Please, Can someone tell me how much fluid to put into a long tail, turbo 350 transmission?

This may sounds like a smart assed answer, but you fill it until it reads full on the dipstick. It depends on if the transmission and / or torque converter is dry. A bone dry tranny and stock converter holds about 11 quarts if I recall. If the converter is full, much less (like 6-8 quarts I think).

The trick is that the marking on the dipstick is 1pt and not 1qt like engine oil. So it's easy to over fill them. Here is what I do.

I stick a funnel in the dipstick tube, raise the rear wheels off the ground and dump in about 4 quarts. Then I start the engine and dump in another 2 - 4 quarts (depending on the converter and such as mentioned above). I then cycle the tranny through the gears from reverse to low 1. If the wheels don't move, stop and add anothe quart. Running it through the gears purges the air out. Once it's good and hot and purged, I check the dipstick (hot, running in park). Then I add a pint at a time until it comes up to the full mark.

If you over fill, you'll have to remove the excess. You can crack the pan and let some run out. I like to use a little electric drill pump. I lay the pickup tube along side my dipstick and put a mark on the tube. Then I stick it in and suck out the excess. If you're careful, you won't have to do this. If you do crack the pan instead, tighten the bolts with a torque wrench to 12 in*lbs. They're super easy to strip and will be less likely to leak if the bolts are at even tension.

-dnult

I normally use 95 in/lbs as the torque spec for most pan bolts.

Thanks Oldlani. The spec I remember was actually 12 ft*lbs (144 in*lbs). But I use an inch pound torque wrench - so wires got crossed. Thanks for not letting that slip by unnoticed.

95 in*lbs is probably good as well. I think even tension is the best prevention against leaks. Too tight is definately asking for trouble in more than one way.

-dnult

I was just going to ask the same question. I drove the Nova two years ago, but wasn't sure if tranny was full. I have since dumped most of trans fluid pulling engine for cleanup and new bearings, and wondered how to fill tranny without over filling. Thanks for the input. Wish me luck guys. Will try to start next weekend if all goes well.

Bink,

If you don't have an inch pound wrench, just watch the gasket as you tighten the bolts. Too tight and it will squeeze out (or in). You'll know it when you see it. And keep it as even as you can, just like dnult said.

Chad

Thanks for all the help