Easy Question - What Transmission Fluid

[Moparnocar]

If the trans has not been used since 96, I would plan on at least a reseal and/or rebuild in the near future.
If the car has sat for that long plan on replacing all rubber items and fluids and anything that the fluids reside in that have seals. Hoses, water pump, thermostat, heater core, radiator, Soft plugs if not brass, wheel cylinders/calipers, hoses, and on.
Remember that the Service Manuals were written in the sixties for the most part, and the fluid/seal technology then was no where close to todays stuff.

I second this, i think your gonna see some weeping with ATF 4, keep us posted!

 

[MoparHusker]

I second this, i think your gonna see some weeping with ATF 4, keep us posted!

I weep a little bit myself. I will probably keep weeping until I get the car driveable again.

I have been collecting parts, so I am all ready to go. The first issue is wiring though. When stored at my ex in-laws, some pack rats got under the hood and chewed a bunch of wires off. Coil wires, most of the spark plug wires, and the bundle going from the firewall to the front of the engine. I think there are 10 or 12 wires on the firewall side and I have not found enough wires on the other side yet. Some wires were just bit through, while others have chunks missing. It will take me a little bit to get them tracked down.

 

[440 Charger]

Judging by the multitude of threads and posts, does not seem to be a straight forward answer. I will apologize up front for the long post.

I just joined up yesterday and am hoping to get an answer to this.

I have a 1973 Charger with a 69 440 and a 727 transmission that has not run or been driven since 1996. I am in the process of collecting parts, so I can get it back on the road and driving again, Phase 1 of the project.

One of the questions I had is what type of transmission fluid to use. In 1993 I pulled the transmission out and had a mechanic from work tear it apart and do the work I did not have tools for. I swapped in a clutch housing that was from a tranny that was behind a hemi, so could take 5 clutch discs instead of 4 (memory may be failing me, so please let me know if I am incorrect). Additionally I put in a Turbo Action shift kit and a 5.0 kickdown. I also had an additional 3 springs added (can't remember what the part is called) bringing it from 9 springs up to 12. My goal was to get a firmer and crisper shift.

I have done several looks through quite a few threads on the fluid type to use and it seems like there are several choices. I figured out that back in 1993, I put in Dextron III / Mercon. I was at Firestone yesterday and asked the manager there and he said I needed to flush out the transmission and put in ATF +4. His reasoning was that his brother had put in Dextron in his Charger transmission and it ended up burning it up. At the time I did not think about the fact that his brother's car is a newer Charger, so may be irrelevant to the discussion here, but it did scare me until I started doing some looking again.

I have seen a number of different answers on here and am still not 100% clear what direction I need to go. I will probably be draining the Transmission anyway, so there will not be a better type to switch types if that is what I want to do. I think I have seen a number of posts that say you can stay with the Dextron III and that it is a little more slippery than the Type F and the ATF +4. I also saw someone say that you can mix the Dextron III and Type F to whatever blend you want to firm up your shift however much you want. Others have said that ATF +4 is great and that is the way to go. Would I be correct in assuming that the Type F has a firmer shift and is less slippery than the ATF +4? At this point I am thinking I will probably move away from the Dextron III, but not sure between these other two. Also, need a little firmer answer on whether these can be mixed. I would probably drain the tranny, fill up the new Torque Converter and put it in and then fill up with the new fluid, so assuming there will be some of the old stuff in there yet if I do not flush it.

I will probably try calling a transmission shop locally as well, but hoping there will be a definitive answer from someone on this forum.

Thank you!
Allan

Kinda same boat ran type f for years at the track the atf+4 seems ok that will be my second choice. Seems to me the only to get rid of all the old fluid is to rebuild it and do a new tc. Just put in a motorhome 727 1972 that I rebuilt with kevlar bands and clutches TF1 shift kit and bolted and splined overunning clutch. Going with the type f lets both have good shifts.

 

[440 Charger]

I weep a little bit myself. I will probably keep weeping until I get the car driveable again.

I have been collecting parts, so I am all ready to go. The first issue is wiring though. When stored at my ex in-laws, some pack rats got under the hood and chewed a bunch of wires off. Coil wires, most of the spark plug wires, and the bundle going from the firewall to the front of the engine. I think there are 10 or 12 wires on the firewall side and I have not found enough wires on the other side yet. Some wires were just bit through, while others have chunks missing. It will take me a little bit to get them tracked down.

Low temp solder conectors are the bomb just so you know had lots of rat chews on our charger best way to fix .

 

[MoparLeo]

Wiring insulation gets and hard/brittle with age anyway. Save up and go for a new/safe harness.

 

[440 Charger]

Wiring insulation gets and hard/brittle with age anyway. Save up and go for a new/safe harness.

They used to be way better when made in the USA.

 

[440 Charger]

Low temp solder conectors are the bomb just so you know had lots of rat chews on our charger best way to fix .

Lets keep hope up wires are easy.

 

[440 Charger]

Wiring insulation gets and hard/brittle with age anyway. Save up and go for a new/safe harness.

Wires are always safe when done correct.

 

[SlinktRR]

Another vote for type F. you get used to the hard crisp shifts and its hard to go back. Price is nice as well. When I rebuild my 727 I may use something else.

 

[33 IMP]

Have used F for decades, in my torqueflites and in my transbrake powerglides and turbo 400s. I will continue to use F till i cant get it anymore.

 

[Master Gunner]

 

[Ray70Chrg]

I second this, i think your gonna see some weeping with ATF 4, keep us posted!

Hey "Mopar" I use Valvoline ATF+4 and have what I believe is "weeping" past several different pan gaskets. I have installed these gaskets w/o any type sealant. Do You have any remedies to solve the weeping . I have replaced many of the other seals that were leaking, but now I suspect this is a weeping problem. Have replaced the oil pan and have not over torqued the bolts. You are the only one that has mentioned "weeping" when using ATF-4 that I have seen. Thanks

 

[Moparnocar]

Hey "Mopar" I use Valvoline ATF+4 and have what I believe is "weeping" past several different pan gaskets. I have installed these gaskets w/o any type sealant. Do You have any remedies to solve the weeping . I have replaced many of the other seals that were leaking, but now I suspect this is a weeping problem. Have replaced the oil pan and have not over torqued the bolts. You are the only one that has mentioned "weeping" when using ATF-4 that I have seen. Thanks

You can try the molded new style gasket, however, I believe it will still weep. That synthetic finds a way. You also could add some type of tourque spreaders to the bolts too

 

[493 Mike]

It's amazing how Dodge can seal every new automatic with synthetic fluid?
Mike

 

[Ray70Chrg]

It's amazing how Dodge can seal every new automatic with synthetic fluid?
Mike

Hello Mike, You stated that you use valvoline atf+4. What gasket do you use and do you use sealant on the gaskets? Thanks

 

[493 Mike]

Hello Mike, You stated that you use valvoline atf+4. What gasket do you use and do you use sealant on the gaskets? Thanks

I'm using Mopar ATF+4 and I never use any sealants in my automatics. Flat surfaces and correct torque of fasteners are all that Chrysler used in manufacture, although transmission pans are now siliconed in place with no gasket used.
Mike