Hi everyone.

This is on a 1992 LT1 Convertible auto. It`s an export car from Kuwait if it makes any difference but I don`t think it does.

It was a project when I bought it a few months ago and now that the engine is up and running, I have found a large transmission leak almost as soon as the car is running.





As you can see on the pics - I`m 99% sure it is coming from the bolt mounting on the torque converter. I`ve done my best to check it is not from the seal as I had hoped - but basically I have started the car several times, cleaning the torque converter of all oil between.

Everytime I stop the engine and the converter stops with this bolt at the bottom there is no evidence of oil anywhere else on the converter except from the bolt mounting area.

If it stops in any other position the pattern is consistant with it dribbling down from the bolt. There is also oil sprayed in line with the bolt around the bellhousing.

OFC when I tried to get it to stop at the bottom for the pics I couldn`t time it right lol, so by the time I had turned it round to the bottom by hand for the pics oil had already started dribbling in other directions, otherwise there would just have been oil underneath that bolt.

So I am pretty sure it is where the bolt hole is mounted on the converter - it doesn`t appear to be coming out of the hole itself, just around the base of the mount on the converter - but I just wanted to double check that this is possible before I go ahead and replace it.

Also does this happen just due to age/miles? Presumably the mounts are welded on could it have been a bad weld or something ?

The car has done 125k btw.

I will try to find a good used replacement - are they the same for all years of lt1? Mine has the 3.07 gears not sure if that changes which converter it has?


Anyway if anyone can give me some opinions before I get another, that would be great.

Thanks for looking,

Dom.

 

Looks like a bad weld over time... I'm guessing you could remove it, drain it, and have it re-welded. That may hold..maybe not. I'd hate to go through all that work removing it, fixing it, putting it back in and it not holding.

I don't know if Advance would ship one to where you are, but their replacement tq. converter is $100 & change. I could be wrong, but I think very early 700r4's had 27 spline, and yours is 30 spline. I've read some guys putting in tq converters from Chevy S10 pickups since they have a similar stall rpm.

 

oil? or trans oil leak?

 

Wow thanks for all that info - I will check everything carefully b4 I order what I need.

That`s a great price - I will check if there`s any chance they can ship overseas.

I know rockauto do but haven`t looked in detail on what they`ve got. Obviously its a decent size heavy part so shipping is going to be quite a lot. There may be a chance I can get a used one across here if any cars are being broken ofc.

I did think about having it welded - but I can`t try the car on the road until it`s registered etc. so I`ve no way of knowing if the converter itself has any internal problem so probably just causing myself extra work.

Yes it`s defiinitely trans fluid - in rl it`s red but looks dark on the pics.

Thanks again guys,

Dom.

 

I had just made a quick search on Advance's web page to see what they had, and that one showed up. I just showed that for reference of what an inexpensive replacement one would run, and I did just notice it says "low stall". I'm not saying to get THAT one, or from where.... But if you do find a used one from a 700r4, you could input the year, make & model car it came from in Advance's website and do a search to see if it calls for the same tq converter as your 92 Vert.

 

Ah yeah good idea!

I looked on rockauto and their price isn`t too bad considering it includes the extra duties we have to pay here £85 GBP with no core charge - though the shipping is the price of the part again....Also their site states a stall of just under 1400 - so I will find out what the stock stall is for my year to make sure.

Thanks for the reply, I`ll post back when I get sorted

Dom.

 

Dom,
Sorry for yet another post, but this thread has some good info.

Good Luck,

Carl

 

Check the length of the torque converter bolts. I have heard that if you use bolts that are too long they can punch a hole in the torque converter. That seems consistent with the leak that you are seeing.

It sorta looks like the threaded boss weld is cracked. For sure that torque converter is not stock with that blue color.

 

Thanks Carl thats a big help, I`ve got an idea what to look for now.

I wondered if it was a non stock corveter or if sum1 had taken it off and painted it, so I will see what it turns out to be.

I will check the bolt lengths also - maybe it was overtightened too?

Cheers,

Dom.