Nza wrote:
> On Aug 2, 7:48 am, > wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 18:26:37 UTC, Nza > wrote:
>>
>>>On Jul 30, 8:41 am, Nza > wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Jul 29, 9:15 pm, >
>>>>wrote:
>>
>>>>>Yes, I have done that with my 49 Windsor and 40 Royal. FluidDrive
>>>>>came in two different varieties, a regular 3 speed transmission with
>>>>>fluid drive, and the M4/M6 dual range fluid drive.
>>
>>>>ok! I'm pretty sure this one just has the 3-speed w/ fluid drive.
>>
>>>Actually, I was reading about the "tip-toe" transmission and how to
>>>shift it.. I think this car may have that dual range thingee after all
>>>instead of the 3 speed..
>>
>>>Drained the coolant today... i pulled out the thermostat and put it in
>>>a pot of 180 degree water and it opened... did it a few times and it
>>>opened more and more until a certain point.. was wondering though if
>>>the thermostat is supposed to close all the way... i'm assuming it
>>>is. When cooled off, this one is not all the way closed.
>>
>>The Chrysler, DeSoto and Dodge had the M6, PrestoMatic, TipToe shift,
>>four speed, dual range Fluid Drive. The "second" gear position is
>>Low/Low-High and the "third" gear position is High/Low-High/High.
>>Almost all of the time you will use the High range. Shifting is
>>accomplished by slightly lifting your foot off the accelerator at
>>about 15 or so, hearing a clunk, then pressing on the gas again. You
>>only need to use the clutch for reverse and starting, although you can
>>start the car in gear. There is a fill port on the passenger side of
>>the transmission whereby you remove the plug from the torque converter
>>to check the fluid, which is really 10 weight oil. Draining and
>>refilling requires turning the converter with the plug downward and
>>letting the oil drain, then reversing the procedure. All in all, the
>>transmission is very good. Make sure that the electrical connections
>>to the carb are good and that the solenoid and governor on the
>>transmission case are operating.
>>As to the thermostat, it should be a 160 degree opening with a
>>non-pressurized system. I have had no problems with my 49 Windsor or
>>my 40 Royal.
>
>
> As always, thanks for the information! I'm flying blind on this one,
> pretty much.. except for you guys and a 1957 version of the Motor's
> manual..
>
> So basically there are only four positions for the gear selector...
> reverse, neutral, high-range, low-range... If I understand
> correctly, most of the time i'll just slap it into high range and
> leave it there and use the high and low for around town-type stuff..
>
> The thermostat has a "180" stamped into the end of the plunger. I
> verified the temp. of the water when the thermostat opened with a
> digital thermometer.... but like i said, it still doesn't close all
> the way. So, i'll probably need a new one. Someone at some point put
> a 4 psi rad. cap on it, so i guess i'll need to change that as well.

I think 4 PSI caps were fairly common in that era, that's what I've
always had on my '49 Plymouth. However, after blowing a freeze plug a
couple of times I started running it unpressurized with no problems
whatsoever. You will need a 160 degree thermostat to run unpressurized,
though, you'll likely have a problem with "burping" coolant if you run
that 180 degree stat.