I had my 74 Scamp, 904 tranny on my steep driveway after a drive. I started it a few hours later and backed it down and then pulled it back up the driveway in a different spot. Then I noticed tranny fluid on the ground. Traced it to the dipstick. The dipstick was out a little from fully seated and tranny fluid was on the tube. So I think the fluid had to come up the tube and spewed out.

Now this tranny does require a bit of acceleration on first attempt to get the pressure up but I have been told this is normal. The tranny was rebuilt recently and I have a brand new stock style converter. I had the tranny rebuilt when we did the motor. There was no apparent problem with it, I just felt it the right thing to do at the time. It works perfectly. I also have a Lokar kickdown linkage which is a little tight right now because it shifts a little soon on 3rd to 2nd downshift. Anyways I suspect the pressure could cause this on a hill but I'm not really sure. If anyone has seen this I would appreciate a little insight. Also the cap on the dipstick has no seal and is a little on the loose side. Should I get a good seal on it?
Thanks.

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Sweet Emotion

Clogged trans vent.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I have never really studied the internels of a dodge auto trans. I work on over the road trucks. The Allison transmission will push oil when ther is a clogged vent and also when a clutch pack piston seal is blowing by dumping that pressure in the sump. That may explain the slow take off till the pressure gets high enough to apply the cluth enough to move the car. I may be full of crap. They may have cut a seal on assembly and it has finally givin out. Aalso the trans being over full will do it to but I asume that has been looked at.

psychodieseltech

What? That is not normal. Someone is pulling your leg.

Where is the vent located?

Thanks.

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Sweet Emotion

Top of the front pump. Trans has to come out to service it.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

You have got to be kidding? Isn't there another solution or can I just let it go. I just started it tonight and it didn't do it.

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Sweet Emotion

The reason it takes awhile for the car to move on initial start up is because the converter is draining. In park, the pump will not fill the converter....only in neutral or drive/reverse. This is a problem on old, well used transmissions, not rebuilt ones. Got warrenty? Oh yeah, there is no other way to service the vent like Dan said.

That's certainly the most frequent cause of delayed engagement on initial startup To test if that's what's going on, try starting the car in Neutral and letting it idle for at least 20 seconds before shifting to Drive or Reverse. If the engagement delay is gone or significantly shorter, converter draindown is causing the delayed engagement. If there's no change, a leaking seal or a worn pump or a clogged filter or a sticking pressure relief valve is probably to blame.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I'll check it tonight. Been away for a couple days. Are you saying it's possible it's the converter itself draining down?

Thanks.

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Sweet Emotion

Yep. Very common. Converter draindown also causes another symptom if the kickdown and shift shaft seals are sloppy or torn: a transmission that pisses fluid on the driveway ONLY when it's left to sit long enough for the converter to drain down (and cause the fluid level in the trans main body to rise above the level of the shaft seals...)

Transco/TransGo makes an inexpensive shift kit that allows the torque converter to fill in Park.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Another potential leak is at the tab spot-welded to the dipstick tube. A crack can develop in the tube, allowing a leak when adding fluid.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO