I fired up Davids car today with a new crate motor and a brand new TKO 500 from Keisler. After 1/2 hour of running there is a good amount of transmission fluid on the floor. I would estimate 3 or so ounces. Put it up in the air and it is coming from the front of the trans. Both plugs are dry but the face of the trans that is up against the bellhousing is wet. Almost like the counter shaft or main shaft is leaking fluid. It is not over filled, this is the first thing I checked. It is definitly trans fluid, the Syncromesh fluid has a very distinct smell to it. Any ideas? Not looking forward to removing this.

Thinking about this some more I'll bet it has something to do with the hyd clutch that bolts to the front of the transmission. Not a big fan of this setup.

BTW the motor sounds great and ran good.

 

Gordon, that was my very first thought. Something is amiss with the hydraulic bearing adapter. With the high quality of the work that you do it will be interesting to hear what you discover.

 

Ok so I pulled the transmission tonight. I kept going until I found what I beleive to be the leak. When you go to the hyd TO bearing they give you a new front plate. One that bolts to the transmision. The one that I took off I swear did not have a gasket just some sealer on it as I recall. As I pulled this one back off there is very little if any sealer and definitly no gasket. I do not remember exactly what was on there and wha tsealer if any I put on when installing this. I am pretty sure I need a gasket or some good sealer between the trans and this face plate. Both side were very wet wit hfluid and this is exactly where it was coming from. My question to Keisler will be what type of sealer or gasket do I use between the two. I'll have to take a picture of this.



The hyd. TO bearing is another story. I don't mind saying this design is next to impossible to service. I had to custom bend a wrench to get at the fitting to remove the hyd line going to the TO bearing. There is no way in he$$ this is going to be able to go back in. You have to assemble the bellhousing to the trans then put in the line then put the whole assembly back up in the car. It was not a probelm when the engine was out on the floor but I don't know how this is going to go back in with the motor in the car.

Here you can see where the line needs to go in to the TO bearing. Try getting this in there when the trans is in the car. You have the little window in the side of the bellhousing to try and get your hand and wrench into.

 

I don't know 'squat' about that gearbox, but if you put a gasket on that cover plate, the fit of that thrust-roller bearing behind it will be all messed up. I don't think you can put a gasket there. I'm surprised that there is not an O-ring groove cut into that cover so that an O-ring can seal off any oil leakage. It might seal with just some of that old "airplane gasket" sealer from Permatex. Your next call should be to Kiesler...

 

I would use a motorcycle engine case sealant like a "Yamabond" type of sealant for that job. What a PITA! good luck with the re-work.

 

I found some anaerobic sealer from Loctite. It is called anaerobic gasket maker and I have used it on 2 stroke marine engines where two machined surfaces are mated. This has to be the stuff to use.

 

For what it is worth I have found that with Corvettes that have the welded in transmission corssmember...I install the engine and trans as a unit...and sometimes have to dis-assemble the shifter area...so I can get the transmission to go on top of the crossmember. I have done several...and can not figure out how to do it while the engine is in the car. So I "pull the trigger" and pull the engine and start over. I know it is a pain but the benefits of the transmission do outway the hassles of installation.
Best of luck...not saying that you need any. Just trying to "brighten the mood".
"Attitude and motivation comes from within" I believe that you POSITIVELY have both of those working for you.
"DUB"

 

This car was an automatic so the X member is removeable. I have just sealed up the front bearing retainer plate and torqued it all down. There is a little bit of red ooze coming out which is just what the rest of the trans mating surfaces looks like. Just a small amount being pushed out of the mating surfaces. So I should be good to go. Still not looking forward to the Hyd. TO bearing and trying to install the line to it.

 

Gordonm,
I feel you pain. I have been there before...and I hate it. and that is even with a lift and transmission jack also. Still is no "FUN". I am sure that you will suceed!
"DUB"

 

Yes I have a lift and trans jack also and it still is a PIA to have to do anything twice. Oh well. Should be back together this afternoon.

 

If anyone can resolve this one it will be Gordon. I have seen his work first hand and yes, that is my 77 Red project car. Gordon will get it done, I just hate to see him have to do it twice. Thank goodness it was a previous automatic car with that removable cross member, otherwise, egad, I hate to think. Just to put it all in perspective the car was at this stage January 1 of this year. It has come a long way.

My brother and son removing engine. December 28, 2008


Starting point. January 1, 2009


October 1, 2009


October 30, 2009



Keep plugging away Gordon, you are doing great.
David

 

That looks SWEET David Gordon is your man!

 

All back in. Just have to hook up the top side shifter and console stuff and bleed the Hyd. TO bearing.

Here it is running yesterday afternoon before the trans removal.

 

Gordonm,
I chalk that up to "experience". And I know that the next time I do a Keisler...I will check that area so I won't have to do it twice.

Quick question Gordonm...do you put away your tools...that you probably have in your roll-around cart...BEFORE the job is done...or AFTER everything is completed and PERFECT. I tell my help...that I do not want any tools put away...becasue for me...it always seems to "jinx" me...and I have to do something again....because they ASSUMED that everything was going to work out perfect. Just wanna know.... just for the heck of it.

Glad to see you got it back in.
"DUB"

 

I will put my tools away at the end of the day or if I feel that it is getting to cluttered and most of the tools are out. No I do not put them back while working on a particular job but if I go from something on the motor to the interior yes I might clean up a little. I don't have the luxury of a big shop or garage. Just a small 2 car garage with ceilings high enough for a lift. I try to be somewhat organized. I can't stand a dirty shop and tools left all over the place.

I did not run it today, I thought I'd let everything set up a while before running. Besides I had to watch the Eagles kick the crap out of the Giants!

 

I can vouch for this. He has an awesome set up and a spotless garage. I wish I had a setup like that.

 

GordonM:
There is no gasket on the TKO anywhere. Tremec uses a Anerobic sealer #518 on all metal to metal surfaces. Given that the pictures show the red anerobic sealer on the parts in question, I am guessing this was purchased a while ago? We use grey Ultra-Permatex sealant on the TKO's that we modify and have been for some time now.

I'd be interested to know the name on the sales order and when the purchase was made? Hard to believe it had a leak if it was bought within the last 2 years or so as our automated leak down machine pumps up the gearbox with more pressure than it would see running in a car.

Please either post the name, PM me or call me at 865-609-8187 x 2.





Richard
Tech Support

 

Richard has been extremly helpful on this and it will be all fixed up soon. The trans had to come back out but to do it right it had to. I had it back out in under an hour. I'm getting pretty good at this by now.

 

Thanks for your help Richard. I know Gordon appreciates it and I certainly do as well. Thanks again for your support.
Best regards,
David Howard

 

Holy cow! Since I'm planning on getting a lift in my future, I hope that's what made it so easy to remove and replace over and over. You didn't even seem to lose your temper!