The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Mud in Trans

Got the engine running fairly well and went to take it for a cruise it's first since 1968 and couldn't get it in gear, clutch was fine and everything worked as should except trans. Pulled the top cover on the trans. Mud with water in the bottom of trans, so i put gear oil on everything and let sit for awhile started engine and worked the trans till it finally started to work. I guess my question on these closed tube drive shafts is does all the trans oil also lube the rear ? Don't really want to pull the whole thing apart. Any suggestions, oh bye the way it is a 38 chevy truck 1/2 ton .
Jack

No theres a seal on the top of the drive shaft that keeps the trans lube in the joint and the trans ,the rear is seperated by that seal and is filled on it's own . As for that mud and water in Your trans ,the mud is the old gear lube mixed with water I just got a four speed trans that was left outside for who knows how long and it to was filled with water and (mud) I filled it with a water based parts cleaner that I use and cleaned it up than filled it with some 30 wt. oil to store the trans . I think the trans fills up thru the top shifting seal when it's lift outside it's the only way it would get in . I would get some parts cleaner in the trans than run it for a few miles drain than fill with some lite oil and do the same a few times than fill with gear lube just check to make sure the seal in the top of the drive shaft is not not leaking all Your gear lube into Your rear end check the trans level it should stay the same.

Pete

Thanks Pete52,All I could think about was how in the heck did mud get in the trans, now that you told me it makes a little more sence.
Jack