Tranny leak at bellhousing?

[WingZr0]

I'm leaking some kind of redish fish smelling fluid from where the engine block mates to the bellhousing. Is this the fluid for the fly wheel and clutch disc and why would it leak now? It's a newly rebuilt 1977 280z L28 with 4 speed.

[Arne]

Transmission fluid leaking past the input shaft seal. The seal may have been improperly seated during the rebuild, but in my experience it is far more likely that the transmission was over-filled. Unlike most domestic transmissions, the Datsun transmissions are not supposed to be filled until the fluid starts dripping from the filler plug hole, but instead should have the proper measured amount of lube added. Don't ask me how I learned this... :stupid:

[=Enigma=]

Neither a flywheel or clutch disc use any kind of fluid or oil. Normally leaking red fluid (ATF) comes from an auto transmission, but it's possible that gear oil in a manual tranny could be red in color. In any case, the fluid is likely coming from the front seal on the tranny.

Edited January 3, 2010 by =Enigma=
Arne beat me to it.

[Arne]

...but it's possible that gear oil in a manual tranny could be red in color.

Redline MT-90 is reddish in color.

[WingZr0]

Yep that sounds likely. She's been sitting in the same spot for 6 or 8 weeks and the spots been getting bigger. along the center from the trans drain forward is gold color fluid thats not dripping so most likely i guess its just excess grease. But the red stuff is as you describe. SO are you saying Arne it's just letting go of extra fluid or do i need to get the seal replaced?

Edited January 4, 2010 by WingZr0

[WingZr0]

BTW it still rows through the gears just fine so far.

Edited January 3, 2010 by WingZr0

[WingZr0]

Found a diagram of the input shaft in the Vic Brit cataloge, now i know exactly what ya'll mean. Thanx guys ~Z~

[ajmcforester]

You might need to replace that seal, that's something you need to determine we can't see how bad it is or know your driving style. You should check the level in the trans. and gauge how much is lost. Also, be careful if you are lousing a lot you don't want it getting the the clutch surfaces, it can create slip and burn up the clutch.

[WingZr0]

Well my driving is not overly aggressive, at least not in this case since I was still breaking the engine in. Keep in mind the clutch is also new with the same amount of miles as the engine at 1274 miles. Since it needed brakes now i was doing more stopping by down shifting for less than a week and I could smell clutch for the first time. Figured this cause the clutch was still new and was still breaking in, so thats when the car was parked 2 months ago. Since then thats how Noticed a leaky clutch slave and then after sitting in the same spot for a month thats when the red stuff started dripping. I have been going out and sitting in the car at nights to clear my head sometimes and be rowing through the gears. Most likely thats what threw the seal out so hopefully theres nothing on the clutch disk. Fix one thing, two more breaks.

Edited January 4, 2010 by WingZr0

[Black Pearl]

Good timing on this post.

I was showing my teenage daughters how to drive a stick yesterday on my '78 5-speed, and my oldest must not have understood the instructions as she went from 1st to 4th without pushing in the clutch or lettling off the throttle. It was only at about 2000rpm, but it sounded like the transmission dropped from under the car. I get out, and 90w is draining out the bell housing. Sounds like parts are bouncing around in the trans like popcorn.

I limped the car home, but the tranny sounds like a mess and almost all the fluid drained out through the bell housing. I am sure the clutch got covered in oil.

I started to pull the transmission this morning, but the manual says to pull the exhaust, and the manifold nuts are really stuck, so I am letting them soak in penetrating oil for a few days. I did pull the drain plug and it was covered in shrapnel.

My questions are:

1) What could have happened that would have popped the seal (it did not leak at all before) and does that mean the housing is toast?

2) It was making a little noise in 1st-3rd, but was quiet in 4th and 5th, was this just a disaster waiting to happen? It just did not seem like that extreme of abuse to bust up a transmission.

3) I assume if oil got on the clutch that it will have to be replaced?

4) Any recommendations on a good transmission rebuild shop in Dallas, or companies that sell rebuilt units? I will pull it myself.

5) Any specific things I should think about replacing, besides throw-out bearing, pilot bearing, and maybe the clutch?

Thanks.

[WingZr0]

DAMMMN ! Was teaching my 17 year cusin the same thing not long befor the law up. She did good though so I tell her she'll make an excellent drag racer, keeping the revs high between shifts made me proud and she peeled out a few times . But she still had the usual stalling in 1st though . Sorry to hear about the tranny. Sounds like you had a Domino Grenade, one thing broke which lead to anothere one shattering so on and so forth. IMO anything could've popped the seal, it's my understanding it don't take much to destroy a tran or clutch like that. The things you say may need replacing are correct if for no other reason than preventive maintenance. But the clutch may just need to be taking out and cleaned off is what i'm guessing. Othere members will know more of course than me from experience and will hopefully chime in.

Edited January 4, 2010 by WingZr0

[ajmcforester]

Good timing on this post.

I was showing my teenage daughters how to drive a stick yesterday on my '78 5-speed, and my oldest must not have understood the instructions as she went from 1st to 4th without pushing in the clutch or lettling off the throttle. It was only at about 2000rpm, but it sounded like the transmission dropped from under the car. I get out, and 90w is draining out the bell housing. Sounds like parts are bouncing around in the trans like popcorn.

I limped the car home, but the tranny sounds like a mess and almost all the fluid drained out through the bell housing. I am sure the clutch got covered in oil.

I started to pull the transmission this morning, but the manual says to pull the exhaust, and the manifold nuts are really stuck, so I am letting them soak in penetrating oil for a few days. I did pull the drain plug and it was covered in shrapnel.

My questions are:

1) What could have happened that would have popped the seal (it did not leak at all before) and does that mean the housing is toast?

2) It was making a little noise in 1st-3rd, but was quiet in 4th and 5th, was this just a disaster waiting to happen? It just did not seem like that extreme of abuse to bust up a transmission.

3) I assume if oil got on the clutch that it will have to be replaced?

4) Any recommendations on a good transmission rebuild shop in Dallas, or companies that sell rebuilt units? I will pull it myself.

5) Any specific things I should think about replacing, besides throw-out bearing, pilot bearing, and maybe the clutch?

Thanks.

If the oil didn't sink into the friction plates clean it off, if in the plates you need to replace them. She might have thrown the syncrow (sp?) The bad noise might be metal or damage in the gears. She also could have bent a transmission shaft. I'd brake things in my first cars transmission all the time until I took the sycrows out, but then you had to double clutch every shift (400hp racing on a 84 200sx trans needed some serious upgrades). You might want to look for another transmission this one might cost more to repair than to replace