transmission oil

radman · 10-04-04, 09:54 AM

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't have an owners manual and just got a 1978 corvette. Need to change the transmission oil/filter. How many quarts of ATF and what kind in a turbo 350 transmission. (Was a ford guy until now.)

tom102 · 10-04-04, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radman

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't have an owners manual and just got a 1978 corvette. Need to change the transmission oil/filter. How many quarts of ATF and what kind in a turbo 350 transmission. (Was a ford guy until now.)

The manual calls for 2.5 qts of Dexron 2 transmission fluid after draining the transmission sump. I thinkk dexron 2 has been repalced by dexron 3 but not sure of that. Auto supply store can answer that question.

mkapp7879 · 10-04-04, 06:27 PM

Just changed the trans fluid on my 78SA last Saturday. Took 4 and about 1/3 quarts to bring it back to the dipstick mark. Used Penzoil Dextron III. Hope you don't have to do it on your back! That stinks!
Mike

Stallion · 10-04-04, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkapp7879

Just changed the trans fluid on my 78SA last Saturday. Took 4 and about 1/3 quarts to bring it back to the dipstick mark. Used Penzoil Dextron III. Hope you don't have to do it on your back! That stinks!
Mike

How did you do it, Mike?

mkapp7879 · 10-04-04, 09:29 PM

Sorry to confuse. I've done plenty of them lying under the car with fluid dripping all over. I have a hoist now. Can't beat it! Not a drop on the floor.
Mike

wishuwerehere82 · 10-04-04, 11:35 PM

I still haven't dropped the tranny pan without getting a Dextron shampoo. Makes you feel real grungy with all that stuff in your hair. A lift sounds like a wonderful thing.

Stallion · 10-05-04, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkapp7879

Sorry to confuse. I've done plenty of them lying under the car with fluid dripping all over. I have a hoist now. Can't beat it! Not a drop on the floor.
Mike

I'm jealous

Barry08 · 10-08-04, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radman

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't have an owners manual and just got a 1978 corvette. Need to change the transmission oil/filter. How many quarts of ATF and what kind in a turbo 350 transmission. (Was a ford guy until now.)

You can always puncture a hole in the bottom of pan..... drain it then braze the hole back up when done!

Stallion · 10-08-04, 10:55 PM

That sounds messy.

brusso · 10-09-04, 12:44 AM

It's hard not to get the splash. This is how I've done it, with minimal splash. Starting at the rear of the pan. remove the pan bolts along the trailing edge of pan. Then loosen the side bolts gradually. Without getting to wordy, what you're looking to do is cause the pan to "hinge" on the front bolts. The trick to minimal splash is to get the gasket to separate, at the rear, with minimum pan travel. Also use a tranny oil drain pan or drain catch for a smaller pan. The drain catch looks something like a plastic trash can lid, with holes in the center, that goes on top of your regular drain pan.

Oh, and just buy a six pack of tranny fluid. You'll use close to that amount. when filling, only put in two quarts before you start her up. Or as much as it would take to show on the dip stick. Then while engine is running, continue to add until full. Don't poor it in like you would fill the engine. You want to poor in slowly to avoid any burps. Once you get it full, hold the brake and run the shifter through the gears several times, making sure that tranny engages. After you top it off, take it for a blast and check fluid again. After going through all of this, the car should be hot and fluid should be at the full hot mark. Don't overfill cause, as you'll find out, it's a B**** to drain.

So much for not being wordy.

steves1980 · 10-09-04, 11:27 AM

http://www.helminc.com/helm/homepage.asp
get all your manuals, here

mkapp7879 · 10-09-04, 11:01 PM

Well, changed the fluid in the 78SA last week, did the Pace Car today. Even with the hoist, it is still a messy job. The mess is just a little more controllable up in the air. Brusso mentioned a plastic garbage can lid type of drain pan. I actually use a garbage can lid. I line it with a plastic garbage bag and put my normal size drain pan inside. Pan catches most of the spill and the lid catches the rest. Carefully pour the overflow in the bag into the pan and toss the bag. Minimal cleanup. Still nothing on the floor!
Mike