Good morning Larry, thanks so much for your quality reply!
forrestbump wrote:Robroy, it's been many years since I've owned a truck with a granny truck trans, but here goes my recollection (from my faulty, at best, memory)...
I'd start by checking that all inspection covers are tighten to the correct torque values.
This is a great suggestion--thank you. I think I tried to re-torque the PTO cover bolts and they were OK, but I don't remember re-torquing the top cover bolts. This seems like a great first thing to try.
forrestbump wrote:It IS possible that some of your trans gaskets dried out from sitting.
I was afraid of that! I think one of the top morals of my #50 story is that a guy should buy major rebuilt components like transmissions and engines only when he's ready to put them in to service, and not try to get smart and efficient by ordering them in advance!
forrestbump wrote:You could remove the covers, apply a light coating of "Good Stuff" on them but, of course, that will require that you drain the trans first.
That's a good idea, and I guess that wouldn't be too hard to do. I'm supposed to replace the gear oil after the first 500 miles anyways so there's an automatic chance for that.
forrestbump wrote:Does your trans have a new breather vent (pop it valve)?
No--I actually didn't know those were available! It has the same old one, and I don't remember making any special point out of verifying that it still worked. I should definitely look at that again!
forrestbump wrote:I installed a nipple with neoprene hose and one way breather valve mounted as high as possible on mine so that gear oil wouldn't escape and water/debris couldn't enter trans.
Fascinating! I had no idea that this was an option. May I know how you found an appropriate one-way breather valve? I'd have no idea where to buy something like that.
forrestbump wrote:Your valve MAY be defective?
Very good thought!!!
forrestbump wrote:It's also possible that the trans was slightly overfilled with gear oil and it's creeping out the breather... just a thought.
Well I filled it up to the top, just so it started to come out the shifter cane opening.
Just kidding! I remember squirting the oil in to the upper filling hole (not the shifter cane opening on top) until it
just started to seep out. There's still a chance that it has too much fluid in it though, I suppose. And at its current leak rate that should be cured in a few more drives.
forrestbump wrote:This is all conjecture and the trans may simply seal itself after it's gone through some heating and cooling cycles.
That would be nice! Maybe it wouldn't hurt to drive it at least a hundred more miles before doing any big repairs.
forrestbump wrote:As far as getting gear oil on your clutch, anything is possible, but I don't see anything in your photos that I would call "Excessive Leaks"
Oh, that's great to hear. Maybe if you saw the amount of fluid pooled up around the crossmembers you'd change your mind, but then again, I've yet to see a dry T18 case so it's possible that this leakage comes with the territory.
forrestbump wrote:Hope that some of this helps! Godspeed in finding a solution!!
It does help Larry--thanks very much!!! I'll investigate those things and report back.
Thanks again for your excellent reply Larry,
Robroy