59 CJ Tranny Leaks

I have a leak in the front of the transmission (T90?) of my 59 CJ5. (engine/trans/TC are all stock) Last summer I had the engine rebuilt and while I had it all out, I replaced the gasket and seal on the transmission. This did not stop the leak. I could decide to just live with it, but I am concerned about gear lube getting on the clutch. Is there a trick to this? I'm willing to remove it all again, but I'd hate to do so and still have it leak.

Since I don't have a transmission jack, I usually split the tranny & TC to remove and install. As I recall, if you're not careful, you can pull the transmission input/output shaft out of its mounts which means you get to deal with bearings and retainers... ugly stuff. When I'm smart enough to remember this BEFORE I split them, I try and wire the shaft in place from the top. Is there a better method to accomplish this?

Just thinking about it all makes me want to leave it alone, but I'd really like to get that leak fixed. Also any advise on dealing with the throw out bearing and fork while installing the tranny? This should all be an easy job, but it never seems to be.

Thanks.

 

I'd just leave them together. They don't weigh much even as a pair (at least not compared to the TC and tranny out of a full size truck). You can usually balance these things on a plain floor jack while you get the input shaft out of the clutch disk as well. Then there's always the old "pull it as hard as you can and let it hit the ground" technique. I did this with the SM465 in my truck before I got a tranny jack (that thing weighs more than the tranny and t-case from a jeep combined!). Didn't hurt anything, but it left a big dent in yard...not the recomended technique, but it does work in a pinch. If you plan on doing any of this sort of thing in the future, a tranny adapter for a regular floor jack can be found for around $40. I used a real tranny jack to put the SM465/NP205 back in my truck, and it was awesome. I actually got them both back in all by myself. That's the first time I've ever done a tranny install where it wasn't me and a buddy bench pressing the thing while I turn the output shaft trying to line up the clutch splines...praying I can get them lined up before we poop out and have to drop the thing!!

 

Someone told me once that a leaking rear main seal in the engine would leak oil into the bellhousing and then drip out at the bottom of the bellhousing making it look like a transmission leak. Just a thought.

 

The rear main on my 304 is leaking but it drips....who am I kidding. It pours out from below the flywheel.

 

That is exactly what mine was doing. A much easier task to do first.

 

Its not engine oil, it has that lovely odor of gear lube. I'd be more depressed if it was oil. $1300 for a rebuilt engine and the damn thing better not leak! Plus replacing a rear main seal is soooo much fun.

Maybe I need to breakdown and buy a tranny adapter, but I'd have to buy the floor jack too. I have muscled the thing in as a unit, but it was more work than splitting them apart.

 

I'm blessed with both leaks. The puddle under mine after driving is a mixture of the 2. Another reason for me to put it off.

Before someone here suggested using a hoist through the access in the floor to support and lower the trans/TC to the floor instead of a jack.

good luck