I bet someone can answer this queston pretty easily. I just wanted to have an answer before tearing things apart. I recently acquired an 84 Trans Am with the 305 HO, 5 speed manual. Looking back at receipts from the original owner, the following seemed to happen often. It looks like tranny fluid is leaking out from where the speedometer cable attaches to the tranny. Is there some sort of seal that can be replaced if I unscrew the cable (like an o-ring or a washer)? If so, where can I get a replacement? Anything I should be aware of while tearing into this? Thanks in advance.

 

Wow...no takers? I thought this one would be quick and easy to answer.

 

Welcome to TGO. Unfortunately, this problem seems common--at least for me. I've replaced the sleeve a couple of times, the last as recently as early summer, and the drip is back. At any rate the TH350 sleeve is the same as the T5. See the following link:

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/sp...____va.htm#350

JamesC

 

Check the thumbnail in post #1 of the following link:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...ve-driven.html

I failed to do as recommended above, and the leak started not long after. I'll purchase a new sleeve and try again.

JamesC

 

I'm not sure what you mean by the "sleeve." Does the "sleeve" disconnect from the cable/housing? I figured the only replaceable part without replacing the whole cable assembly was a seal. Isn't there a "seal" that fits inside the part that screws onto the transmission?

 

The sleeve or speedo gear housing, which has an external and internal seal, can be seen in the link in post #3 above.

Unscrew the cable at the trans, remove the single bolt and retainer which holds the sleeve in the tail shaft and gently pry it out. Swapping in a new sleeve requires less time than jacking the car up.

JamesC

 

Sorry.........bad post

 

I've got more information that has got me stumped. I removed the cable from the sleeve this afternoon. The leak is coming out of the cable, not out of the sleeve. I didn't think that there would be fluid inside the cable. I thought there might be some grease inside of there, but it is leaking red fluid at a rate of about one drip per minute. Any ideas? If it all leaks out, will the cable seize up? It seems like I will need a new cable?

 

I doubt that the fluid was drawn very far up the cable housing. I'd replace the sleeve, reattach the cable and run the car to see what's what before I went to step two, cleaning and lubing. If it should come to that, check the following link, post #1 for instructions:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...eedo-woes.html

BTW, you should probably check trans fluid level; who knows how much you've lost--or when the fluid was last changed.

JamesC

 

here is a picture t

 

Speedo Gear Housing / Sleeve for T5:






Comes with both seals.

Also available on eBay as of now, July 2010, for $12 shipped.

 

just joined and saw this thread from 2010, having a similar leaking problem with an 86 Camaro with automatic trans, does this hold true for automatic trans also? thanks for the help.

 

Yes. The parts are different shapes & sizes but the principle is the same.

 

thanks for the reply. so i need to figure out what transmission i have, correct? FYI 2.8 litre engine, thanks for the help.

 

That would probably help.

Should be a 700-R4.

 

thanks again, not too sure how would i do that? 1986 Camaro sport 2.8 litre engine

 

Yeah I had missed the 86 Camaro part somehow. I edited it later.

There was only 1 option for the auto trans in that car. Odds are probably 200,000 to 1 that it's what's still there.

As far as actually ID'ing the trans though, you do that by looking at the pan... the shape, count the bolts, etc. Then Google "transmission identification" and go to Images. You'll see what I mean.

 

still checing if its a 700R4 and i see 41 and 42 tooth gears, question, does 1 tooth matter much? Also the gears seem to come in a variety of colors, does that matter also?

 

1 tooth out of 41 is a shade under a 2½% change. So, about 1 mph change at 40 mph, 1½ at 60 mph, 2½ at 100 mph, etc. Whether that would be an error or a correction would depend on how accurate it is now.

The colors are the way they're identified. Each tooth count is a different color. Beats the crap out of having to count them.

You'll also find there's 2 "series" of them; ones with more teeth are smaller diameter. The housing is different for each "series", to space them differently from the drive gear on the trans output shaft.

Best to match new ones to your old ones exactly unless you know for sure you need to make a change such as if you had changed rear end gears or tire size.

 

Thanks for the reply, I have been schooled, looking for a replacement now, thanks again.