I'm going to change the filter and gasket on my TH 400 soon and would appreciate a tutorial on how to go about it. What is the best way to do it? Are there any particulars I need to be aware of? I have the chassis service manual for '68 and it mentions something about an O ring seal? Are those hard to come by?
Just make sure you use a LARGE catch pan under the tranny pan...fluid likes to pour out like Niagara falls. Loosen all bolts....then remove the ones starting at the back and work your way to the front....leave the front 3-4 in-place as the fluid drains......once the fluid stops pouring over the pan edge......raise the pan up and then remove the front screws. The o-ring is on the filter neck...you will see it once you have the old one out. Clean the pan rail and trans body where the gasket will go and then reinstall it after you change out the filter.
You can take a plastic garbage can lid and drill a bunch of holes in the center. Put it over your drain pan and you have an instant tranny fluid catch basin. Clean it up afterwards and put it back on the garbage can!
David, your thread couldn't be more timely. Thanks. Last summer I changed my 67s trans (SP400) fluid and filter, and I did something stupid. When installing the new filter, I inadvertantly overtorqued the bolt that retains the filter to the valve body and pulled the threads out of the valve body. ou: This spring I need to get back in there to fix the pulled threads. I would like to install a helicoil to repair the damaged threads in the valve body. Other than watching the depth when drilling out the damaged threads, is there anything I need to watch out for and is this a viable repair? o No: Thanks.
someone posted a great posting about dropping the transmission fluid pan. please let me know if your the one who posted it but I think it was Yardley first take a quart of oil, dump half of it on the floor where your about to lay. Then crawl under the car laying in the puddle. Next take what was left in the quart of oil and hold it with your palm covering the top loosely. then rotate the bottle up while extending your arm toward the transmission. Next feel the oil run down your arm to your elbow drip off your elbow onto your face and hair. you are now ready to follow the directions above in removing the pan. actually it's not too bad. have a large catch basin under the trans. loosen all the bolts first and break the pan loose. remove all but 4 bolts near the corners (1 bolt near each corner). Basically letting the pan hang from 4 bolts. then slowly loosen those 2 bolts on one end and let the pan tilt down on that side slowly letting the fluid drain into your catch basin. remove the pan, wipe out the crud on the inside (some fine grey material is ok) crack open a beer and enjoy as the drips continue to fall untill your done with your beer. then reinstall.
Thanks! I was concerned that I might open up a passage in the valve body while drilling out the old threads for the helicoil.
