Type A was originally used to provide smoother shifting. However, smoother shifting usually results in more slippage, which leads to overheating and premature failure. Ford that reason, Ford stopped using Type A and went to Type F. 

Yep but type A was quite easy to find up till the 1990`s.  When I talked to the local napa stores with old timers still working there when I was first looking for Type A some 10 years ago they all told me that they havent seen Type A on the store shelves since the 1990`s.  With this taken into consideration my '56 has been parked since my grandfather passed away in 1986 so the odds in my eyes are very high that Type A was used in servicing the transmission as it would have still been obtainable in the 1980`s as Type A was still being used in many cars still.  In my search I found many cars in the 80`s were using Type A as a hydraulic fluid for convertible tops.

But I am going to have my old aircooled Fordomatic rebuilt when I put the car down for a frame up restoration.  I might even do it myself since I got the books just need the more specialized tools.  But if the car is questionable as in you dont know its history then it does become very hard to tell what is or isnt in a transmission fluid wise.  I sourced Texas Gold Type A transmission fluid as well as Accell Type A fluid which is the only transmission fluid I ever put in the transmission for top offs.  When I drop the pan I got one bottle of Accell Type A left and after that I might just start topping off with Valvoline Dexron as I believe it will have less of a risk of a bad interaction with Type A than Type F that has a difference in friction modifiers from Type A and Dexron.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

The fly in the ointment is that over the years, unless you do a chemical anaylsis, there could be anything in the transmission.  We all assume that the proper fluid was used each and every time a trans was serviced or the original type friction plates were installed in a rebuild


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Correct you can use Type F in Dexron applications, many hotrodders I know did that as a shift kit in a bottle basically.  I think thats what the transmission shop I will be having modify my C6 is recommending to run is the Type F for the firmer shifting which I am not too sure about since I am going with the RV/Tow shift kit to firm up the shifting already.

In my case I will be using the Dexron just cause it is a direct replacement for Type A and my transmission is original.  Once I have it rebuilt I will be running what ever is recommended for the overhaul kit even if that is Type F.  I just wont be draining my whole transmission currently of Type A when I do my band adjustment so I figure the dexron shouldnt give any issues with mixing with Type A since its supposed to be the replacement for Type A.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

I have a case of A. I use Mercon II in my 62 cruise-o because I was told to by the shop that built it.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Ive been using Type A that I was able to get in the Accell brand via amazon but its out of stock and Accell states its discontinuned so I am going to switch to Valvoline Dexron to replace it with.  I dont know how many times Ive seen people recommend Type F as the replacement for Type A when all my research has pointed to Type A being a GM fluid and being replaced by Dexron.

TYPE A was discontinued in the late fifties. The only use I know now is for dirt bike gear boxes,
DEXRON is a GM marketing name. MERCON is a FOMOCO marketing name.

I believe the latest is GM DEXRON IV (non-synthetic). FORD dropped MERCON several years ago and offers only MERCON V partial synthetic as a back-fill (not for TYPE F call outs).

TYPE F can be used in a DEXRON application giving firmer shifting. DEXRON cannot be used in a TYPE F call out

For any application past say 1970, make sure you check the OWNERS MANUAL or appropriate LUBE CHART..

____________________________

Yep I am going to be adjusting my intermediate band to see if the overdue adjustment will help my falling out of gear, Ive been using Type A that I was able to get in the Accell brand via amazon but its out of stock and Accell states its discontinuned so I am going to switch to Valvoline Dexron to replace it with.  I dont know how many times Ive seen people recommend Type F as the replacement for Type A when all my research has pointed to Type A being a GM fluid and being replaced by Dexron.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

Any new Updates?



  

After looking at pics on here and my friend's '57 and comparing setups, the conclusion was my double-L rod on the firewall was bent... slightly. I removed it from the car and mounted it on my workbench. Was expecting a battle to get any bending action, but it moved surprisingly easy.



Got lucky as I bent it it just the right amount the first time. Verified 4 7/8" pedal height with the 1/4 drill bit in the bell crank. Adjusted the rod going to the carburetor and presto — everything works as advertised. No more binding, and I get full throttle with the pedal — at least everything up top is moving the way it should... we'll see how it goes with the throttle rod once the valve body goes back in.



Now it's just a matter of getting the valve body back in the transmission and verifying throttle rod travel and getting pressures set correctly.

Thanks to all who've chimed in and helped. I'll keep y'all posted on how this turns out.

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

1/4x20 rod and coupling from a hardware store like ACE can help. It’s how I made the carb linkage when I change to 2 carbs. Good luck

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.