So I found "the one". '74 F100, 302/c4, short bed, low miles (74xxx), it would be an honest statement to say rust free. All the initial service/clean up brought no bad news, really is a clean truck, so I turn my attention to the transmission. No problems there, doesn't leak, shifts out fine, engages almost immediately when put in gear. This is going to be the "fun" truck. Will get a weekly trip to work, there to go to the lumber yard or nursery or what ever the boss lady needs on the weekend.

So question is do I have the trans serviced and hope that no mysterious problems arise or leave it alone. I stopped at the most reputable shop in town, not a chain, locally owned, been there forever, rebuilt a GM trans for father in law years ago and it's still going strong. Man at the shop says it's recommended, full fluid change, adjust bands. First pause I had was the price, dang near $300 but OK. Second pause I had was it would be refilled with synthetic.

This truck is at its last home as long as I'm alive. What would you do, spend the money at the shop or drop the pan myself, change filter, top off with type F.

Thanks.
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If the fluid looks and smells ok,
If the fluid level is good and no signs of a leak,
If it shifts perfectly,
If it goes into gear right away (not like a C6 with hard seals),
If there's no unwarranted slippage...

Assuming all seems well, I'd drop the pan and change the filter

Then:
If everything looks good, put it back together, and fill with type F

If something is amiss...we'll, that can be decided later...

 

Beautiful truck. Welcome to FTE. Be sure to join your local chapter

 

Thanks, I'm proud of it, I moved from late model full size to a little ranger when fuel prices went over $4.00, that 4 cyljnder/5 speed can ignore gas stations for a bunch of days. Set my budget, rat holed my pennies and waited and watched.

I had submitted a request to join the state chapter (Arkansas) a couple three weeks ago but haven't seen any evidence of that being acknowledged, not much going on over there.

My concerns are just that on the trans, leaks start happening. It's in shape at this time.

 

If it were me, I'd do a filter, pan gasket, & filter only. Do you own a torque wrench? for less than that quote, you could buy one and all materials.

 

I would let it be....

 

Thats a clean F100.... Im trying like hell to snag an all original 1969 F100 here in my little town.... For some odd reason the wife thinks 4 pickup trucks may be a little much odd...........

 

Four wouldn't be odd at all...Four would be even...three is odd...

harharhar

 

I'd simply change out the filter and pan gasket, Refill with Type F as PBYuma said. I wouldn't worry about the bands if the truck shifts nicely. That truck looks like it hasn't been run hard and bands rarely need adjustment under normal use. That color is sweet! Same as my 74 F250 CS.

 

I just want to clear up a rumor I heard the other day. Is it true that it's bad for your transmission to change the fluid out and replace with new type F?

 

No synthetics unless a trans was been rebuilt after 1990.

 

Limestone Green Metallic. It really came back to life with the buffer.

​​​​​​Thanks for the input.