monstrosity behind the ****ons that determines how far to push or pull the cable. "N" ****on has to be in to start the car. Park is handled by a separate control under the shifter (under dash). That control is linked directly to a separate lever that trips the parking pawl. You an be in gear and park at the same time! If you put it in gear and it doesn't want to move release the park lever. Don't suspect the brakes are locked and you're going to use the engine to free them. Could break the parking pawl inside the trans. Don't try to use it for an emergency stop either!
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