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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 30 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 30 | Hi all,
I have a 1955 2nd series 6400. It has the two speed rear axle. I am trying to clean and prep for painting. I would like to drain the oil out, clean the sludge and refill the oil, however, I am a bit confused on how to go about it. I do not find a typical drain hole on it. I have read some posts to remove the bottom bolt from the cover plate and drain through that. But then how do I refill and to what level? Any tips and pictures would be a great help. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,061 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,061 | pull the rear cover to drain. There should be a fill plug on the rear cover, right about in the middle, a bit to the driver side. Fill to the bottom of that plug. Online manual says it holds 16 pints. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955truck2/55ctsm0457.htm | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | If there is sludge in it, fill with diesel and drive gently, then drain and refill.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 331 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 331 | You can drain 95% of it by removing the lowest bolt on the rear cover. If no oil comes out at first, take a small screwdriver or scribe and poke in the hole. It may be blocked by sludge.
1950 4100 - unrestored and driven weekly for almost no reason at all.
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 | if any water comes out pull the cover so you can get it all out. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 | Check to see if there is a small pipe plug on the top of the pinion casting. If so,remove it when you refill. It will vent the pinion bearing area and allow the oil to fill faster. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Jack up a wheel, and add a quart of Diesel fuel, then run the truck in high gear at idle for a few minutes. The gears will circulate the solvent and do a better job of cleaning than you can possibly do by removing the cover. Drain, let it sit overnight, and refill with fresh lube.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 30 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 30 | Thank you all for your help. | | |
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