Chevy 350/350 Combo Annoying Tranny Drip

[Red 32]

Hey All...
My 350 tranny has a small drip that I simply can't figure out!
Pan bolts tight, fluid lines replaced with new clamps but still a very small annoying spot on the shop floor? 3600 hundred miles on the build and fluid is good etc...
Only crappy idea I've had is some stop leak or the like.
Any ideas??
Red 32

[jerry clayton]

before you can fix a leak, you have to identify where its leaking from----------and verrrrrrify that its tranny fluid and not motor oil

[rspears]

Look immediately above the "spot" on the garage floor and see where it's coming from. Then clean everything in that area with carb cleaner, or something like that which will wash away oily residue and dry clean (wear safety glasses!! That stuff BURNS eyes!!). Start the car, bring it up to operating temp, all the while watching for a drip. After it's up to temp, shut it down and again watch for a tell tale drip path. May take a while, but once you find the source of the leak the repair options can be assessed.

[HOSS429]

if you think it is in the area of the cooler lines where they enter the trans it may also be the downshift cable .. it is in that area also .. i cant remember if the dipstick is also in that same area ...

[35WINDOW]

And don't forget the Vent..................

[Red 32]

Well...
#1 for sure red tranny fluid. 2nd pulled the Locar dip stick and replaced the o rings since I thought that might be the culprit.
is it possible that the tranny pan is over tightened? Seems like ( after testing perrspers way ) that this is coming from the corner of the tranny pan and 2 of the bolts there???
Thanks all for any additional thoughts!
Red 32

[cffisher]

Chrome dip sticks almost always leak

[rspears]

Well...
#1 for sure red tranny fluid. 2nd pulled the Locar dip stick and replaced the o rings since I thought that might be the culprit.
is it possible that the tranny pan is over tightened? Seems like ( after testing perrspers way ) that this is coming from the corner of the tranny pan and 2 of the bolts there???
Thanks all for any additional thoughts!
Red 32

Absolutely the tranny pan can be over tightened. If you over torque it puts un-even pressure on the gasket surface, squishing it out in the area of the bolts. This is a place where some type of gasket sealer can be your friend, but then you want not more than 25 ft lbs (300 in lbs) on the bolts. That's just a good, snug pull on the ratchet. If you see the gasket squishing you're likely over tightening.

I think it was DaveW (IC2) who had such a time trying to get rid of a seeping dip stick leak. Don't recall what he finally did, but seems to me it involved buying a different dip stick.....

[34_40]

I think IC2 (Dave W.) got rid of his drip by getting rid of the chrome pan! Went to an aluminum pan and new gasket.

[firebird77clone]

Speedo output should be suspect as well.

[cffisher]

If its on the dip stick side Its probably the pan? or dipstick..You can put your dip stick tube on a wire wheel and remove the chrome then replace the o rings that may help. The coolant tubes are on that side too. Other side Shifter seal and speedo drive fairly simple trans

[johnboy]

Speedo output should be suspect as well.

That's what it was in our case.
But with the car being low and me being pear-shaped it took a bit of finding.

[TooMany2count]

also check the O-ring &/or seal for the shifter arm going into the trans....joe

[Red 32]

All...
Seems that after a new gasket ( and Torque Wrench Purchase ) and checking all the above mentioned ideas it appears that one or 2 of the aluminum pan bolts ( as you look at front of the car front left corner ) seem to be where the annoying drip is coming from. Pan torqued to 13 ft lbs and am going to try some Permatex ( Red Removable ) on those 2 bolts.
Thx for all the comments and fell free to add since this is causing me to want to get the .44 out of the gun safe and fix the tranny that way!
Red

[rspears]

Red,
When you put that new gasket on did you clean both surfaces surgically clean? Nothing at all wrong with some Permatex (or silicone gasket sealer) on the bolt threads, just in case a hole or two is drilled through as opposed to being blind.

If that doesn't stop it you might try using "The Right Stuff" (a Permatex product - Gasket Makers : Permatex® the Right Stuff® Gasket Maker ) instead of a gasket. The only thing with it is that you need to have the pan in place within five minutes for it to work to optimum, but that shouldn't be a problem. Again, clean, clean, clean before trying to seal.