The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop TH350 tranny question

Hi all, I think I screwed up big time with my 350 tranny. I bought this 38 Chevy project with a 327/350 combo. The transmission is rebuilt (?) and has never been run since rebuild. The previous owner told me he had put 3 qts. transmission fluid in and I read somewhere that it takes 11 qts. with the torque converter. Since the engine is not running yet I couldn't check the fluid level correctly. Anyway, smart old me thought I would go ahead and add more fluid so when the engine fired up there would be sufficient fluid in the transmission. After adding 3 more qts. I now have fluid running all over my garage floor. It seems to be coming from the area where the kickdown cable goes into the transmission. The dipstick is measuring way over full. What should I have done and more importantly what the heck do I do now? Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give as much info as I could. Thanks for any suggestions and not laughing at my screw up.

let her drain, the fluid is prolly coming out the vent.

you won't be able to fill the trans UNLESS the engine is running(the pump won't pump fluid in to the converter).
doesn't sound like a major prob yet, just a messy one

Go to Home Depot and get one of those heavy gage plastic "stucco" mixing pan to catch the fluid. Place it under the transmission and then loosen the pan bolts and let it drain. You'd have to guess-timate how much drained...at least 4 quarts. Retighten the transmission pan, fire the engine up, shift from "drive to neuteral to reverse several times to warm the tranny then check the dipstick. Add accordingly.
Good luck.

Thanks guys for the responses. It's a relief to know nothing was damaged (except my ego). I will drain out excess fluid then move on to the next screw up.

There should not be any fluid leaking out from where the cable goes in the housing. There should be a o ring there. Take the hold down bolt out and lift the cable up a bit and make sure it's there. Trans fluid make a real nice flames when the exhaust get up to temp.

I think the manuals recomend 7 quarts to start with , you should not have had any leaks. Check your gromet on the dipstick tube ,transmission lines as well as the kickdown cable. You may have to get under it and watch while someone pours in the fluid.