Muncie leak

[Dave K.]

I had what appeared to be a leaking countershaft in my 66 SB Muncie transmission. I was able to move the trans back from the bell housing about 2 in where I cleaned the area around the countershaft penetration with lacquer thinner. I applied the Right Stuff gasket material in the area and slid the trans forward and tightened it before the gasket material set.

This worked for about 6 months but now I see that the leak has reappeared. I read where others had the same problem but were able to seal it with a small gasket cut to cover the countershaft penetration. John Hinkley also described in his CE article that a gasket can be made to cover the entire front of the trans. This can be installed with the trans in the car by slitting the top of the gasket.

Anyone have experience with the gasket approach?

Regards,
Dave K.

[William B.]

Re: Muncie leak

Hi Dave, Buy the "silicone gasket maker RTV" (room temperature vulcanizing) permatex brand is what I use, hasn't failed yet. The paper gasket can be made and slit at the top, but probally overkill.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Muncie leak

Mine, a 63, had been leaking since about 1980 and then in 2003 I discovered it was being serviced, by my local Corvette sales and service shop in Downers Grove, Illinois ,using the light weight lube specified for later model Corvettes instead of heavy 80/90 weight lube. The stuff was like water, probably meant for automatics or the old O.D box used on C-4's, etc. Sometimes you just can't trust the so called expert Corvette shops, specially those that employ young kids or eastern Europeans that never heard of C-1, C-2 or even C-3 Vettes.


Once I changed it back to the heavy lube my leak stopped. I had a heck of a job getting the fill plug out. It's like they torqued it in as if they thought it was a cast iron case! Sucking that "water" out was the easy part.

Stu Fox

[Dave K.]

Re: Muncie leak

Hi Dave, Buy the "silicone gasket maker RTV" (room temperature vulcanizing) permatex brand is what I use, hasn't failed yet. The paper gasket can be made and slit at the top, but probally overkill.

Bill,

Permatex the Right Stuff is an RTV and comes highly recommended for this fix.

Dave K.

[Dave K.]

Re: Muncie leak

Mine, a 63, had been leaking since about 1980 and then in 2003 I discovered it was being serviced, by my local Corvette sales and service shop in Downers Grove, Illinois ,using the light weight lube specified for later model Corvettes instead of heavy 80/90 weight lube. The stuff was like water, probably meant for automatics or the old O.D box used on C-4's, etc. Sometimes you just can't trust the so called expert Corvette shops, specially those that employ young kids or eastern Europeans that never heard of C-1, C-2 or even C-3 Vettes.


Once I changed it back to the heavy lube my leak stopped. I had a heck of a job getting the fill plug out. It's like they torqued it in as if they thought it was a cast iron case! Sucking that "water" out was the easy part.

Stu Fox

I'm using 80/90 gear oil -- no synthetic.