I just got my transmission back from being rebuilt and was kind of curious what kind/brand of tranny fluid do you guys reccomend putting in it. Its a SP-400 from a 66 Riviera... Also, how much fluid does this tranny hold?
Brian, My brand new 1966 Riviera owners manual says: Automatic transmission 23 Pts. I reckon this is without the converter fluid, because since this info was found in the owners manual, it's a guideline for the home mechanic just changing the filter and fluid in the pan.
Brian, 23 pints it is, and that includes the converter, buy a case of 12 qts. As far as type of fluid goes, considering that heat is a transmissions worst enemy, and the fact that synthetic oil withstands much greater heat than dino oil, I think the choice is obvious. I use Red Line Synthetic in my switch pitch, but any synthetic trans oil is good.
Pour 1 or 2 qts. into the converter snout. Then install the converter in the transmission. When everything is together, add about 5 qts. through the filler tube. Start the engine and move the gear selector through each range. Then check the fluid. Add enough fluid to get the level 1/4" below the add line. Then drive the car until the fluid is at operating temperature, and check it again. It should be near full.
Redline Been using Redline in my Racecar Trans, no problem, use Dextron 3 in the rest of the junk, what ever is cheapest, of course!