Fluid Day. Oh Oh, Tranny Is A Fountain!!!

[magwakeenercew2jh]

The P.O., who is a 20 year-long-plus friend, told me of the trans fluid spilling all over when he drove the truck home the 20 miles he had it before selling it to me. His son, a Certified GM Mechanic, said, "Usually", the TH350 leaks as a result of needing pan gaskets, or seals.

I bought filter, pan gasket and good seals. I had a guy who professed about 200 trans rebuilds to his credit put 'em in. I watched him, for whatever that was worth.

I had a new one piece drive shaft built that I haven't installed yet.

So, today, I put in six quarts of ATF. It was fine until 5 (I think). At least no leaks I saw. Then I put the last one in. I went away to do something else and heard a nasty waterfall sound. Looked under the truck (I didn't have to look too far) and say t. fluid pouring out of the rear of the trans. Now, I'm a rookie on transmissions. I don't know if the slip joint on the drive shaft is supposed to "hold back" fluid coming down the splines via the seal in the rear, or not. Seems unlikely.

I can't really tell for sure, but I think about a quart and a half poured on the floor... pouring off of the bottom of the spline until it was just a steady trickle and then stopped.

You guys could save me some time, money, and pain if you told me:

"You are an idiot. Hook up your drive shaft...and don't put any more ATF in there until you run it".

Or even, "Oh, oh. You're probably screwed. Pull the tranny and take it somewhere for a diagnosis...it's not supposed to puke out of back there."

Well, at least I got the master cylinder bench-bled and the hood primered today.

[Lee H]

Put the drive shaft in, start it and check the fluid. Then fill if/as needed.

[C20-67_N_MO]

Yup! Lee H nailed it.

You need to have the driveshaft in BEFORE adding trans fuild.

Then you should be fine.

[webfoot]

It's all open passage from the pan to the tailshaft, so if you fill the tranny up with fluid beyond the bottom of the rear seal it'll gush every drop from then on out of there without the yoke in there.

[MARKDTN]

Yep, you gotta have a yoke in to hold the fluid in.

[big mike71]

Nice valve covers and breather.

[eightbanger]

Sorta like filling the bath without the plug in...
the good news is there is nothing wrong with your tranny.

Just for my own amusement I sometimes like to put folks address into Google Earth, just to see what it's like where you guys live....and sometimes you get a little surprise.
This is what I got when I typed in Coarsegold CA where you are magwakeenercew2jh.

[fastwillie 696969]

is that driveshaft yoke screwed up or is it my eyes it looks like its bent on one side

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Thanks, everyone. I was done for the day. But you guys inspired me to go back to the shop and get all cruddy again.
I put the drive shaft in and finger-tightened the yoke clamps at the differential end.

I'm a happy man.

My picture gave a little optical "conclusion" on the slip joint straightness. It was the flash or something.

That was cool on the Google Earth pic. That wasn't me in the truck. Great Forum Irony....
There's a light at that corner now. Thanks to living in the Boonies, Google's camera cars don't get here too often.

You all made me happy. And, who's to say we can't still learn anything at 65, eh?

[fattyarbuckle]

I will take this a step farther on how to fill....

If this is a new/ fresh re-build, pour 4 quarts in it (with drive shaft in) and run for 20 seconds
Pour 4 more quarts in start engine, check and fill to full hot.

I have seen a new re-build th transmission puke all of the fluid back out the dip stick tube if filled all at once.