82 Transmission problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 3
From: Goshen IN
82 Transmission problem
I've had the car for 4 years with no transmission problems, no leaks of any kind. Went to a cruise-in last night, drove in very slow and stopped traffic for 2 hrs when I notice what appearred to be an oil type smoke coming from under the car. Stopped and checked and could not see any visible leakage. A little later while still setting in traffic, I noticed that the transmission was starting to slip. Got out of traffic and headed home-about 5 miles. The trans quit all together about a 1/2 mile from home, coasted most of the way and pushed it the rest of the way into my drive. No oil showed on trans dip stick. Ended up putting 4 qts in and it was still down some. Drove it and it seemed to shift ok. Where did the oil go? Still no external leaks.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 3
From: Goshen IN
I thought one of the transmission coolant lines sprung a leak, but all are dry. Could it have gotten overheated in the slow traffic to cause a temporary leak. After putting trans oil in and driving it, it doesn't show any sign of leaks. I only drove it a couple of miles after putting the oil in it, wanted some imput before I drove it to much.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If the tranny was too hot, it could have puked the oil out the breather hole/tube. Or, it could have been low for some time and finally got low enough to give you trouble. Keep checking the fluid level every week or so until you are confident it is OK.
Your radiator could be cake-up with lime and not dissipating enough heat out of the tranny cooler. You may need to have your radiator boiled out and checked out/repaired.
Your radiator could be cake-up with lime and not dissipating enough heat out of the tranny cooler. You may need to have your radiator boiled out and checked out/repaired.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
I've had the car for 4 years with no transmission problems, no leaks of any kind. Went to a cruise-in last night, drove in very slow and stopped traffic for 2 hrs when I notice what appearred to be an oil type smoke coming from under the car. Stopped and checked and could not see any visible leakage. A little later while still setting in traffic, I noticed that the transmission was starting to slip. Got out of traffic and headed home-about 5 miles. The trans quit all together about a 1/2 mile from home, coasted most of the way and pushed it the rest of the way into my drive. No oil showed on trans dip stick. Ended up putting 4 qts in and it was still down some. Drove it and it seemed to shift ok. Where did the oil go? Still no external leaks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
You can put in a 2004R for that, get 4th gear over drive and a better first gear. Takes a little work, but I got mine all in for around $900
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
200-4R best mod you will ever make. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
I've had the car for 4 years with no transmission problems, no leaks of any kind. Went to a cruise-in last night, drove in very slow and stopped traffic for 2 hrs when I notice what appearred to be an oil type smoke coming from under the car. Stopped and checked and could not see any visible leakage. A little later while still setting in traffic, I noticed that the transmission was starting to slip. Got out of traffic and headed home-about 5 miles. The trans quit all together about a 1/2 mile from home, coasted most of the way and pushed it the rest of the way into my drive. No oil showed on trans dip stick. Ended up putting 4 qts in and it was still down some. Drove it and it seemed to shift ok. Where did the oil go? Still no external leaks.
I would check your coolant and make sure the leak isn't inside the rad. 4 qt is a lot to loss.See if oil is mixed with coolant. It had to go somewhere. Maybe it was always low on fluid?
Otherwise drive close to home. Checking the level constantly.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 3
From: Goshen IN
I ended up putting 5 qts in, plus a bottle of Lucas transmission oil(had nothing to loose). No oil in radiator or external leaks. I'm beginning to think it was always low, but don't see why I wouldn't have noticed slipping if it has been low. I had it serviced and nothing was ever said about being low(I know-check it yourself). I've only driven it about 6500 miles since I've had it. I took it pretty easy for a couple of months and it seemed to shift OK. A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to get on it and see what would happened. When it shifted from 1st-2nd, the tires squalled and the back end shifted over. I wasn't expecting that, so for now everything seems OK. I'm glad, because I need to change the trailing arms this winter(wheel bearings rumbling). I couldn't afford to rebuild the trans and trailing arms at the same time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
My original 700 was replaced at one time, basically the early model 700r's 82-86 were low quality. When I had a new 90 core installed the mechanic pointed out the green tag (replacement) on what i thought was the original trans. Also I think they take a few gallons of fluid total with converter, but do not quote me on that.
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Pennington NJ
I would do a fluid and filter change just to be sure, especially if one hasnt been done in a while, and yes, a fully empty (dry trans) takes like 11 quarts and for a fluid and filter change it is 7 or 8 quarts I think.
Will
Will
