904 Leaking small amount of fluid after rebuild.

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C2ndLTpigeon

Mopar or no Car!
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I recently rebuild the 904 in my 73 Valiant, when I installed the torque converter (stock) back in I drained it and filed it up as much as it would take (a little under 3 qts) and poped it in.
After I installed it in the trans it would leak a little for about 2-3 days just sitting there as the car has not ran yet. It seemed to stop. A few days later i added 4 qts into the trans making it about 7 qts full. It is now leaking again from the inspection cover area. I wiped it and will check again tomorrow and see if it stops on its own. Is there anything that would cause this? Ive read something about a vent?
Main thing is I would rally hate to take the trans off again. It has a new TC seal, pump outer seal, and bolt washers.
 
Start it up if you haven't already. you may just have to seat the seal. If the engine doesn't run just crank it. Good luck
 
Have the same problem with my 727. I think it’s the crush washers I didn’t change that bolt the front pump in. I looked at my old washers and didn’t know they were one use and reused them. Now when I fill my trans up it leaks. BUT once it gets about a qt low it stops. Sooooo since I have a +2qt trans pan I’m not super stressed about it BUT you might have the same washer problem I think I have.
 
Have the same problem with my 727. I think it’s the crush washers I didn’t change that bolt the front pump in. I looked at my old washers and didn’t know they were one use and reused them. Now when I fill my trans up it leaks. BUT once it gets about a qt low it stops. Sooooo since I have a +2qt trans pan I’m not super stressed about it BUT you might have the same washer problem I think I have.
The kit came with new ones which were used and bolts torqued to spec
 
A worn converter or pump bushing..or the fluid that dripped out of the converter when you installed it is dripping out of the bottom of the bell..park the car so the front is down so it all runs out. Did somebody strip out a front pan bolt and have to drill and helicoil it? Might have broke thru to the outer edge of the pump.
 
Pan is good no striped bolts. Transmission had a complete rebuild by me, all seals installed, like I mentioned before I filled the converter and installed it. I leaked a little but stopped, I assume the fluid made its way into the trans from the converter and when it leveled out it stopped? A few days go buy I add 4 qts, and it does it again, I will make note if there is any in the morning.

Car has not been fired up yet, so im not sure if it will change. Like mentioned before maybe the seal is not seated.
 
You make zero mention of what the dipstick reading is OR where you have the shifter when checking fluid OR if you even checked it at ALL. Did you "just add" fluid without checking it?
 
7 quarts are too much if the trans hasn’t run. It’s over full. Take some ATF out. If u do ever check it u will see what we mean. The converter drains back into the pan also. I’ve seen this a few times b4. Kim
 
Cycle it through the gears..cant fill it till running and circulating.There is a vent it could blow out, yes.

Btw if you put the seal in dry, the converter will probably burnt it.
 
Pan is good no striped bolts. Transmission had a complete rebuild by me, all seals installed, like I mentioned before I filled the converter and installed it. I leaked a little but stopped, I assume the fluid made its way into the trans from the converter and when it leveled out it stopped? A few days go buy I add 4 qts, and it does it again, I will make note if there is any in the morning.

Car has not been fired up yet, so im not sure if it will change. Like mentioned before maybe the seal is not seated.

The tension spring inside the pump seal can jump out from the shock when putting the seal in.
This is why some pack the seal with assembly lube before it get installed.
The vent is way too high for fluid to come out when not being run unless it’s just way overfilled. (Way over)
Generally the vent is for fluid that foams up from the rotating assembly running in too high of fluid levels.

Not saying this is the problem, just that it does happen.
 
Fluid was a little high, so I removed about a qt as Kim recommended, now the level is at the full line.

This morning there was no fluid underneath the bell housing but a there was a light film behind the inspection cover, but not enough to make a puddle, Im thinking it having to much may have been causing it to run out?

I will see what happens when it runs. Should be in the next 2 weeks. I just wanted to make sure the trans had enough fluid for start up so it doesn't burn things out. Guess I added to much. Lesson learned for next time.
 
Make sure you don;t run the motor more than a minute if the trans isn't to the full mark. People waiting for the trans to warm up end up burning bushings and washers.
 
Make sure you don;t run the motor more than a minute if the trans isn't to the full mark. People waiting for the trans to warm up end up burning bushings and washers.

As of now it has 2 1/2 in the converter and 3 in the trans now since I removed about a Qt, will add when its running.
 
5.5 left. Start it in NEUTRAL and immediately add 4 quarts. Check the level in neutral. There's no need to run it thru the gears; or move the shift lever at all. If you have to remove fluid, just unscrew the neutral safety switch.
 
I will do this in neutral then as the first start up will also be breaking in a new camshaft and I will not be able to switch gears for 20 min.
 
Don’t they only hold 6 or 7 we quarts to begin with? Wouldn’t it be way over full with 4 more in it. Then puke it out? Kim
 
Converter is not dry, 2.5 qts were added before I installed the trans, and 3 more qts were added making 5.5 in it now. I believe factory manual says max is 8.5 qts
 
I wouldn't be afraid of overfilling it if you aren't going to even put it in gear. I started one up once and added all the fluid because I knew exactly how much it would take. I forgot to start it in neutral tho, so fluid started running out the vent in the bell housing. When I saw it dripping, I pulled the stick and it was about six inches above the full mark. I jumped in the car and put it in neutral, jumped back out and checked it and it said LOW. I added half a quart and drove it immediately and it was fine.
 
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