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Old Jul 3, 2010 | 01:45 PM
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Default 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.
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Old Jul 3, 2010 | 02:46 PM
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Had to be a leak to lose 4 qts. I have seen 350s puke from the front seal and then stop and then be ok for awhile.
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Old Jul 3, 2010 | 03:00 PM
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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.
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Old Jul 3, 2010 | 03:12 PM
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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.
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Old Sep 27, 2010 | 04:08 PM
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I have an 81 and my th350 just quit shifting into 2nd. I had a quote to performance rebuild it for $1300. I was told all my cluthces were rotten. i had no idea they were made out of wood.
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Old Sep 27, 2010 | 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Rmodeler
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.
Not sure if there is a vacuum modulator on your transmission, but if there is and it went bad, the vacuum could have sucked the fluid into the engine and burned it out the exhaust.
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Old Sep 27, 2010 | 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by elealusaf
I have an 81 and my th350 just quit shifting into 2nd. I had a quote to performance rebuild it for $1300. I was told all my cluthces were rotten. i had no idea they were made out of wood.
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
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Old Sep 27, 2010 | 07:47 PM
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The '82 C3 already has a 700R4 tranny in it.
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Old Sep 27, 2010 | 08:07 PM
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200-4R best mod you will ever make.

http://2004r.com/speedoCalc/speedocalc.shtml
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Rmodeler
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.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 06:57 PM
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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.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 08:15 PM
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rmodeler,let me know when the next cruise is .the last one was great.are you going to do the trailing arms .i also need to do mine.
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Old Sep 29, 2010 | 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Jon S
Not sure if there is a vacuum modulator on your transmission, but if there is and it went bad, the vacuum could have sucked the fluid into the engine and burned it out the exhaust.
700R4 does not have a vacuum modulator like a TH350 or TH400.
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Old Sep 29, 2010 | 01:09 PM
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GM put dipsticks in the later 700R4's that have a lock so they don't blow out and pump fluid all over.
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Old Sep 29, 2010 | 04:10 PM
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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.
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Old Sep 29, 2010 | 07:01 PM
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I agree with one of the first posts. I sounds like the front seal gave out and the oil burned off on the exaust pipes.
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Old Oct 2, 2010 | 09:06 AM
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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
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