TH400 leak
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Sandnes Norway
I have the same leak and tool is ordered but not received yet. However, I need to relocate the car and the tranny fluid level is now just under the shifter shaft, car has been parked for the last 5 monts or so.
Question is, will it be OK to drive it about 10 miles with fluid on this level?
If I refill the tranny it will just start leaking again at the new garage I move it to so I hope I can go slowly with it like it is now, and then fix the leak when the tool arrive and the fluid will be leveled at the right level for the repair job.
Or it's maybe a stupid move?
1974 BB + TH400
Question is, will it be OK to drive it about 10 miles with fluid on this level?
If I refill the tranny it will just start leaking again at the new garage I move it to so I hope I can go slowly with it like it is now, and then fix the leak when the tool arrive and the fluid will be leveled at the right level for the repair job.
Or it's maybe a stupid move?
1974 BB + TH400
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 52
From: Florida
I have the same leak and tool is ordered but not received yet. However, I need to relocate the car and the tranny fluid level is now just under the shifter shaft, car has been parked for the last 5 monts or so.
Question is, will it be OK to drive it about 10 miles with fluid on this level?
If I refill the tranny it will just start leaking again at the new garage I move it to so I hope I can go slowly with it like it is now, and then fix the leak when the tool arrive and the fluid will be leveled at the right level for the repair job.
Or it's maybe a stupid move?
1974 BB + TH400
Question is, will it be OK to drive it about 10 miles with fluid on this level?
If I refill the tranny it will just start leaking again at the new garage I move it to so I hope I can go slowly with it like it is now, and then fix the leak when the tool arrive and the fluid will be leveled at the right level for the repair job.
Or it's maybe a stupid move?
1974 BB + TH400
Jim
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: RTP NC
As soon as you start car, the trans. pump will re-fill the torque converter (which drains back overnight) and lower the fluid level even further. I'd highly recommend you start it, bring the fluid level up while idling in Park. When you get to your new house, put a shallow pan under there to catch it. You could drive it as low as 1 quart low but I wouldn't push it beyond that.
Jim
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
It would take quite a while, I believe, if in fact it ever did reach 200 degrees at idle. I had an automatic '01 Vette which came with a tranny temp guage. I would say that it took at least 1/2 hour for it to get up to normal operating temp of around 200 degrees, and I live in South Florida. Hope this helps. 
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Sandnes Norway
As soon as you start car, the trans. pump will re-fill the torque converter (which drains back overnight) and lower the fluid level even further. I'd highly recommend you start it, bring the fluid level up while idling in Park. When you get to your new house, put a shallow pan under there to catch it. You could drive it as low as 1 quart low but I wouldn't push it beyond that.
Jim
Jim
How much oil wil it need to bring it from the shifter shaft level to the low level on the deepstick? Any idé?
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: RTP NC
http://books.google.com/books?id=KKP...niGHow#PPP1,M1
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
When a turbo 400 transmission was new the seals kept lots of fluid in the top cause when you dropped the pan you only got out about half the fluid the book said it held. When the car sets and the trans is old more fluid floods the pan and they leak is what I was told. I never was able to stop a 400 from leaking even with a complete overhaul. Let us know if you stop all leaks as I have a leaker also that I have chased the leak for years.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 488
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From: Fremont,CA
When a turbo 400 transmission was new the seals kept lots of fluid in the top cause when you dropped the pan you only got out about half the fluid the book said it held. When the car sets and the trans is old more fluid floods the pan and they leak is what I was told. I never was able to stop a 400 from leaking even with a complete overhaul. Let us know if you stop all leaks as I have a leaker also that I have chased the leak for years.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Fremont,CA
I did mine about a year ago and used a seal puller. The thing i had to do was grind a small amount of the fiberglass floor area to pull the shaft out. With that everything went fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 52
From: Florida
Hope this helps.
Jim
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
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From: Sandnes Norway
Guessing, I'd say about a pint or two. Don't worry about operating temp., I think they're accounting for thermal expansion of the fluid itself which is minimal. You don't need select each gear either unless it's been overhauled and that would be to refill the drums with fluid behind the pistons that apply the clutches. If he starts it and lets it run a minute while in park on a level floor and checks the level, that will be all that's needed. Again, ideally raise the fluid level to full but running one quart down would be the absolute lowest I would run it. A T350 holds about 10.5 quarts dry and a T400 holds closer to 12 quarts dry (each with and empty converter). On a fluid change, you'll get roughly 5-6 quarts out depending on the trans. type. Running an automatic low on fluid is a big no-no in my opinion. Once they lose pressure (low fluid) the clutch pack/band will slip and that's bad news.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Hope this helps.
Jim
Thanks
I think I will fill it up and then drain it for the repair
Stupid there is no plug to drain it.
Clue
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
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From: Sandnes Norway
Relocated the car today. 1 litre of transmission fluid was enought to bring it up to the "add" mark on the deepstick so I did not topped it up. It was just an 7 miles drive so I hope I'm fine with this.
Car has sat for about 7 months and it fired right up on first crank
(gave it some fresh gas from a bottle right down the carb first)
Car has sat for about 7 months and it fired right up on first crank
(gave it some fresh gas from a bottle right down the carb first)
