So, last we talked, I had a gas tank leak at the sending unit, and I had a couple little things to ask about.

I hadn't given her any road time other than a couple minutes around the neighborhood loop.

Today, I decided I'd get some gas in her, and take her for a 20 mile or so joyride and see what happens.

I dropped in some gas, dropped the kids at a nieghbors Halloween party, and drove off.

Everything was great, I did lose a hubcap 10 minutes into my cruise.

I heard it drop off, and within 15 minutes I found it, put it on the car, and rolled on.

I was sticking to the backroads, my turn signals have quit working, so I was rolling around 45 mph, and giving hand signals. Just enjoying the car.

I stopped to pee, caught a call on my cell, ended up sitting for a few, figured the car could cool down some, not that it needed it, but we took a break regardless.

Ended my call, jumped in, fired her up and we didn't make it far.

I drove about 100 yards, and she felt like she was slipping. I came to a stop, thinking maybe it's the brakes, they have been sticking, mayeb they got hot and I'm binding up on more than one wheel.

So I drop her in reverse, and she doesn't want to go, lots of throttle, but little motion. SO I try drive again, and same thing, very little forward motion.

At this point, I'm starting to think about the tranny, I look up the road where I had just been sitting, and there was a dinner plate sized puddle.

I'm sitting in the middle of the road, so I decide to pull over to the side and check some fluid levels.

When I tried to move, she would literally only move a inch or so under heavy throttle.

I then got a bunch of smoke from under the car up through the engine bay.

Car was off at his point, so I let it sit for 15 minutes or so. When it had cooled some, I was able to run it about 20 or 30 feet to the edge of the road in reverse under medium throttle.

I called for a ride, and locked her up for the night, hoping dearly that it's not damaged bad, and that no one would mess with my old girl.

The fluid levels were good at idle before I cruised, so I'm wondering what happened?

When I go get her tomorrow, and get her home, what should I check? My buddy who picked me is almost positive it's a "transmission line" that was old and busted, leaving me with no pressure, and fluid shooting onto the exhaust causing the smoke.

Forgive my newbie ignorance, but I thought the only lines were the cooler lines on the automatics?

When I put my hand in the puddle in the road, and smelled, it smelled of new tranny fluid. Didn't even smell burnt?

As always, you guys know this car wouldn't run without you.

What is my next step?

Thanks
Blair

Fill it back up, it will probably move again, trannies are tougher than you'd think

When you do fill it, fire it up and look where the leak is coming from. if its a line, fix it

If its coming from the front of the transmission/back of the motor which I'd guess it probably is, its a bad front pump seal (some call it the torque converter seal too). If it is, you'll need to drop the tranny, pull the converter and replace the seal

Not a bad job really, and cheap, but a pain outside in the dirt. I usually do them when I pull the motor, even if they arent leaking.

Regardless, I'd have to bet that it'll be just fine after you find and fix the leak

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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 Ranger XLT shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60 rear, 4.56's, 4 speed

thanks for the tips Ross.

It's outside on the dolly hooked to the truck.

Probably look at it here in a day or so, kinda windy and chilly today.

Thanks
Blair

The transmission line your buddy ws talking about IS the tranny cooler line

Either it's got a hole or a rubber patch split, or, as Ross said, it's a possibility that your front pump seal is bad...

Didn't I tell you to replace that while the engine was out way back when?

Gary

To be truthful Gary, probably, I honestly don't remember.

If I got time after football tonight, I'll hobble under it and have a look.

Thanks
Blair

I've had a few tranny cooling lines blow in my days and it never seemed to hurt the trans..The car would just drive till it stopped and I would repair the line and be on my way after refilling it with trans fluid....BUT there was one time when I tried and tried to get the car to move by revving the crap out of it in forward and reverse..It did move some but I fried something and the tranny was done...Hopefully you didn't do that to yours.

Alright so I got under her today.

I wiped down anything I could see, nothing came out the front/bellhousing area. Wherever the fluid came from, it hit the exhaust on the right side near the tranny about even with the pan.

I put in a couple quarts, but it was so dark I quit.

When I goof with this tomorrow afternoon, I figure best thing is to start her up, and have someone throw her in reverse or drive and I'll see what I can find leak wise.

Anything wrong with my approach? If the tranny ain't fried already, I certainly don't want to.

Is it OK for the car to idle a bit and warm up some to make things easier? Can this harm the tranny if it's in park?

I felt the lines, they seem intact, the pan gasket seems awlfully old and mushy from looking at it. Don't know if that matters or not.

Thanks
Blair

Fill it with a guesstimate of fluid, fire it up, if you need to let it warm up it'll be fine, it'll just make a little more mess

Sounds like you have a bad line, or a split flare, or something like that.

I would guess the tranny is OK if it was OK before the event

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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 Ranger XLT shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60 rear, 4.56's, 4 speed

Thanks Ross.

I'll get into her tomorrow.

Yea, after I wrote out that last bit, I'm thinking that a line could be slipt and I may not be able to feel it.

Got some grundge under there.

Later,
Blair

I backed her off the trailer and onto flat ground.

Warmed her up, had my wife run the gears while I laid under the car and watched.

Can't see no spurts, nothing shooting out.

What I did find, was fresh drips at the tail, where the driveshaft slids in.

She would run it in park, then in drive for a minute, then in reverse for a minute, back and forth so on while sitting still.

Only thing I saw was the drip mentioned above, and what looks like wet slinging on both sides of the underside, guess where it drips onto the driveshaft, it hits the exhaust there too.

She backed it down the drive, then pulled it up again. We did this several times, trans shifted fine, all I could see was the drip when I laid next to the car with a flashlight as she idled it, in or of gear.

So, I'm thinking, as everything gets nice warm, thinks loosen up, and it loses fluid out the rear.

What do you guys think?

Can this be repaired without pulling the tranny?

Thanks
Blair

Rear seal should be easily replaced by pulling the driveshaft

Its very similar to the converter seal, a timing cover seal, etc.



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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 Ranger XLT shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60 rear, 4.56's, 4 speed

I totally agree, pull the rear seal and replace it, but set the parking brake first
You should be fine after that!

Thanks gents. You have put me at ease.

I'll report back very soon as to how things go.

I think I may punish myself and give that pan a fresh gasket too. It's awfully crumbly.

Thanks
BLair