I was wonder is the a specific engine oil and trany fluid i should be using in an 1941 V8 flat head that has not been restored, also I do need to use a lead substitute right?

 

The types of oil recommended could vary as much as the people that frequent this site. However, the advice that I'd give out is to try to find oil that is medium detergent. High detergent like Series 3 diesel oil tends to wash all the gunk down from inside the block where it plugs the intake screen. Worry about getting rid of the gunk when you overhaul it. There is a lot of talk about ZDDP (zinc content, etc.) and how it is being reduced in modern engine lubes and thus exposes our older valve trains to rapid wear. Most older engine formulas conform to API SF which is high in zinc (ZDDP) and thus good for valve trains with flat tappets. Avoid anything with API SM as it is only good for roller tappets. Most of us use 15/40 although I hear some swearing by 10/30. It depends on where you are and if you drive your vehicle in cold weather (back in the 60s when I drove my '47 all year round I went down to straight 10W in the winter and 30 in summer). Older engine formulas are available at a lot of parts houses and also advertised in Hemmings (Hemmings also offers its own brand) and V-8 Times.

For your trans, again, you'll find a lot of opinions. I run GL5 80/90 in my transmission and rearend and it works fine. If you're running an old Warner T-9 four speed crash box, the one that howls worse than the victim of a tax audit, some swear by Ammsoil synthetic (or equivilent)which does tend to quiet them down although not completely.

For the fuel system, I use a squirt of lead additive every time I fill up, and a generous squirt of Sta-bil in the fall before I put my vehicles away.

I hope this helps you out. Take care and enjoy your ride...

 

Thank you for the help, very informative.