TopDown72

I have a 72 cutlass 350 and have noticed a considerable tranny leak. Replaced the pan gasket and o ring at the tail. Removed the plastic cover under the bell and it had about a third of a quart of transmission fluid in it but if you look up where the front pump seal is, it looks dry....any ideas?

Vistabrat72

OK, a few questions to ask and to try to pinpoint for you: Are there any teltale radial streaks or dust patterns on the torque converter? Do you see some sort of ring, such as oil being slung along the inner surfaces of what you can see of the bell housing? If so, it could be the front seal leaking under pressure when the engine is running. But sometimes. depending on position of the plastic cover, I have seen pan leaks as you described wick their way into the dust cover. Oil can follow some interesting and seemingly impossible routes getting somewhere. To further clarify, is the cover still filling up AFTER the pan gasket replacement? Regards, Howie.

White Spyder

I would also want to know if you can tell if it leaks more or less in any of the shifter positions.