Okay here's the deal

I have an 83 Camaro with a 2.8 v6 and 200C 3-speed transmission. Ever since I have had the car it has leaked tranny fluid from the pan gasket. I changed the Gasket twice on my own using the rubber gasket from NAPA Auto parts to no avail. After my wife's car was repaired by a transmission shop, I had them service the tranny. They replaced the O-rings by the kickdown cable and on the servo as well as a new gasket. Before that I changed the O ring and speedometer housing. After all that it still leaked. So last night I changed the gasket out with a friend from work using RTV sealant (sparingly) along with a cork gasket and checking the pan for straightness. I pull into work and to my dismay fluid is STILL leaking from the pan. The front seal was replaced in December 2001 and we checked under the torqque converter cover and it was dry. What is going on here? I am at a loss...

 

i'd say the fill tube is leaking

 

It's very common for the bolt holes along the pan to deform from over tightining. I'd pull the pan off, put it on an anvil/vise and pop each hole flat. the gasket is supposed to be tightend to 17/18 ft pounds. If all else fails goop the gasket good with permetex gasket shilack. "gorilla snot"

 

SSC -- we did the anvil/vise thing last night and torqued to specifications and gooped it with the gorilla snot as well.

ede -- I look into changing the rubber end on the fill tube

 

TTT-- looking for more possibilities

 

Shifter shaft seal? Put it up on jack stands and wash the wet area with brake parts cleaner. After the cleaner evaporates,
start the engine and look for the leak

 

MORE RTV is your solution RTV :hail:

 

Well on Sunday I got scientific with it. I laid underneath and after wiping everything down, dusted it with powder on every possible area that could leak. I then took it for a drive and came home. Pulled it up on the ramps and checked the pan. Sure enough, it was seeping at the gasket. Being close to fed up with it, I took the ol' tube of black rtv and put a thick bead aroung the outside edge of the pan where it meets the trans. There is still a little area that is seeping past but nowhere near the amount that it did. I might even be able to degrease the chassis now and re-undercoat it. Next time I'm going to track down a tube of that new high tech transmission RTV being used in new cars today. But for now I think its good to go. Not pretty but what the heck...

 

Is it possible that you have a crack in the trans were the pan bolts up?

 

We checked that on Thursday when the new gasket was installed

 

The pan may be warped. Even if you did straighted the bolt holes out, it may still be warped.

I would buy a new pan, it wouldnt cost that much.

 

I was thinking of buying a new one as well. However, where can I get a pan (or anything for that matter) for a 200C? Everyplace I looked at has parts for the THM350, THM400, 700R4 and maybe 200-4R.

 

Is it possible that the vent tube on the top of the tranny is plugged? As it warms up it builds pressure and leaks? Although it probably would vent out the filler tube....

 

I had the sme problem with my 700r4 after rebuild, after swapping it out to a 350 trans a few weeks back, I finally took out the convertor and realized the pump seal itself was at fault, not the pan gasket which I changed 3x's, then got a dust cover and taped the hole shut so it would'nt bleed on the track.

 

First off, ONLY use a QUALITY cork & rubber gasket, DRY, and torque to 12 ft/lbs. Other option is a fiber gasket, DRY, torqued to 16 ft/lbs. Now often the leak is from elsewhere. This includes the Servo, Fill Pipe, Selector Shaft , Kickdown Plug, TV Cable, Pump O-ring, Pump Seal, Pump Bolt Washers. Now the last three are in front of the Pan and will tend to blow back with airflow, onto the gasket area. Also make sure the Pan isn't rusted.