Three Speed Transmission Leaks

[grey beard]

I am about to tackle a filthy, oily 3-speed transmission in my B1B. Judging from the condition of the engine I just overhauled, most or all this oil could have come from up font, instead of inside the transmission. Here's my question for the masters, at whose feet I attentively sit:

It seems that most MoPar cars of our vintage used a gasket between the trans front case and the bell housing, the purpose of which was simply to close up a case hole down near the counter shaft. This was mentioned on the car side in previous threads.

You Pilothouse gents who have had your gear boxes out, have you found such a gasket in your trucks, as well? Should I be looking for one when I pull my box? Should I put one in on reassembly? Here's one of those knowledge areas where I guess you just have to have been there . . . . . . Any advice is appreciated.

Didn't know until I began digging through the parts book that there are TWO four-speed boxes for our trucks - a spur gear (crash box that would always need double-clutching) and a helical gear box - much nicer to drive.

[greg g]

Here is what you have to seal. wonder if there might be some plastic plugs of some type at the hardware store that might also do the job??? Aren't those the rails the gear selector forks rid on? Do they move back and forth in the hole?

[grey beard]

Greg,

What sealed these shaft end holes on new vehicles? They didn't ALL leak, did they? Can't help but wodner why they leak now when they didn't leak back then . . .

[Merle Coggins]

I don't remember any gasket on mine when I removed it. And nothing went in there when I installed it. However, my floor shift 4 speed didn't have any of those shafts in the trans housing. And from what I can see of the column shift 3 speed in my parts truck, all the linkage appears to be in the top cover too.

Merle

[MBF]

Maybe they're leaking now due to the bores or shafts becoming slightly egg shaped. I think your going to have to determine how close the shafts come in their forward most position before you come up with a sealing method (possibly a thin o-ring, or partial gasket wedge between the face of the trans and the bell housing if this area on the trans is in fact blocked off by the bell housing). Just my 2 cents. MBF

[greg g]

That gasket that you showed the measurements for (I was the source for that messy drawing) goes between the trans and the bell on cars and keep the goo where it belongs.