[BRSleeper2]

I have searched around and can't find the answer I am looking for so here it goes...

I have a 78 Monte Carlo with a stock 305 and th350 transmission. When I picked the car about 400 miles from my home... The car shifted fine and did not make any out of the ordinary noises. After a week or two the transmission started to whine... it would come and go, was not a constant thing. Ok here is where my question begins... I was hitting it pretty hard up a very steep hill and look out the rear view to see a HUGE cloud of smoke, when I got to the top of the hill I look and the tranny fluid was dumping out at an extreme rate thru the hole in the dust cover. Today I pulled the cover and saw that the front seal is completely out...

What causes a front seal to just pop out? Is the whining and this related? Can I pull the tranny and replace this seal? Am I gonna have to have the tranny rebuilt? Any answers or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all, great site!

Chris

[Jmark]

A number of things could cause the seal to completely blow out of the pump. Excess pressure comes to mind first. A loosely fitting converter hub could cause a vibration that could beat the seal up and cause a failure too. Since it's whining, i'd strongly suggest having it torn down and gone over. Doesn't sound good.

Mark

[BRSleeper2]

Thanks Mark... Yeah I have the tranny out sitting on the floor and apparantly from the date written on it someone had it out in 2003, but since it is out I might as well have it all gone through. I am sorta wondering an approximate on what is costs to have a tranny gone thru with it already out of the vehicle? I would like to swap the motor this winter to a 350... But with the stock 305 in it now is it worth having anything besides stock rebuild done to it? And would a stall be worth it with the 305? Just curious as I am learning and this site is an awesome place to do just that.

[Jmark]

The 350 is a real good trans and needs very few upgrades to make it even better. About all that is needed is a good kit and add a hardened outer race for the sprag. That is about the biggest weak point in modest hp applications.

On a carry in, I would expect to pay between $600-$700 for a good quality job. The race is about 15 bucks so it's not a big issue.

Mark