Powerglide users

Need to know best oil grade to use. We use Lenco's usually to Glides new to us,

car is approx 1850lbs altered, blown BBC, around 1750 hp

10 inch convertor

Any other info needed please let me know.

 

I use TCI trans fluid...get it from jegs or summit.

 

initially cat hydraulic fluid, of late found fuch unilube 46 equally good plus its nearly 1/2 the price.

with the cat oil there is a strong odour when trans is drained which lingers for a while in your garage

 

I use esso hydraul 50 oil same thing with the smell

 

I third the hydraulic cat fluid.dave

 

Was told by my builder to only use Amsoil Racing fluid, or it wouldn't last as long Got over 250 passes on it, changed fluid once, no other maintenance at all

 

The Cat Hydraulic oil (also the John Deere) does contain "Zinc dithiophosphate". Which is a frictional modifier. At a certain power level it will develop clutch slippage problems.

I prefer and use the Redline Racing Synthetic Type "F" trans fluid.

Blessings......Ron Clevenger

 

All you need is TCI MAX Shift Racing fluid, you can get it by the quart or gallon. Used to be green now its red like all the other brands. It is all I run and I usually run it until it starts to stink or a couple of weekends. I don't know about the other fluids but I have run almost back to back, no more than 30 min, between runs with no cooler whatsoever (other than a good fan blowing under the transmission) and my trans temp has yet to be above 190 deg. It is a small shaft, short powerglide built by a local shop with a mix of really good parts, it has a simple loop in the cooling circuit. It runs between .904 to .940 in the 60ft, 3.78 to 3.83 in the 1/8 between 185 and 192 mph. The real secret is to not stay at WOT too long on the trans-brake, don't pedal it if it shakes, and keep fairly fresh fluid in it. At the races I attend, the cars with lenco/bruno setups are boiling hot after a couple of runs and my old glide just keeps on running cool. In a dragster like mine the trans is open and can radiate heat off easily. Plus it's easy to cool with a fan, if I had it in a door car I would make and use an in-line external cooler with a pump and fan in a self contained unit.

 

Ron thanks for the heads up on the slippage I didn't know about that..Dave

 

Thanks for all the replies guys!

So down to 3 choices - any of these alright to use in our Lenco too?

Reason I am asking is we just picked up a big sponsor deal with an oil company and need to know best oil for glide and Lenco

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TCI-950600/

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/art.aspx

http://www.redlineoil-europe.com/gearoils/product.asp?product=Racing_ATF_00070

 

Tranny Fluid

Ive been using Coastal 303 Tractor Fluid you can get from AutoZone for around $35 for 5 gallons. Never had a problem. Running 4.20s with a 2700lbs door car. However, I have a really good billet pump and killer internals. If you dont have a good pump and beefy internals it wont last. Good Luck

 

Just about every common ATF contains ZDDP, and about 3 times more than a really good racing motor oil. Big part of the reason it stinks so bad, just like good motor oil will sting your nostrils a little when you pull the valve covers. ATF by it's nature is a frictional modifier(Who purposefully puts oil on a clutch?!?) so you can use paper clutch friction material without burning it off. The ZDDP is in there to keep your gears and bearings happy.

 

Ron,
What power level do you predict the JD/cat fluid becomes a liability?

Dave Koehler
http://www.koehlerinjection.com

 

Dave, you know I have no "prediction" ability ( my blown gas dragster can run 6.20's). Power, weight and a number of other factors come into play. But I do know that "about every common ATF" is not what I can run and keep high gear clutch's alive in my car. The Redline Racing Synthetic trans type "F" does not have frictional modifiers in it and the high gear clutch's do pretty good. Of course you need the 10 clutch deal with very good pressure also.

But I have no problem with anyone running what ever they want for a fluid, just passing alone what I have learned through the hard way.

Blessings..........Ron Clevenger......"Creekside Racing Ministry" John 14:6