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Since I got the car back up and running I am having an issue of transmission fluid coming back out the dip stick tube when I first start the car back up. Lots of it. Looks like a bloodbath. I have determined that it is not overfilled. This was happening before I had the transmission rebuilt and is still happening. Thoughts? Thank you.
I am assuming you have a powerglide since you mentioned transmission fluid. If so, the early powerglides are famous for "burping" fluid out when you start it after sitting for a week or more. My brother's 57 Nomad did it with amazing regularity.
One very old article that I can't find right now says the solution is to put a vent in the top of the rear case.
If you search the TriFive forum and ChevyTalk forum, there are a lot of threads that discuss this exact problem. Here is a link to just one of the threads from each forum:
I wrote about this so many times over the years so here it is again By the way 55 to 57 valve bodies are the same and can be exchanged
Hi Roy,
If I had a $1.00 for every time I heard that question, I would be a rich man. It sounds like you have covered all the common solutions, I can tell you’ve done your homework on this one.
The things we have seen over the years that can cause this problem of the converter draining back are the ring on the input shaft / bore on the valve body and the valve in the valve body , you replaced the valve body with a good one (referring to the inside of the bore where the ring rides), then maybe this valve could be sticking or not closing completely? Unfortunately it’s a lot of work to check it because you need to take apart the whole transmission but if you read paper it makes a lot of sense.
There is one other thing I have seen cause a venting problem, but I don’t think this relates to you since you already know the converter is draining back. In the back of the case there is something called a rear pump lube metering valve, and if it was left out I think it causes a venting problem which creates a leak out the filler tube.
If you haven’t done so already, we recommend adding a vent to the top of the extension housing and connecting a hose, run the hose up and zip tie it to the filler tube. Put a cap on the end of the hose, like a case vent from a TH350 to seal it off. The extra vent will help allow air and pressure to escape which will help control the venting issue these units have.
Hope I was able to give you some info that you didn’t already know about? Best of luck.
Roy you are the 55 go to guy and maybe someone has just got luck and picked up a 55 and is looking for info on it. Could be this guy is new and has not seen your post on it in the past. There for you will not be a rich man because this could be the first time he has seen your answer. You are the 55 Go To Guy. keep up the great work of informing us about them.
Like to comment on a couple things that were mentioned for venting. First is venting at the tailhousing. On a 55 if the torque converter is bleeding back into the transmission the level will reach the height of the tailhousing. Once the fluid reaches that height the transmission can still burp if the bleeder is on the tailhousing. The vent needs to be on the main case. It was also mentioned that the tailhousing can be removed after removing the driveshaft. that is not the case on a 55 V8. Drilling the tailshaft housing has to be done in place by rotating the housing 180 degrees and drilling from underneath.
10-16-2017, 10:39 PM
1955 transmission issue
