Leaking Trans.

[agro1]

Seems my transmission (TKO) is leaking...I smacked it pretty good the other day . What is usually done to fix that ? Do you have to pull the entire trans, crack it, clean it and reseal it ?? Seems to me that would be the "best" way to do it. Any suggestions ?

Also, how hard is it to pull the trans ? Besides unbloting the driveshaft, what has to be done in front of the trans when you pull it ? Thanks in advance.

[Ron61]

Agro1,

I have the Borg Warner T-5 in my car and it takes me 20 minutes to have it out and on the ground. All I do is remove the shift handle, driveshaft, Tranny mounting plate, and then take the bolts loose on the front where it bolts to the housing. I take the bottom ones out first and then put a jack under it to hold it while I remove the top ones. If your's is easy to get to you should have no trouble taking it out and putting it back. Hopefully yours will be as easy to get to.

Ron

[Cal Metal]

If you cracked the case, it will be no small fix. New case, tear down, reassemble. Expect to burn a weekend.

[Turk]

In about couple of more weeks, I will have my first encounter with a TKO myself. I am familiar with the Toploader and realize the case is built like a tank. Is the TKO case made out of flimsier material?
I assume it is also much lighter than a Toploader as well.

TURK

[agro1]

Ron - Mine is very easy to get to and I'm sure could be removed in the same manner you mentioned. We shall see though...

Cal - When you say cracked the case, do you mean cracked somewhere other then where the seam is ? I think it is just leaking from the seal...I don't think I "cracked" it an area where there was not already an opening.

Turk - Not sure, but I think all the TKO's are made out of the same material that you are going to be surrounded with, aluminum... . It looks like there is a small ear that hangs down a bit and I caught that on a speedbump. Wasn't going fast at all, but is seems that may have loosened the seal that holds the case together, or so I'm being told...Any thoughts guys ?

[wilf leek]

agro1 - from what you say, it sounds like the tailshaft housing took the bump?

No big deal to take that off and reseal it, from memory I don't think tremec use gaskets, just some red gasket goo stuff. If you have the space, you might be able to leave the box in situ and just remove the tailshaft housing.

If you look at www.cobralads.com , in fact go to http://www.cobralads.com/butcher56.html Andy did take his tremec apart, and there are some pictures. Also there is a link there to get you a tremec service manual.

BTW - if that "ear" that hit the ground is the one underneath the shifter tower, then there is nothing to stop you sawing it off. I cut mine off to clear a chassis cross-member. It is just an alternate mounting flange used on some OE application. I am sure there are some pictures of that here on CC - try searching under "tremec".

Turk - toploader case is cast iron, tremec case is aloominum. Neither is designed to be used as a bump stop. Ground clearance is a wonderful thing, but you should not have any problems with your car? Since the chassis is the same as mine in most respects? And I got plenty of ground clearance. In fact, from memory, sump/bellhousing/gearbox are all pretty much protected by the chassis rails.
Of course, I didn't have to lower everything to make room for a fat block.

[Chaplin]

Slow down over speed bumps

Before dropping the trans, why don't you check to make sure the bolts that hold the case together have not loosed up and caused the leak.

Turk-
My TKO II was delivered yesterday. They also shipped a Pro 5.0 shifter and 3 quarts of GM Synchro-Mesh in the same box and, according to UPS, the total shipped weight was 70 lbs. However, according to TTC's website the TKO II weighs 100 lbs. I haven't actually weighed it yet, but I'm guessing UPS' scales are pretty accurate.

[agro1]

Chaplin - I thought I was going slow...Dark, unlight, unfamiliar parking lots are not the best place to be blasting around . The guys at the shop are just getting into it and I think they would have ruled out a loose bolt right off the bat, but I will double check - thanks.

Wilf - I/we do not know from WHERE it is leaking (yet), the guys at the shop just said, "It's leaking...You smacked it..." They also said it could be opened a bit and resealed without taking it out of the car, but the "right" way to do it would be to remove it, crack it, reseal it and reinstall...Damn low clearance

[Mr.Fixit]

Wilf has it right,

Tremecs have a little nub sticking down where the rear of the case meets the rest of the case, right at the parting line. I routinely would cut that off and grind it snooth. If you whack it hasd, it will cause a leak. They do not use gaskets, it's a red gooey non-hardening sealant.

[agro1]

Fixit - Do you think it can be fixed without removing it from the car ?