VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Transmission fluid power glide

The tranny rebuilder says mine should be ready Friday?
I read in the owners manual to use type A fluid?

Any recommendations for breaking in a newly rebuilt PG?

Modern Dexron is fine. 100 times better than the type A from 65 years ago.
Nothing to break in.
NEVER run the engine for any length of time with the transmission in the PARK position. It shuts off the fluid circulation in the transmisssion and the various bushings and clutches get not lubrication (or cooling).

So can you run it in neutral ? Is there a neutral?

I have Dexron III, ok?

Yes run in neutral with the parking brake on. Dextron will work fine. If its red it should be okay.

Neutral is the N between Park and Drive.
Dexron began as just Dexron. Each time it was improved for more modern transmissions they put a number after the Dexron name. I thing the latest thaaat most GM cars require is Dexron V.....III is great by 1951 standards.
When you fill the transmission add 4 Qts. Then start the engine and add 5 more slowly. If added too fast it will puke back.
To prevent converter slow refill blow back when the engine has not been run for a few months I keep my fluid level close to the add mark when the fluid is hot or below the add mark with cold fluid.

Father in law who used to rebuild these PG s around 1955 for $42 and the mechanic got half of it wants to know what's the difference in running in neutral verses park?

Whe in Park and the engine running on 1950er Glides there is NO fluid circulating through the transmission. Various bushings and parts and running with no lubrication. Also if the transmission is hot no fluid is passing through the cooler.

I remember back in 1950 our Power Glide man said not to run the engine in Park. If you look at the fluid flow diagrams in the shop manual you will see no fluid movement in Park.

Now go to the 1955 Engineering Manual. It states "Another durability feature which now permits prolonged idling in Park is a change in the manual valve to allow oil to lubricatee and coo the moving parts with the selector in Park position".

Also if you start the engine after sitting for an extended period of time and the converter drains down it will not refill when running the engine in Park. This will cause fluid to be forced out of the filler tube.

To make a long story short ....DO NOT RUN THE ENGINE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME WITH TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION.

The sad part is Chevrolet never mentioned this is the owners manual, etc.

Gene,
I have a sleeve over the driver's side inside sunvisor that tells not to idle powerglide equipped cars in park. It is the '51 two door I bought several years ago in your backyard (so to speak).

That sleve came with every Power Glide equipped car. I have one on my '50 and it doesn't mention not running in Park but says neutral is is for running the engine while parked. Check the phrasing again.

Gene,
As usual I am sure you are right. My car is 120 miles away and I can only recollect what is the exact wording. Guess I was thinking not to run in Park was the same as "Neutral is for running the engine when parked" or "don't run the engine for an extended period in park" (something bad might happen!). I realize it is not the same to an English teacher but is in my mind. Can you imagine what it would have on that sleeve today? Probably one sleeve with 10 pages of fine print held to together with sticky stuff, like on the pesticide bottle.

Chipper, By any chance is your 1951 a black 2 door that was owned by Walt?

Mine was one that came from an estate in Illnois. It is gray. Not sure the name of the color.