Helping out a 1980 FI Automatic

[profcucchi]

Hello,

I am helping my sister with her recently purchased 1980 FI Automatic. If it were a carb with manual, I would be okay, but this one's quite different.

Can I get a cheat sheet from fellow automatic owners? What are the initial things to be concerned about?

It definitely needs a fluid change. Motor oil and transmission fluid options? I would guess that rad fluid is the same at 50/50.

In general, the car starts, runs, brakes and shuts off. The body is super clean, and since it was garage stored, heated to boot, it has no rust. Seats are dry, but nothing a good conditioner won't fix.

We've cleaned all the grounds and replaced the fuses, and most everything works. The rat's nest of wires isn't nice to look at, but right now, it'll have to do.

Any help is appreciated.

[wetminkey]

Pretty much everything is the same, as far as tune goes. Idle should be set just a bit higher, in Park, since Drive will load the engine,...
The TH180 is pretty much carefree, other than filter and fluid change. Leaks can be be fixed with new seals easily. AAMCO just finished mine.
Kick-down cable must be adjusted within a functional range, and the tranny requires carb vacuum for shift kickdown.
I even think that the 180 Turbo Hydramatic can still be rebuilt,...
I had an adjustable modulator installed on mine (while they were re-sealing it), and I usually drive it by shifting manually, L1, L2, D. It is much more fun to drive that way,...downshift works just fine, also!
Adjustable modulator allows for adjustment of the automatic shift points, with a 'given' pedal pressure. Works well to place auto shifting within the 'power band' of the car.
Other questions?

[profcucchi]

Awesome!

Fluids... I have no idea what Dexron II is. Is there a backwards compatible transmission oil? What about motor oil? I'm hesitant to start it regularly without fresh blood in its veins.

Photos at some point, just need to remember how to post.

Thanks!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I have no idea what Dexron II is. Is there a backwards compatible transmission oil? What about motor oil?

Dexron II is just a formulation developed by General Motors for use in its automatic transmissions, although it's now been licensed out to just about every manufacturer of oils. It's likely that almost all auto parts store will carry Dexron II or the equivalent, although I have seen some stuff advertised as Dexron II/III which should be fine. Big box stores might also carry it.

I usually run any conventional (non-synthetic) 10W-40 oil in my Fiats, although since you're in Toronto, 10W-30 might be more appropriate in the winter. For these older cars, almost any brand of oil will be just fine, although there are some who will disagree with me on this. You can use synthetic, but I wouldn't recommend it for an older Fiat.

Oh, and yes, a 50/50 mix of pure antifreeze and water is fine for your coolant.

-Bryan

[DieselSpider]

Most places now stock a universal DEX/MERC ATF for older vehicles the need Dexron III or lower and Mercon ATF. You do not want to put any higher version of Dexron in an older transmission since the friction modifiers will not be backwards compatible.

See: https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/car ... erm=dexron

[profcucchi]

Thanks everyone!

I'm off to ye olde autoparts shoppe to stock up.

Fluid changes first, then winter project.

Have a great weekend

[redcars]

The idle on an automatic is done with it in gear and is 750 rpm per the book.