Hey all, I just bought a 55 apache and there are a few things I need some help with. For starters the previous owner sprayed rhino lining in the bed (and did a bad job of it at that). I was wondering if anyone had a good method of removal. I want to go back to the sweet wood beds that make the trucks look amazing. Since this problem is merely cosmetic it can wait, however I do have a more pressing issue. The truck had a small transmission leak as a few days ago but now has turned into a huge leak. I'm hoping that just some of the front gaskets and seals need changed. Does anyone know a good place to but transmission parts because napa wasn't any help? And two is this a project that a newbie can take on? I want to try because how else will I learn. Thanks. Dave
Which transmission? 3 speed standard is fairly light and can be removed from below lying on your back. 4 speed standard is much heavier and requires a young jock friend or a tranny jack. Don't even think about a Hydra-Matic.
transmission leak The 350 turbo is not the original transmission, I installed one in my 58. Great tranny, the rear seal is not hard to replace. You didn't mention where the leak is coming from. If it is from the front and you are not mechanically inclined, it would be best to take it to a tranny repair shop. Not knowing what you are doing can cost you big time with an automatic tranny, real easy to ruin the torque convertor and the front pump. There is a seal in the front of the tranny that is usually where front leaks are from, the seal is cheap but the labor is not. Around here most any autoparts can supply you with the seal, you just have to remember not to tell them it is in an older truck. Not sure if all 350 turbos used the same seals. Do you know what year your tranny is? If you do, use that year to buy parts. Good luck Gerald in Florida '58 short wheelbase, stepside 350 engine, 350 turbo keep on truckin
Well I replaced the tranny pan gasket and sealed it up. Also one of the bolts wasn't correctly put in so hopefully that's all it was but I have my doubts. 24 hours tho and no leak.
TH350 Weeps , Seeps & leaks You're doing better than I am , my TH350 drips from the right front corner , when I flushed and serviced the tranny I took special care to clean the pan and the case 1,000 % Hospital Clean , new filter and gasket but it still drips every where I go and needs about a cup of Dexron every 800 miles . This tranny shifts *perfectly* and will be available cheap or free as soon as I get my new lockup T.C. TH350C installed .
Sounds like your front gaskets are bad. You probably have to change your front seals which means getting into the transmission.
Tranny Weeps & Seeps I don't know : I hand scrubbed it Hospital Clean before yanking the pan off for service and only saw wetness at the pan to case joint ..... Maybe I'll clean it up and puff some baby powder on it before starting it again , that oughta show me the leak point . Maybe it's the dipstick tube's O-Ring ? . This trany works really well , shifts firmly , not GM sloppy so someone wil be well pleased with it .
leaky 350 turbo My 350 turbo has a finned after market cast aluminum pan on it with a built in drain plug, it is heavier than the original and it doesn't leak. You must be careful and not over tighten those small bolts, that could cause a leak. The dip stick tube used to leak until I installed one made by Locar. It is flexible and has 2 o-rings to help seal it and there is a machined shoulder to put some silicon sealer on to further seal it, this cured my leak. Locar makes 2 different lenghts of these, our trucks use the longer one. Hope this helps. Gerald keep on truckin
Thanx ! I'll keep an eye out as I peruse the scrapyards , they sold millions and millions of TH350's so sooner or later I'll find an aftermarket pan . I know about over torquing the pan bolts , I even know how to dress the holes with a ballpein hammer when they're bent . I hope to have this old tranny out in a monthor so , we'll see .
