new member needs advice
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: magnolia ms
new member needs advice
I am a new member to this site and I have recently purchased a 1979 corvette L82. I bought the car for 7700 and believe it or not it was parked in a barn for some time now. I cant believe what great condition it is in. It was restored in 97 the third owner never worked on it AT ALL. So all the maintainence work is left for me but i have some questions. I AM NOT AT ALL A MECHANIC. so here it goes i have a leak on the bottom of the transmission where the filter it is the gasket. Someone told me that if i tried to replace it myself i could run into some major problems. A friend told me he replaced one in his truck after completion the transmission stuck and wouldnt move. Please help it is leaking big time. should i take it to someone or try it myself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
It's a dam* messy job, there are better jobs to start out with. I would take it to a trans shop-- 70 bucks???
The pan is full of fluid, with no drain hole, you have to have a big flat catch pan, and you'll still get fluid all over the place, have to put the car on jack stands. the Mechaninc has a lift, and a catch bottle w/a funnel, done in 20 minutes.
The pan is full of fluid, with no drain hole, you have to have a big flat catch pan, and you'll still get fluid all over the place, have to put the car on jack stands. the Mechaninc has a lift, and a catch bottle w/a funnel, done in 20 minutes.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
79 L82 welcome to the forum. You may not be a mechanic now but i guarantee you by the time you get the car the way you want it you will be a mechanic. These old vettes always need TLC. Changing the transmission gasket is not a hard job but like running man said it is kind of messyand probably cheaper to have it done buy a shop. Just have a big pan under the oil pan and remove enough bolts to where the back side of the oil pan comes down enough to drainthe oil into the bucket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Welcome aboard and congrats on the Vette!
Its not a hard job at all, but it is messy. Take out all the bolts except 1 on the front corner and 1 on the back. Loosen the front one a bit and then remove the back one. That will allow you to drop the back of the pan to partially drain it. then take out the front bolt. Scrape off the gasket and clean the pan and swap in a new filter. The torq on the pan bolts is 10 ft lbs.
Its not a hard job at all, but it is messy. Take out all the bolts except 1 on the front corner and 1 on the back. Loosen the front one a bit and then remove the back one. That will allow you to drop the back of the pan to partially drain it. then take out the front bolt. Scrape off the gasket and clean the pan and swap in a new filter. The torq on the pan bolts is 10 ft lbs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Welcome. I agree with everyone above. The tranny leak is messy but a simple fix. I also agree that the 79 will need some TLC to make it dependable. When I bought mine several years ago, it was a true survivor car, 65K miles and nothing had ever been maintained. I spent several hours replacing 25+year old parts to get it where it was a dependable DD. However, I wasn't interested in restoration, just having a dependable and slightly hopped up ride. My advise it that the 79 is relatively simple to work on and would be a great opportunity for you to develop some mechanical skills. If you've got the patience and garage space, time to start collecting some tools and enjoy. If it were me, start with a good set of jack stands, floor jack and a set of Craftsman 1/2" drive sockets and wrenchs. Definitely buy the AIM and repair manual. Take your time with each piece of work that you encounter and you'll have some fun and pride of knowing that you've learned something and have probably done a better job in the repair that you'd get at the dealer's shop.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: magnolia ms
Thank you for the advice. I think I might let a shop handle this one. Im am going to fix the brakes today and hopefully next week take it to the shop. Thank you for the nice welcoming. This forum seems to have some of the friendliest people. Thank you
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
If you change it yourself, be sure to put the proper amount of fresh fluid back in. Usually, this is a little over 4 quarts. I generally put about 3 1/2 quarts in and then start it up, get it up to operating temp and then check the fluid level (on level ground and tranny in park) and top off as necessary. I've seen more than one thread here where someone changes the fluid, installs just 2 quarts and then can't figure out why the tranny won't shift properly. 
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
I am a new member to this site and I have recently purchased a 1979 corvette L82. I bought the car for 7700 and believe it or not it was parked in a barn for some time now. I cant believe what great condition it is in. It was restored in 97 the third owner never worked on it AT ALL. So all the maintainence work is left for me but i have some questions. I AM NOT AT ALL A MECHANIC. so here it goes i have a leak on the bottom of the transmission where the filter it is the gasket. Someone told me that if i tried to replace it myself i could run into some major problems. A friend told me he replaced one in his truck after completion the transmission stuck and wouldnt move. Please help it is leaking big time. should i take it to someone or try it myself.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 549
Likes: 5
From: punta gorda florida
congrats
welcome to the forum and vette ownership If you cam get an GM shop manual for your car an assembly manual is also helpfull there both still availible chilton are sometimes quite vauge on details that you need to know well anyway good luck with car amd again welcome
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Changing trans fluid, filter, and gasket is something that only needs to be done every 30-50K miles. Take it to a reputable oil change/transmission shop. Let them do it. You'll never need to do it again [at least, as long as you will own the car].
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: magnolia ms
I have a chiltons book the previous owner gave me and I also have the original owners manual, reciept for the car when it came off the lot, (Had 4 miles on it) and all reciepts of the restoration. I agree that this project will be too large for me at the moment. I wanted to change the brakes and fluid but, my wife, well has her ways. This weekend though,i will get this all done cause shes working. I changed the oil when i first got the car and i do believe they cranked it every now and then. I will fill out my profile as well. ha ha kinda new to the computer to.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: New york New york
Welcome to the club, as previously stated before long you will be a mechanic or very much in debt, When I did my leaky tran. pan I replaced it with one that has a drain. Reason being some old oil will still be in the unit and may be contaminated, I ran the new fluid for approx. 50 milles and then changed it again. maybe overkill but now it's nice and clean and smells good
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Make sure the leak isn't from the seal on the shifter shaft. It can look like it's from the seal on the pan. It wasn't until I had the pan all cleaned up from replacing the seal on the pan that I could tell the leak was from the shifter shaft.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Welcome aboard. Some great advice and helpful people here. Before you know it you'll be a C3 Mechanic. Enjoy!
I was thinking that while reading down the thread. Pick up new valve cover gaskets and reseal and lube the rear diff while you're at it.
So true.
I was thinking that while reading down the thread. Pick up new valve cover gaskets and reseal and lube the rear diff while you're at it.
Originally Posted by wnmech
by the time you get the car the way you want it you will be a mechanic.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: magnolia ms
Well from what i could tell it is at the pan but your right it could possibly be from another source. When I take it to the trans shop I will inspect the car myself on there lift. They might also have the same opinion. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this car run, look, and drive perfectly. My wife on the other hand well she calls it our new pit, money pit.