Friday, December 21, 2012

Finding Gear Box Lubricant for a 1980 Fiesta - AKA "Snipe Hunt"

I've spent a week researching what gearbox oil to use in the gearbox. What a mine field this is. There are different specifications of lube that are suitable for certain applications. Ok, that makes sense. But if you use the wrong one you could ruin your gearbox. For instance, certain chemicals in gl-5 transmission fluid can oxidize yellow metals such as copper and brass...aren't some bushings made of that? So I have all the manuals ford created for the Fiesta: Shop, Haynes, owners. And the only specification I can find is Ford Spec ESP-M2C83-C. None of the auto parts stores that I talked to could cross reference that with their oils. I went to the local Ford dealer and they didn't have a cross reference in their computer either. Finally the parts guy dug up a note about "Motorcraft Full synthetic manual transmission fluid" is now the recommended oil for the IB5 gearbox and older manual transmissions requiring GL-3 and GL-4 grades. It costs $21.31 a quart. It requires 5 pints or 2.5 quarts.

Haynes manual say it requires SAE80 EP. Castrol product is Hypox Light... I don't see it in the US, but the UK has it at a classic car site.
http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?pCode=090.917

Here is what Castrol US has to say: Manual Transmission

NO MATCH
EP 80W - "WE`RE SORRY, NO OIL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE YOU SELECTED. TO RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR HELP DESK AT (800) 462-0835"

I can't believe that, of all things on a 33 year old Fiesta that could prove difficult to find, it was transmission fluid.
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7 comments:

  1. StephanDecember 26, 2013 at 3:15 PM

    hello,

    thanks for the advice last time,

    ive been struggling aswell fwith my box.
    fortunately we have a decent supply for old cars.
    we might be able to help eachother out ;)

    ive a little question for you, did you ever experienced issues with the long driveshaft ?

    my support barring is completly ruined now after the bracket exploded while is was on a vacation in germany?

    in the mean while im trying to fix this but it is really hard to find the right parts.

    regards
    stephan

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    Replies
    1. Betty The FiestaJanuary 2, 2014 at 9:15 AM

      Hi Stephan. I haven't had any issues with the long shaft or the support bearing. If you have a good amount of spare cars hopefully you could find a part at a junk yard. There is a guy here in the US with loads of fiestas. His name is Roger Freas. He is on the US fiesta enthusiast group on yahoo.

      I would recommend joining that group and posting your parts needs there. Roger will be the first to answer. He also ships international, so there is no hassle there.

      Here is the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/US_Fiesta_Enthusiasts/join

      Delete
    2. Betty The FiestaApril 10, 2014 at 4:55 PM

      I dont know if you are still looking for one of these, but I see one on ebay right now:
      http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FIESTA-MK1-XR2-SUPER-SPORT-LONG-DRIVE-SHAFT-/111320310774?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19eb3523f6

      Delete
    3. Betty The FiestaApril 10, 2014 at 4:55 PM

      I dont know if you are still looking for one of these, but I see one on ebay right now:
      http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FIESTA-MK1-XR2-SUPER-SPORT-LONG-DRIVE-SHAFT-/111320310774?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19eb3523f6

      Delete
  2. StephanApril 11, 2014 at 3:14 PM

    thanks for you reply :)

    last june on the Classic Ford show on santa pod raceway (UK) i found a better solution. a fiesta mk2 XR2
    (long) driveshaft.
    this one is a bit thicker and a CV joint on both sides.
    its the best option there is for going off stock.
    the only thing what you have to do is to cut 10 mm out of the gearbox mounting bracket and weld a new flange on it.

    this allows you for further mods.
    a few weeks ago i bought a Ford escort mk7 GTI (predecessor of the Focus).
    it has a 1.8L zetec engine and with some bike carbs i can get 170 bhp out of it so this will be a hell of a approvement.

    but before i'm gonna start the build ive to replace my gearbox. the diff bearings are ruined by the old drive shaft :S.

    any way thanks again for your update,

    kind regards
    stephan


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  3. HalFebruary 23, 2015 at 1:29 PM

    Have you had luck with the Motorcraft synthetic?

    Thanks,
    Hal

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    Replies
    1. Betty The FiestaApril 1, 2015 at 3:47 PM

      I have had great luck with that gear oil. Before I changed the gear oil to this synthetic, I had to be really careful and ease it into second gear or I would grind gears...the synthetic completely smoothed it out so that I can pop it into second without any grinding.

      Delete

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