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Good evening, I just got home from a 5 hr trip pulling my Newley purchased 76’ C3. My driveway has a pretty steep grade on it, so with questionable brakes I tried to drive it off the trailer into the garage using the ramps like a bridge to make the steep grade less. Problem was it just got done raining and the metal trailer would not let the old dry rotted tires grip causing it to slide. I did get it off, but after stopping in the garage it began to leak transmission fluid bad. I’m thinking it blew a line since many of them are corroded. Tranny shifted great and no other issues when test drive. Any ideas or thoughts? I’m gonna climb under it tomorrow and look around.
Transmission pan, lines running to radiator or radiator. You are sure its not power steering fluid?
I’m pretty sure it’s not. I’m gonna climb under it today and have a look. The fluid color was the same as the transmission Idipstick. Power steering would be a lot easier fix though. Lol.
Well, let the games begin. The "C" in the term C3 stands for constant. The "3" stands for three locations. So you will have constant leaks at same three locations on your C3. Constant 3 leaks.
PS
Tranny
Brakes
Your first purchases should be:
Drip pans.
55 gal drum of Dot3
Good pair of ramps.
As far as the tranny leak. There is a short chunk of rubber hose back by the Modulator, which is a vacuum canister mounted near the tailshaft housing. That hose is prone to drying out, brittle, leaks. The steel lines seldom have issues but like MelWff stated more rubber hoses at the RAD.
Good Luck
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Oct 14, 2019 at 12:44 PM.
As the others have said, check the two rubber hoses that connect the metal lines to the radiator. If your leak is near the front of the car, these are the most likely culprits. They love to crack and the flow can be quite spectacular.
The seal between the torque converter and transmission is another common leak and is much more involved to deal with.
If I were betting though, it’s likely the transmission fluid pan. People chronically over tighten the bolts and then it’ll never seal. It’s messy, but replacing the pan gasket and banging the holes in the pan rails back towards the outside is the best way to fix this.
Regarding power steering, yes yours will leak at some point and I want you to remember saying it was easier when you try to fix it for the fifth time
Last edited by CA-Legal-Vette; Oct 14, 2019 at 10:20 AM.
Well, let the games begin. The "C" in the term C3 stands for constant. The "3" stands for three locations. So you will have constant leaks at same three locations on your C3. Constant 3 leaks.
PS
Tranny
Brakes
Your first purchases should be:
Drip pans.
55 gal drum of Dot3
Good pair of ramps.
As far as the tranny leak. There is a short chunk of rubber hose back by the Modulator, which is a vacuum canister mounted near the ta
ilshaft housing. That hose is prone to drying out, brittle, leaks. The steel lines seldom have issues but like MelWff stated more rubber hoses at the RAD.
Good Luck
Thank you. I also found a puncture in what I believe is the transmission transmission inspection cover from what I see. You have to forgive my ignorance with this. I am far from a mechanic. I’m assuming the leak came from hose leak and this hole combined. I’ll look tomorrow at the hose. Here is the pic of the hole.
As the others have said, check the two rubber hoses that connect the metal lines to the radiator. If your leak is near the front of the car, these are the most likely culprits. They love to crack and the flow can be quite spectacular.
The seal between the torque converter and transmission is another common leak and is much more involved to deal with.
If I were betting though, it’s likely the transmission fluid pan. People chronically over tighten the bolts and then it’ll never seal. It’s messy, but replacing the pan gasket and banging the holes in the pan rails back towards the outside is the best way to fix this.
Regarding power steering, yes yours will leak at some point and I want you to remember saying it was easier when you try to fix it for the fifth time
lol. I’m learning a lot from you guys. Thank you. I’m begging to see that it’s more than I expected, but gonna be fun. My 3 ur old an I worked on the Rally rims today and had a blast. My 16 yr old who I bought this project to work on with bailed on me. Lol. Oh well. Looking forward to many frustrating days.
lol. I’m learning a lot from you guys. Thank you. I’m begging to see that it’s more than I expected, but gonna be fun. My 3 ur old an I worked on the Rally rims today and had a blast. My 16 yr old who I bought this project to work on with bailed on me. Lol. Oh well. Looking forward to many frustrating days.
All I can say is you’re doing it right
When the older one asks to take your restored car to prom, the correct answer is yes.
Looking at the one photo, appears to be a lot of gritty material on oil pan. Does not appear to be normal road grit but rather a shiny metallic look to it. Don't know what that's about.
Hole in dust cover does not match flywheel perfectly but close. I suspect somebody did not install the cover correctly and was damaged or somebody took some tin snips to it to get access to the flywheel.
Exhaust pipe passenger side really damp where trans line is. Like said before, leak must be at the Rad and runs back, burns off. Trans pan itself appears to be somewhat dry. That's good.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Oct 14, 2019 at 09:23 PM.
When the older one asks to take your restored car to prom, the correct answer is yes.
LOL. He has already asked! He and I have not had much in common and not had a very good relationship. I shipped off t basic training for the Air Force when he was a yr old and have been in ever since. That has put a little divide between us. This is project is the first thing that he has been excited to do with me in years. If I can get it running and resorted really good. I’m thinking about giving it to him after he graduates college...... key word is thinking. Lol.
Looking at the one photo, appears to be a lot of gritty material on oil pan. Does not appear to be normal road grit but rather a shiny metallic look to it. Don't know what that's about.
Hole in dust cover does not match flywheel perfectly but close. I suspect somebody did not install the cover correctly and was damaged or somebody took some tin snips to it to get access to the flywheel.
Exhaust pipe passenger side really damp where trans line is. Like said before, leak must be at the Rad and runs back, burns off. Trans pan itself appears to be somewhat dry. That's good.
So that pan is supposed to have a hole there where you can see the fly wheel?
ok. So should I replace that dust cover or do you honk it’s ok? I’m thinking change it since it’s only $20-$30. However, it looks like I’d have to remove the transmission pan to do that.
I just bought a 68... I had oil all over the bottom... Just to eliminate oil leak sources, I changed the, oil pan gasket, rear main seal, and front seal, and valve cover gaskets. That helped about 95% of my oil leaks.
This would be a great learning experience
ok. So should I replace that dust cover or do you honk it’s ok? I’m thinking change it since it’s only $20-$30. However, it looks like I’d have to remove the transmission pan to do that.
No, on the tranny pan in the way. The dust cover / stone shield will fit, four bolts, just have to play with it a bit.
Transmission leak????
Based on my recent rant, I would rate your leak as “moderate”
