Magnet ok.... thanks.
I've eyeballed the areas you mentioned, put spotlights on them, wiped them and come back to see if there is any weepage and I just don't feel, nor see, anything. Every spot above the pan gasket looks dry. I was dreading it leaking from the from input shaft area but I removed the torque converter cover, took it for a drive, and eyeballed it..... just don't see anything. Let it sit overnight and don't see anything wet other than the pan below the gasket level.

 

I *think* I fixed my tranny leak.
Yesterday I decided to use Permatex The RIght Stuff to seal the pan to the transmission. I had previously used it to make a gasket and seal the passenger side valve cover on a 5.8 L Ford Bronco and it had worked like a dream (after trying multiple different type gaskets on that dang thing and having to remove the upper portion of the EFI intake each time (since it hangs over the passenger side valve cover). Worked great so I thought I'd try it before buying an aluminum pan.
SO - cleaned everything with Acetone and made 3 studs such that I could push the tranny pan straight up with sealant applied. I practiced a couple of times until I could go smoothly up onto the 3 studs without bumping anything. I got it installed and torqued her down to spec. Supposedly it is ok to immediately put the system to use but I wasn't in a hurry so I let it sit overnight. Meanwhile I reattached the exhaust and whatnot. This morning it was looking pretty good.


So TODAY I added tranny fluid and took her for a drive. I was feeling pretty happy and drove around a little bit. Stopped at a convenient spot and since it was warmed up checked tranny fluid. It was at the lower end of the dipstick range so I added 1/2 a quart. I drove about 5 miles and got her up on the freeway and then pulled off on an exit and looked underneath. DADGUMMIT!! The front of the pan looked nice and dry (where it was previously would be wet) but farther aft, on the passendge side there a small drip/leak/weep...... so I drove home. Took another look.. and sure enough... it was obvious there was a leak. I put the car away and was just going to call it a day.
Once inside curiosity got the best of me, and knowing that I can lift it in no time with the dang Quickjack I went back out to the garage.

I aligned the Quickjacks and lifted her up high in no time. I crawled under there and sure enough..... It was leaking on the passenger side, but leak was now more like from the center of the pan aft...... well that's weird... it all looks well sealed..... eyeballed the cooler fittings, the dipstick penetration, and the whole forward passenger side section looks pretty dang clean and dry.
So-- then I start looking a little farther aft..... seems to me like this plug has a bit of a weep?????


Mmmmm.... so I find a wrench that fits the plug head (it was a 7/16??? seemed odd to me on a metric tranny). So I manage to get the wrench on it and DAMM if it doesn't move easily! Egad! It's not falling out, but it is nowhere near snug. Anyway I slowly tighten it, seemingly 1 flat at a time, since I didn't feel like swinging the exhaust out of the way. Anyway.... I manage to get it fully tightened. I wipe everything clean. Put away the tools and lower the car.

I grabbed the Pseudo-Rottweiller and go for a test drive..... I drive around town and get everything warmed up. Check oil level. It's sat. Get on the freeway and drive about 5 miles. Pull over and dammm ....it's still dry. I drive around for about another 10 miles, stopping here and there to look underneath, no leaks! So I get home and put it in the garage. Look underneath. No leaks. I throw a piece of new cardboard under the tranny area. I think I got the leak stopped but I'll check that cardboard tomorrow.
Anyway - I'll report back if it still leaks.
Below is a picture of the plug fully tightened.



PS - If I did not have the Quickjacks I do not think I would have gotten this far.... just because it was a pain to jack the car up to get underneath. I must say that I do like them. Wish I would have gotten them ages ago.

 

Good job , that 7/16 headed pipe plug is where you check line pressure with a gauge. If it would of fell out you would have a huge leak, I never even thought of mentioning the pipe plug but yes they’ll leak if loose

 

You learn something new everyday. thank you Eric.

 

Update.
Well, this is all see today. Slightly smaller than a Dime. Car is still on the ground so I just "felt" directly above. May be from the area of the gear selector penetration. Not sure if it is from previous wetness dribbling down or what...... could not even get a good drip on my paws.
I will try to lift it in the next couple of days and see what is going on. Meanwhile I flipped the cardboard over.
Overall I am quite happy....even if it s the gear selector penetration.

 

Update:
Got the car up in the air today. No drips nor staining on the cardboard beneath.
There *may* be some wet tranny fluid below the gear selector penetration --- see picture below.
I plan to take her out tomorrow, run around and get her warmed up, and then come home and promptly put her up in the air....... Hopefully, if there is one, then I should be able to see a weep/leak/drip when hot.

 

Says everyone when they get themselves a new lift......

 

Well, the Gear Selector Penetration Seal is leaking.

I went for about a 10-15 mile drive around town, on the freeeway, on a frontage road, and back around town,.... stopped and peaked underneath a couple of times. Did not see any tranny fluid leakage and no dripping, nor weeping, onto the passenger side exhaust..... did not smell anything and did no see any smoke.
Came home and put it in the garage to let the exhaust cool off a little.
About 20-30 minutes later I went back out and Quickjacked up to take a peek. Sure enough. There was a spot on the floor and a noticable leak at the gear selector prenetration.
So- that's good to find (just glad it wasn't from the input shaft area)...... ordered a seal and tool kit for removal and installation.
It appears to only leak when hot. After I had wiped it last time I never saw another drop on the floor.
No matter anyway. New seal on the way. I'm just glad that everywhere else is nice and dry.

 

I got the seal replaced today. I could have been done in minutes but the inside diameter was too small on both the Removal Tool AND the Installation Tool. I had to slow grind and file away at the inside diameter to get them to fit over the gear selector shaft. Took me a while because I wanted to stay snug up against the shaft.
Easy once I got the tools fixed. Not much room to install the new seal but it seems like I got it in there well. I cleaned to cavity and gently scraped away what appeared to be paint. I then installed the new seal with some vaseline (saw that on one of the youtube video pointers)..
Comparo pics below --- It seems like I got it in there adequately. I'll test tomorrow.

 

Did about 15 miles of test driving today. It seems like have stopped the tranny leaks after (1) sealing the pan on with THE RIGHT STUFF, (2) tightening that loose plug on the after passenger side, and (3) replacing the Gear Selector Shaft Seal.

I threw a clean piece of cardboard under the tranny area. Will check again later.

 

fingers crossed
good work