This was looking bad from the very start. I get the last bolt out of the trans and im lowering the pan when it slips out of my hand and dumps trans fluid everwhere. I shoulda just put the pan back on filled her up and called it a day but I pressed on. Pull the filter out. Dam no gasket. Had to use a screwdriver and some needle nose to get it out. Great now the bores gouged. Its not that deep the seal should take care of it. So i go to put the new filter on and it wont go on all the way. I end up having to hammer this thing on with my fist. Pop the pan back on. Put in 3 quarts. Start her up. Go check for leaks. Great no leaks. I go over to finish filling her up when i notice smoke coming out of the bellhousing area. Hmm that cant be good. So it looks like im gonna have to do this all over again. Hopefully it goes better the second time around. Anybody think i did any serious damage to my pump?

 

Could it be just oil on the exhaust somewhere?

 

I changed one and replaced the filter. The filter came off with the gasket like normal but my new one didnt want to go in all the way. I found out there was an extra old gasket jammed up in there from the last dummy that changed the fluid. I think you should be ok with a few minor scrapes up there, I was. I have never seen a transmission smoke unless it comes from an external leak. The stuff you spilled in the process will smoke off in a hour or two. then clean everything off with a wrag and cleaner to find leaks. If you dont find leaks then run the car and try to trace where the somke comes from. You may need to take the flywheel cover off to check for leaks there and to clean it up. It dosent sound like its coming from your transmission. Thats not my favorite job to do either.