'64 Powerglide leakdown fix (?)

[Jeff H.]

Hello,
After removing my fully restored '64 from long term (9 month) storage, I found the Powerglide had leaked 1-2 pints of fluid. Upon inspection, it's not clear where the leak was from, but somewhere in the front of the trans. Before storage, the car was fine with no leaks evident. In fact, the trans. was recently completely rebuilt by a competent shop with all new gaskets & seals. I've since been told that Powerglides are notorious for leakdown (from the torque converter) during storage. My question is whether there is a fix for this condition which will save me the messy cleanup every time I take it out of storage in the future. For me, it's not possible to start and run the car every 2 months as some suggest. When it goes to sleep for the winter, it stays asleep till mid spring in a sealed "Car Jacket" storage bag.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff Hanson
Flint, MI
'64 conv.

[Stephen C.]

Re: '64 Powerglide leakdown fix (?)

Jeff: After sitting for extended periods of time the trans fluid will leek down from the converter (most all due). If the trans is rebuilt with new seals and gasket the fluid will find its way out of the dipstick tube and leek down the front of trans. You can do one of two things.
1-put a catch basin under it to catch the fluid or 2-go to home depot & buy some clear plastic tubing that will securely fit over the dipstick tube that will keep the fluid from leaking all over the engine & trans. But the best solution is to run the engine more often if possible.
PS- most times the fluid will find any place it can to escape before it get to the top of the dipstick tube.
good luck.