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Got the stock 3-speed transmission and torque tube hooked up on my '50 3100. On the tranny there are 2 plugs for tranny oil fill. One horizonal plug on the passenger side down low and one on the top rear. Can I fill the tranny from the top plug and how much fluid does this thing hold? I know that the fluid also lubricates the torque tube bushing & u joint. The shop manual indicates 1.5 pints. Thanks.

Youll want to fill from the top plug till it dribbles out. There should also be a plug above the ujoint itself that youll want to squirt some in to, but I dont think youll fill that one up all the way.

I used the top plug at the rear of the transmission. I put 2 quarts of 80/90 in and it's still not full. This seems like a bit much. Checked the rear end fluid to see if fluid is running down the torque tube. Rear end fluid level is normal.

Lots of folks have used grease (via a grease gun and the grease plug usually seen) in the u-joint rather than depend solely on tranmission fluid to lubricate it. I did this on my longbed and haven't had any problems so far. Others will weigh in on this as well I'm sure.

Am I crazy but isn't the plug located somewhere on the side there to check the level of the fluid?
I got my start messing with vehicles working for Shorty Stevens at his Esso station back in the mid 50s as a Jr. High punk. Most cars and trucks were std tranny and that plug is what we used to check the level and add fluid; same thing with the rearend. Now I'm to lazy to drive a stick shift and have “chickened” out to automatics.

I dont know that Id put grease in there. Im thinking mine held close to 2 quarts. I filled up the front on mine and then squirted some in the back, I think the rear hole filled up some from it running through the bushing that sits on the ujoint. Do you see a plug about 10" in front of the ujoint plug on top of the tranny? There should be one there that fills the main body of the transmission. Anyways, good luck.

Jeff

The top plug at the rear, which is smaller than the plug on the RH side, is for lubricating the u-joint before you run the engine the first time. I can't recall how much goes in there but ONE CUP rings a bell. The regular fill is on the side.
The transmission fluid normally lubricates the u-joint in use but until it gets a chance to get back to the u-joint it must be pre-lubed via that small hole. You would only do that after a rebuild or fluid drain.
All of the above is well described in the shop manual.