trans front seal

silverknight · 04-02-2005, 12:37 PM

how hard is it to change the front seal on an old automatic tranny? it looks like my caddy's front seal is the one that is leaking, and i dont want to drive without fluid in my hydra-matic. there any way to simple fix?
is it a driveway job or a shop job?
if a shop job, anyone have a good place?
or any of u guys know how to do it for a small fee?

also, any of u guys know anything about older car electronics? my power windows and radio dont seem to work in the caddy, some of the gauge lights lite up, but none of the other stuff seems to work.

Strtracer · 04-02-2005, 01:21 PM

Trans has to be removed to replace the front seal. How bad is it leaking? This would be typical for a car that has sat for a while, seals dry out and rot, then leak. If the engine is running ok, without chance of overheating, then I would run the engine to operating temp, shift the trans thru each gear manually(just sitting in the driveway is fine), hold each position for about 30 secs, then check and fill the trans. One of the things that happens with cars that sit is that all the trans fluid drains to the pan, causing the fluid to sit above certain seal levels, causing them to seep over time. You might get lucky and not have to replace it just yet, depends on how bad the leak is. If the seal needs replacing, you can do it yourself(with the help from a couple friends) on your back in the driveway. Seals are cheap, labor to remove and replace a trans is not, currently about $65 an hour

I would seriously suggest that you find a GM Chassis service manual for the car(check evilbay). It should be able to help you thru all you questions, and provide electrical scematics for your accesssories. Some of these manuals are now available on CD/ROM. A 1962 should be fairly easy to fix(as compared to todays computers, and modules). It will involve tracing wires and checking for broken grounds, but is really far simpler than it might seem.

Strtracer · 04-02-2005, 01:27 PM

Heres a manual, on CD, covers the 62 Cadillac, and includes the 57-64 parts books. Excellent price too.
http://www.storesonline.com/site/573...adillac%201962

silverknight · 04-02-2005, 04:01 PM

thanks..
i called a few tranny shops and they want between 325-375. so i guess its time to lift the car even higher and pull the tranny out. how much of a pita will it be?

Strtracer · 04-02-2005, 04:21 PM

Well, Ive done quite a few, but never a 62 Caddy. You really should order that service manual, it will have a step x step service procedure, but in a nutshell, this is the procedure
Procure 3 able bodys(you and 2 others)
Disconnect Battery(always)
Raise car on 4 secure jackstands(your body is gonna be under the car)
Drain trans fluid
Remove trans cooler lines
Disconnect linkage and any vacuum or electrical connections.
Remove driveshaft(good time for new U-joints), install a tailshaft plug or spare yoke, if you can get one(this will prevent major spillage later, have oil dry ready)
Unbolt trans mount
Remove torque converter cover, unbolt torque converter from flexplate
Remove starter
Unbolt trans from engine, pull fill/dipstick tube
Place jack under trans pan(either on a board or piece of 2x6), try to strap the trans to the jack( or rent a trans jack made for on ground removal)
Remove crossmember
Lower trans, slide it out from under the beast.

Now, remember, this is general, it may not cover everything, your exhaust might have to come off, and there might be extra bracing or crossmembers to deal with. This sucker is gonna be heavy, and they can be hard to control when youre taking them down, wear gloves(Mechanix gloves save hands), becareful