Hi guys,

I just purchased a 1989 Firebird Formula with a T-5 (origional). It has 126k and I dont know the history of the car so I want to change out the fluid. I read the sticky about the T-5 and I believe that the gerneral concensus is that I should use dextron ATF. I would just like someone to confirm that is what I should use and any tips about replacing the fluid would be greatly apreciated.

 

ATF...

Im about to do mine here in the next couple of days. Ill give pointers if I can. I plan to take off the console and shifter and pour it in that way.

Ive got three quarts to top off... Is that enough or is there such a thing as too much?

 

Dextron III ATF. Filling through the shifter hole is easiest and to make sure you have the correct amount in, jack up the car LEVEL, remove the top plug from the tranny (above the drain plug on the passenger side) and when it starts to trickle out you are full.

 

Since I've never filled the trans from the shifter, I can't imagine that method would be easier (since you have to disassemble various parts) than using the fill-plug. Clue me in, maybe I'm missing something.

JamesC

 

4 easy bolts, shifter pops out, fill, install shifter. I've done it on my T56 the same way... it really is the easiest way.

 

Well you have to remove the fill plug anyway so why wouldn't you just use an injection gun and just slowly push the fluid in. Your already under the car, but it is fairly easy to remove the console and shifter boot, but I have to agree with james it's simplier to just fill the tranny by conventional means.

On the topic of fluids, I would use either a good quality ATF or GM syncromesh trannyfluid. That's what I've had in mine and I haven't managed to destroy it yet

 

I'm sure if you didn't have things already disassembled for some reason (i.e. installation of tranny altogether) and had an injection gun laying around, the fill plug would be easy but since most of the DIYer probably doesn't possess an injection gun the shifter is the easiest way.

 

Haynes says:

1. Manual Transmission Lubricant Type - 5 Speed - Dexron II or equivalent ATF

1. Manual Transmission Lubricant - 5 Speed - 3.5 Quarts

I cant level off the car, so heres my plan... Jack up, drain, lower, take out shifter and add 3.5 quarts. Will that work? Anything else I need to do?

 

You should be fine doing that the big thing is to not drastically over fill them and foam the lube. It would be like putting too much oil in the motor and having it hit the crank and foam. I would do a little less then 3.5 though cause you won't get all the old ATF out, but what remains will probably be too miniscule to matter

 

Thanks for the input. Ill just trow in the 3 quarts that I have and leave it at that. Heading of to go do it at a friends right now...

 

thanks for all the help. i purchased ATF and will prob attempt to fill the trans through the shifter..i will let you guys know how it goes

 

Done... YAY! And it needed it!

The bolts that are at the base of the shifter are a PITA! Had to halfway unbolt the console and brace it up about 8 inches. Other than that it was pretty simple, straight forward.

Tip, make sure you have it out of gear before you pull out the shifter.

Thanks for the help/info guys!

 

Omg I dont even take the shifter off form inside the car when pulling the trans.

To fill
buy your 4 qts of atf and at the same time buy 3 ft of 1/4" vacume line
Remove one cap form the atf poke a hole in the center of the cap with a phillip screw driver. Feed your vacum through the cap So you have enough to reach the bottum of the bottle. Now you have a way of squeezing the fuild into the transmission form the fill hole, ( called fill hole not check plug)