VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Modern lugs for 32 chevy

It is time to change lubs. What modern oil/grease do I use for the engine, trans, and rear end? I was thinking 10W -30 in the engine.
Norm

For the transmission and rear end you should use 600W (available from various suppliers like the Filling Station). Your thinking is absolutely correct for the engine.....10W-30 should be used.

Thanks,
600W! Good thing I asked. Is 600 the similar as the 160 recommended in the original repair manual?
Norm

Yep. Similar but with a different rating.

Norm,

If you research 600W oil you'll find it's a steam cylinder oil, not a gear oil. In my experience using it in my '36 PU it's equivalent to SAE 140 gear oil, not SAE 160 and not quite viscous enough when the trans is fully up to operating temperature. That is indicated by the 2-3 shift being perfect when the trans is cold but not so great when hot. You may find the same thing in your '32.

If it's SAE 140 you want to use there's no reason to pay The Filling Station $20+/quart + shipping because the same oil is available for 1/10 that price at tractor and industrial supply outlets. John Deere dealers also have the corerct lube for your steering gear called "Corn Head Grease".

There are actual gear oils in that range also. ISO 460 is about the same viscosity as SAE 140. There is a more viscous gear oil that I would like to try straight or as a blend with ISO 460. It is ISO 680 but I can only find it in 5 gallon quantities for over $100. That's kind of pricey when you only need about a quart for an experiment.

Ray W

Thanks all,
I am off to see what I can buy locally.
Norm

Yes, 600W is also a steam cylinder oil, however, some 600W oil is also formulated as a gear oil to be used in transmission and rear ends. Mobil puts out various types of 600W for different applications and all four types of their 600W product are widely used in gear applications. Some of it sells for as low as $11 per quart.

I have a gallon of 600W oil manufactured by a different company and it is definitely formulated as gear oil for transmissions and rear ends. The stuff is also more viscous than 140W.

"Mobil puts out various types of 600W for different applications and all four types of their 600W product are widely used in gear applications. Some of it sells for as low as $11 per quart."

Dog,

Do you know of anyone who is willing to sell the 680 product by the quart or gallon?

Zoro tool has gallons of the less viscous stuff but not the 680.

Thanks!

Ray W

Snyders sells 600w for $8.25 and probably most other "A" & "T" vendors do the same.

Grainger has ISO 680 by the quart for $23.84.

http://www.grainger.com/product/SUPER-LUBE-Synthetic-Gear-Oil-44N780

Amazon also has ISO 680 by the quart for $18.23

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Lube-54632-Synthetic-Translucent/dp/B00LXVZV6I

Zoro also has one quart bottles of ISO 680 listed for $18.23. Zoro #: G5121864 | Mfr #: 54632

I just checked The Filling Station for 600W. It is $7.95/gt. plus shipping.
Norm

Dog,

Thanks for those suggestions on the quarts of 680 gear oil. Those are all synthetic and I'm not sure how synthetic would work with the synchronizers where considerable "stiction" is required. I think that the basic problem with the '32-'36 transmission is that the complex synchronizing system (cones on gears, cups in synchronizers, synchro "springs" and sliding "clutch" requires a really viscous oil to work properly. My '36 PU shifts great and has the correct "feel" in the shift lever (I can feel the synchros working just right) when the oil is cold but that goes away when everything is hot.

I have 2 of these transmissions and they both do the same thing. Both have NOS synchronizers, end play shimmed to 0.030" and sharp engagement teeth on the gears and sliding "clutch".

I've learned to shift it without any gear crunching but when my sons drive it they are not used to the problem so aren't in the habit of shifting slowly and deliberately. It's especially bad when revved up going down hill in 2nd then shifting into 3rd near the bottom of the hill. Since both of the transmissions do the exact same thing it seems inherent in that synchro design.

Mobil makes that stuff from a petroleum base but 5 gallon is the minimum quantity. That kind of product would be nice to find in quarts or 1 gallon size.

Any ideas?

Thanks again!

Ray W