You might want to replace the bullet with new one made of steel. They do wear out.
Leaking Transmission
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '10
Leaking Transmission
I have a '78 with the stock transmission.
So I have a leak in my transmission somewhere and it seems to be coming from the speedo connection so that is where I started looking. I took off the cable and the bolt that holds the retainer and took that off. Now I was under the assumption that the bullet and driven gear would just pull out but maybe I am wrong. It doesn't seem to want to budge and I was wondering if this red sealant of some sort is supposed to be there or was put by a previous owner.
Also while I was under there I noticed this hole in what I think is the torque converter case, is this supposed to be there?
Thanks in advance!!!
So I have a leak in my transmission somewhere and it seems to be coming from the speedo connection so that is where I started looking. I took off the cable and the bolt that holds the retainer and took that off. Now I was under the assumption that the bullet and driven gear would just pull out but maybe I am wrong. It doesn't seem to want to budge and I was wondering if this red sealant of some sort is supposed to be there or was put by a previous owner.
Also while I was under there I noticed this hole in what I think is the torque converter case, is this supposed to be there?
Thanks in advance!!!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Grants Pass Oregon
I have a '78 with the stock transmission.
So I have a leak in my transmission somewhere and it seems to be coming from the speedo connection so that is where I started looking. I took off the cable and the bolt that holds the retainer and took that off. Now I was under the assumption that the bullet and driven gear would just pull out but maybe I am wrong. It doesn't seem to want to budge and I was wondering if this red sealant of some sort is supposed to be there or was put by a previous owner.
Also while I was under there I noticed this hole in what I think is the torque converter case, is this supposed to be there?
Thanks in advance!!!
So I have a leak in my transmission somewhere and it seems to be coming from the speedo connection so that is where I started looking. I took off the cable and the bolt that holds the retainer and took that off. Now I was under the assumption that the bullet and driven gear would just pull out but maybe I am wrong. It doesn't seem to want to budge and I was wondering if this red sealant of some sort is supposed to be there or was put by a previous owner.
Also while I was under there I noticed this hole in what I think is the torque converter case, is this supposed to be there?
Thanks in advance!!!
I would say the PO used RTV on the bullet, could be the O-ring leaked. Thats a dust cover, hole is a drain hole.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
If the SPEEDO connection is leaking, the bullet must come out. There are 2 seals for it, an o-ring on its outside and another seal on its inside. It looks like Bubba applied some sealant to perhaps stop the leak.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Grants Pass Oregon
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
In reading a book on rebuilding the turbo 350, the writer says to use needle nose pliers to remove the bullet. I was able to remove mine, tho, with just my fingers. I have about 95k miles on my '76 and a friend who owns a tranny shop said the bullet was fine. He installed new seals, I reinstalled it, and I haven't seen a drop of fluid come out since. Be sure to lube the seals with tranny fluid before reinstalling the bullet. It was actually harder pushing it back in place than it was getting it out.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '10
In reading a book on rebuilding the turbo 350, the writer says to use needle nose pliers to remove the bullet. I was able to remove mine, tho, with just my fingers. I have about 95k miles on my '76 and a friend who owns a tranny shop said the bullet was fine. He installed new seals, I reinstalled it, and I haven't seen a drop of fluid come out since. Be sure to lube the seals with tranny fluid before reinstalling the bullet. It was actually harder pushing it back in place than it was getting it out.
I can see where the oring goes on the bullet, but what is the second seal you were talking out? Is it this metal ring that is on the new bullet I bought but not on the old one?
Also, how do I get the gear out? Sorry for all the questions, this is my first time attempting something like this.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Grants Pass Oregon
I actually ordered one in advance since I had heard this before, thank you!
Thanks for the tips, I was able to get it out with pliers.
I can see where the oring goes on the bullet, but what is the second seal you were talking out? Is it this metal ring that is on the new bullet I bought but not on the old one?
Also, how do I get the gear out? Sorry for all the questions, this is my first time attempting something like this.
Thanks for the tips, I was able to get it out with pliers.
I can see where the oring goes on the bullet, but what is the second seal you were talking out? Is it this metal ring that is on the new bullet I bought but not on the old one?
Also, how do I get the gear out? Sorry for all the questions, this is my first time attempting something like this.
Just pull the gear out. The other seal goes inside bullet. Who did you get your new bullet from ? I ask because your old bullet looks like a Steel one, where as it should have been aluminum.
Last edited by 78 silver 78; Jul 4, 2011 at 01:56 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The gear just slides out. You have a later design seal in the right hand picture. THe early ones (left side) used a little rubber lip seal and a steel ring as a retainer. Either one will work fine.
One of the wear points is the small end of the bullet- the aluminum wears. the gear runs a little sideways, and it leaks. The steel one won't wear like that. Put the gear in the bullet without a seal and see how loose the gear is side to side.
One of the wear points is the small end of the bullet- the aluminum wears. the gear runs a little sideways, and it leaks. The steel one won't wear like that. Put the gear in the bullet without a seal and see how loose the gear is side to side.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '10
One last question (maybe). I also took off the pan to replace the filter and was just wondering what a good amount of fluid to fill the trans back up with to start out would be?
