Need Help Unusual Tranny Problem!!

[SHOracer14]

OK... so about a week ago I noticed a sizeable fluid leak from the middle of the car somewhere. It was dirty and dark so I couldn't tell what it was. I checked the oil and level was fine and then I figured it could be power steering and left it alone for the time being. Today I decided to check what was leaking and from where. I got under the car and most of the wet area was around the rear of the motor saying to me possible rear main seal. I start looking at the wetness and decide that it has a slight redish color. I pull the tranny plug and feel inside and I HAVE NO TRANNY FLUID INSIDE!! I said to myself, "Holy **** did I blow a diff and not know it?" I'm pretty certain that the differential is still intact as I haven't had any driveablility issues and no weird noises of any kind. Well I just decided to go ahead and throw some fluid in and see what happens. It takes all three quarts and so I get under the car to put the plug back in to find fresh fluid dripping out from the back side of the bellhousing. As I investigated as to where it may be coming from I notice that it's not coming from a seal and running down it looks to just be seeping out the side of the tranny case. I wipe off whats there and imediately fluid re-appears from the same spot. It's right on a line that is cast in the tranny right to the left hand side of where the passenger side halfshaft plugs into the tranny. I'm guess that there must be a hairline crack there or something and the fluid is just seeping out there. What should I use to fix this?? I really don't want to have to do ANOTHER tranny swap and the clutch that's in there seems fairly new (I just got the car so I don't know). I figured I might just try some JB Weld and patch up the area. What do you guys think? Has anyone ever heard of the case cracking without a differential failure?? It's definately not from a road hazard as high as it is unless a massive rock got launched in just the right spot. I have no clue what to do!

 

[Cobraii976]

Ahhh so that ball pein hammer worked. Anyway I'll see you the 19 the race is on. I'm winning one way or another! Might have slip back down to Toledo with a Chisel.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Chances are your diff pin is carving away the aluminum inside the tranny case and is just about all the way through. I'd recommend dropping the tranny now and open it up. If it's as I suspect you might be able to see if you can find a competent aluminum welder to repair the outside of the case, then just replace the diff and you should be be good to go.

 

[SHOracer14]

Chances are your diff pin is carving away the aluminum inside the tranny case and is just about all the way through. I'd recommend dropping the tranny now and open it up. If it's as I suspect you might be able to see if you can find a competent aluminum welder to repair the outside of the case, then just replace the diff and you should be be good to go.

What would cause the differential to do this?? Do you think that the slider pins are out and that the differential is just kind of rollerballing inside the case? I think I will also pull a halfshaft tomorrow and see if I can get a better ideaq of whats going on inside there.

 

[Cobraii976]

Jim, If it's the pins comming out of the case count me out for the 19th and well do a tranny swap instead. Unless you get lucky and it's axle seals.

 

[SHOracer14]

Jim, If it's the pins comming out of the case count me out for the 19th and well do a tranny swap instead. Unless you get lucky and it's axle seals.

Well Dave I appreciate the offer and if it comes to that I'm down. This crack I'm beginning to think is just a stress crack though (I can't even see a crack but it's definately where it's coming from). It's not near the differential... it's probably only and inch and a half or so to the left of where the passenger side halfshaft plugs into the tranny.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

It's not near the differential... it's probably only and inch and a half or so to the left of where the passenger side halfshaft plugs into the tranny.

Where do you think the diff is? The axles (well, technically, the driver's side axle, and the intermediate shaft on the pass. side) are inserted into the diff through the case halves.

Here are some (very stolen) pix that might help you understand:

The first is of the tranny internals looking from the rear (ok, drivers side):

The second is the same perspective of the bellhousing case half with the internals removed:

See where a wayward diff pin could be carving out the aluminum around the case where you're seeing your leak?

The last is of a complete tranny looking from the front (pass side) so you can compare where your leak is to where the diff is in the tranny:

 

[SHOracer14]

Mr. Anonymous... you are correct... I was looking at it further and it is about where the slider pins would be (I was thinking backwards for some reason). So, the halfshaft was pulled and the carnage was discovered. Both pins have ejected and must be rolling around in the case or are still just hanging in the diff and scoring the walls of the case. The only thing I can do is try to patch the leak and get as much fluid in as I can and drive it until this weekend when the tranny can be pulled. It's my only source of transport so I have to drive it and if it completely blows then well I'll have to deal with it. Thanks for the help guys. Dave... now we can do a tranny swap. I have an 89' tranny in the plus so I guess I'll have to pull that or find something else. So who else has thrown both pins? This is now my second grenaded tranny.

 

[Cobraii976]

Jim it's covered trans swap saturday. And hey it's only 2 so far and really it's only 1 per car. When you hit the double digits on a single car then we can start calling you greg

 

[SHOracer14]

Jim it's covered trans swap saturday. And hey it's only 2 so far and really it's only 1 per car. When you hit the double digits on a single car then we can start calling you greg

Yeah what's funny is that I called myself Greg today when I found that it was blown... I was like what am I turning into a Greg. I think it must just be a SHO initiation thing. When I bought the plus I had it for two months and it grenaded... I ow have owned the 93' for a tad over two months and it grenaded. I guess this must mean that the ext SHO I buy should have a quaife.

 

[Bizzy]

Jim, I can help you out with that. I think I have several good diffs here that I can reinforce for you until you can afford a quaife. If the case isn't too bad I can mend it for you. I have 5 reinforced diffs on the market right now and none have blown. Soon there will be more.

::Edit:: Just goes to show everyone that a diff that grenades doesn't always make a boom noise at first.

 

[SHOracer14]

Beth... I'm gonna put a tranny that Ryan has in his garage that came out of a 91'. I'm trading him for the 89' tranny out of the plus (because the car is still in one piece). I would however like to go over the blown tranny with you one day and see what kind of carnage is in there and then have you replace a diff. I hate to see that tranny go cause it shifted so so smooth. Even without tranny fluid it didn't grind or anything. I'll let you know as the swap is going down on Saturday at Ryan's place.

 

[AREA 91]

I pulled a tranny from a parts car that had a diff pin hanging out of the diff, but didn't put a hole in the case. it did leave a 1/2 in gouge inside though. Like Bizzy said, they all don't go SHOBOOM!