What oils to use throughout the rebuild

[thrashfit]

Hi All, I am rebuilding my 1954 Dodge pickup truck, C-1-B6, straight 6, 1/2 ton. 116 wheelbase. My question is what oils are used in the following parts and is there a modern equivalent oil and what amounts............Sump, steering box, gearbox, fluid drive, rear axle. Also is normal modern antifreeze in radiator ok.  Any help is most welcome. Thanks, Dave................Norwich, UK

[bosworth]

Hi Dave;

I can offer my 2 cents,  I am currently working on a 52 B3B with a flat head 6 and 3 speed standard transmission.  I have the same combination in my early 49 P15 that I have been driving for about 3 years.  I also have a 31 Ford Model A pickup.   I have been looking into lubrication for these antique engines and have decided to use Mobile 1, 10W40 or 15W50.  Most oils in the States have been reformulated without the addition of ZDDP which I believe is very important to engines using flat tappets.  Mobile 1 10w-40 contains 1000ppm phosporus and 1100 ppm zinc.  Mobile 1 15w-50 contains 1200 ppm phosporus and 1300 ppm Zinc and is marketed as suitable for racing and flat tappet applications.   

I am using Redline GL-4 MT 75w-90 oil in my transmission.  If you have a manual transmission it is important that you use GL4 rather than GL5 which can damage the brass components in the transmission.  As far as I know there are no brass parts in the rear end, as I recall I installed Mobile 1 synthetic 85W-90 in the rear end.

There are a  number of posting about antifreeze,  I have been using the conventional green antifreeze, as some have cautioned that the new permanent or long life types can be hard on brass components, solder joints and head gaskets.  The brand that I found was NAPA, marketed as a conventional antifreeze suitable for classic vehicles.

I'm sure that products differ in the UK and I don't want to lead you astray, if you ask a group of 10 people what kind of oil to use you will get  10 different answers.

Bill

[JBNeal]

steering gearbox information

[thrashfit]

Many thanks Bill and Shay.......All info most welcome. Dave.  The fluid drive ? is that like a power steering oil ??????

[JBNeal]

Fluid Drive Information