Help Trans Leak

[66four40]

Here are the details;

66 Belvedere I
late 70s 440
727 with shift kit

I have owned the ride for a year and a half. I replaced the trans pan a couple months ago, and the car has been sitting, waiting for better weather. Right after I replaced the trans pan and gasket I refilled it with new fluid, started it and ran it to make sure the level was correct and there were no leaks. All was good. Fast forward a couple months and I replaced the thermostat a couple days ago and was ready to get some insurance and hit the streets. No go!

After warming it up and checking the thermostat for leaks, I noticed trans fluid dripping pretty well from between the engine and trans, out the inspection cover. Am I looking at a front pump leak?

Keeping in mind that I am a novice at this stuff, am I best to tow/trailer this thing to my local trans shop, or can this repair be handled by me yanking out the trans and dropping it of at the trans shop? The car has exhaust manifolds and fairly new exhaust, how long would I expect to spend taking the trans out if that is the avenue suggested.

Thoughts and opinions welcomed.

Derek

 

[mentor70]

sounds like a front pump seal to me.

 

[66four40]

Update. Appears that the guy who put the new deep trans pan on, didn't account for the dipstick not being designed for the deep pan, and overfilled it. Drained out 2 qt of fluid and, voila, leak gone. By the way, I was the guy who put the new pan on.

 

[kjalltrac]

Happy to hear that your leak went away, but the depth of the oil pan doesn't effect the length of the dipstick.
Yes, you can run a lower fluid level if you have a deeper pan together with a filter extender, but I believe that´s not the idea with the deeper pan.

 

[66four40]

Happy to hear that your leak went away, but the depth of the oil pan doesn't effect the length of the dipstick.
Yes, you can run a lower fluid level if you have a deeper pan together with a filter extender, but I believe that´s not the idea with the deeper pan.

I guess that full on the original dipstick must be too much oil. It shifts fine and seems to work ok so I will put a centre punch mark on the dipstick where the fluid is now so I know for future fluid changes.

 

[kjalltrac]

The fluid level should be the same as with the stock oilpan.

 

[kjalltrac]

Make sure the dipstick tube o- ring doesnt leak