Trans fluid drips from bell housing

What would be the most likely cause of Trans fluid dripping from the bell housing?

front pump seal maybe?

Thanks Mopardude, I guess I would need to pull the Trans and then slide the torque converter out to change the seal? Then reinstall & check for leaks?

yes, but hold off for a bit, and see what a couple other guys have to say. I am not an expert. lol it could be something more complicated than that...


:cheers:

Thanks again. I'll wait & see. It's just a very slight drip for now.

Unless the converter sprung a leak, (I doubt that) it has to be the seal.

If you have no other trans leaks I'd be inclined to say pump seal too. Best case, you replace the seal and fix the leak. Worse, the front pump bushing or converter snout are worn, in which case a new seal will be a temp fix, at best.

If it's a 904, there is always a good chance the converter hub is cracked as well. Other possibilities are: converter drain plug leak; case crack; and pump housing to case "O" ring. This assumes the correct fluid level and it's not blowing fluid out because of an overfill.

It's a 727. Just another one of the little problems that need attention. I got forever to fix it up little by little. Thanks for the replies. How much work is it to get the 727 out & back in on the 73-74 Darts?

As a former Seal Engineer, this shames me deeply, but maybe it can help someone else out. I chased a trans leak for a long time, and found out it wasn't a trans leak.

I found that my MP cast valve covers were bottoming against my Eddy RPM intake, instead of on the gasket. The leaking oil would run down the back of the engine (unseen), wick down the engine/bellhousing seam, and appeared to run out of the trans inspection cover.

At the same time, the engine/slicks were killing the trans clutches, and filling the bottom of the trans pan with goo. This was plugging the trans filter, starving it of oil, and making it run like it was low on ATF. I had a puddle on the floor and a 727 acting low on fluid, although both were completely unrelated.

Once a converter seal has been living for awhile, old age or growing runout of the converter (bad bushing) usually are what kill them.

90% of the leakers I've seen are from fresh installs where the seal has been cut by the pump drive tangs on the converter snout. I religiously stuff paper towel in the snout, and deburr the edges and points with a fine file, then turn upside down and pull the towels out. Get a bunch of oil on the seal, and take extra care installing the converter snout through it. Grease the seal a little if it's going to be a long time before it runs.

good luck. sometimes oil sending units or the seal at the rear of the intake can play games with you too.

port-holio - Thanks for the tips. I'll be looking into my leak(s) this winter, and appreciate the advice.

I snugged up all the Transmission pan bolts and cleaned everything up. seems to be staying dry for now. Staying full on the dipstick so all is cool.