Ok.  So engine has new oil, and I think I'll change out the coolant to be safe.  But what else?  The car is a 56 customline.  Been sitting mostly undriven for 40 years.  Lots of grease/oil splattered under the car but doesn't seem to leak/drip at all after running on jack stands.

Should I add any lube to the tranny?  it is a manual tranny, what lube does it use and how do I add it?  What about rear-end fluid?  I don't see a drain plug on the differential how easy is it to change the rear end fluid?

Any other ideas before the maiden voyage?

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

The rear axle plug is on the bottom.3/8 drive ratchet should fit right in.I would check the trans fluid level and see how much is in there.What I  would do is run it on the stands and warm up the trans and rear axle and then drain and refill before actually taking it on a road test.The accumulated oil and grease on frame is actually not a bad thing.Preserves the floor and frame.

  

Thanks Old car...that sounds like a good idea.  What fluid does the trans use?  I suppose it is all listed in the repair manual...I'll look it up.

yes...I think the thick layer of grim is th eonly reason the car still exists....every place without the grease coating it is rusted out!

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

Nate, I believe the trans and rear end use 80/90 wt gear oil.



What about the brakes? Do they work at all? After sitting 40 years I wold imagine they might need some attention before you drive it? At least check/flush the fluid. Brake fluid has an affinity for moisture (water) which causes corrosion or at the very least lowers the boiling point of brake fluid.



And, as usual, this is just my 1¢ worth.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Master C - yes the brakes are the final question.  I've loosened up all the drums so they turn I've filled up the master cyliner (it was dry :w00t and I blead the back brakes and pushed quite hard on the pedal.  This was a few months ago...I assumed there was a leak somewhere, but so far not a drop has come out??  Not sure why the dry master cyliner.  In any case I plan to change the brakes out eventually, but I'm hopoing the existing brakes allow me to drive the car from the storage facility to my house.  However I won't know how well they really work until I can get the car moving a little....I know be careful!  No tailgating that is fore sure.

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

So I check my repair manual, yep SAE 80 for the manual trans and "M-4642" or SAE 90 in the rear end.

So the repair manual fails to explain how to drain the tranny fluid?  The exploded diagram shows a "fill plug" floating in the air near the front of the tranny but not sure where it goes?

How do I check the manual trans fluid?  How do I drain it?  How do I fill it? 

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

How to drain? - There should be a plug on the bottom of the trans, maybe similar to the one in the rear.



You fill it and check the level by another plug located on the side of the trans. It should be filled to the bottom of the of the fill plug hole. You check it by sticking your finger in the fill plug hole.

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

Oil that is identified 80/90 is good for both trans and rear axle.

  

alright...I did as everyone said....and I drove her out of the garage!  Can't wait to get her titled and insured so I can actually drive on the street and see what it is like going around a corner!  It felt more like driving a tractor than the cars I'm used to...the clutch pedal travel is hillariously long! And I'm 6'6" tall so get my strting-bean legs in concert and keepin' the knees out of the way of the steering wheel is quite a site!

The video isn't that great...in the dark...but it is the Maiden Voyage (for me anyway) I'll get better video when I actually get to drive it on the street.  Plus the dark hides the rust and the headliner falling down inside the car and the yellow glue where the dashpad used to be.  The valve covers are off the car right now...so you get a good listen to the valvetrain!

http://youtu.be/tzm3Vaa3-TU

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

Nate, good job -the video was cool. Mark





thanks, Mark