C-4 Trans Puking

firewrench · 09-14-2005, 03:53 PM

I checked the archives and didn't see this one... 1966 Stang, 200 6 cyl, c-4 trans (rebuilt 6 months ago). Trans was good till I installed a new three core radiator with shroud. Now pukes trans fluid out of top of dipstick tube. Not over full, in fact, low but if I add any fluid, she barfs it right out. Coolant level in radiator is good and hasn't dropped. (Not going into trans thru cooler). I haven't dropped the pan yet... wanted to see if anybody heard of this before and might point me in the right direction. I don't find a vent hole anywhere on the trans body. Should there be one?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Firewrench

Gearhead999 · 09-14-2005, 04:14 PM

Is the cooler in the radiator open and clear??
The cooler lines are kinked or clogged??

The C-4 vent is on the top toward the rear of the transmission.

firewrench · 09-14-2005, 10:02 PM

Brand new radiator and lines. Car sat for a month waiting for me to install the radiator. I'm thinking the vent may have been plugged by an insect or something. But couldn't find a vent tube.
Thanks

Phillyfanfrombirth · 09-15-2005, 11:48 AM

There is a cap on the top of the mid section of the tranny... looks like the top of an acorn, without the stem...

Sounds to me like a radiator problem, though... maybe some lead got in the cooler when they were making it... Get a tranny cooler, and route the lines directly to and from the cooler. A small one should do.

firewrench · 09-23-2005, 04:30 PM

Finally got to check the radiator trans cooler and it is clear. lines are clear also. Can't find any vent on this critter. looked it over many times with a mirror and a flashlight. no vent. fluid level wont touch stick, added 16 oz. filled to brim of dip tube. vacum pumped out 8 oz, rowed through the gears, not showing anything on stick. drove around the block, level is 4 inches up the stick. ?????????? very strange.

Phillyfanfrombirth · 09-23-2005, 05:01 PM

On C4s, you always have to check the fluid level with the engine warmed,running, and in park.... and of course on level ground.

Kisner · 09-24-2005, 10:06 AM

The C-4 in my 68 always gave strange readings too. After lots of trial and error, I finally figured out how to get a constant accurate reading. I have to crank her up and let her warm up for 5 minutes, drive 5 miles down the road and back (10 miles total), and check the fluid with the car running - I get an accurate reading every time. Actually had mine way overfull also and had to siphon about a quart out.

firewrench · 09-26-2005, 09:46 PM

Well the saga continues. Apparently I was able to assemble a trans without a vent. I guess early C-4's had the vent on the main body and later models had vent on tailshaft housing. When I combined the transmissions we had, I inadvertantly mated the two halves without vents. Spent too much time getting the clutch packs and bands right and didn't pay enough attention to the vent. doh! I hate it when I do that. Oh well, back to the grind.
Thanks for all the help.

Phillyfanfrombirth · 09-26-2005, 10:36 PM

Sorry to hear that man... hopefully you can get away with draining the fluid, dropping the driveshaft, and swapping tailshafts.

09-14-2005, 03:53 PM	#1
firewrench Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	C-4 Trans Puking I checked the archives and didn't see this one... 1966 Stang, 200 6 cyl, c-4 trans (rebuilt 6 months ago). Trans was good till I installed a new three core radiator with shroud. Now pukes trans fluid out of top of dipstick tube. Not over full, in fact, low but if I add any fluid, she barfs it right out. Coolant level in radiator is good and hasn't dropped. (Not going into trans thru cooler). I haven't dropped the pan yet... wanted to see if anybody heard of this before and might point me in the right direction. I don't find a vent hole anywhere on the trans body. Should there be one? Thanks in advance for any advice. Firewrench

09-14-2005, 04:14 PM	#2
Gearhead999 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Oviedo, FL Posts: 992	Re: C-4 Trans Puking Is the cooler in the radiator open and clear?? The cooler lines are kinked or clogged?? The C-4 vent is on the top toward the rear of the transmission. __________________ "Support our Troops" Dave 1968 Cougar 2004 Thunderbird 2007 F150 Harley-Davidson, SuperCrew 1986 LTD 1997 Ranger 1992 Honda Civic

09-14-2005, 10:02 PM	#3
firewrench Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Re: C-4 Trans Puking Brand new radiator and lines. Car sat for a month waiting for me to install the radiator. I'm thinking the vent may have been plugged by an insect or something. But couldn't find a vent tube. Thanks

09-15-2005, 11:48 AM	#4
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: C-4 Trans Puking There is a cap on the top of the mid section of the tranny... looks like the top of an acorn, without the stem... Sounds to me like a radiator problem, though... maybe some lead got in the cooler when they were making it... Get a tranny cooler, and route the lines directly to and from the cooler. A small one should do.

09-23-2005, 04:30 PM	#5
firewrench Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Re: C-4 Trans Puking Finally got to check the radiator trans cooler and it is clear. lines are clear also. Can't find any vent on this critter. looked it over many times with a mirror and a flashlight. no vent. fluid level wont touch stick, added 16 oz. filled to brim of dip tube. vacum pumped out 8 oz, rowed through the gears, not showing anything on stick. drove around the block, level is 4 inches up the stick. ?????????? very strange.

09-23-2005, 05:01 PM	#6
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: C-4 Trans Puking On C4s, you always have to check the fluid level with the engine warmed,running, and in park.... and of course on level ground.

09-24-2005, 10:06 AM	#7
Kisner Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 290	Re: C-4 Trans Puking The C-4 in my 68 always gave strange readings too. After lots of trial and error, I finally figured out how to get a constant accurate reading. I have to crank her up and let her warm up for 5 minutes, drive 5 miles down the road and back (10 miles total), and check the fluid with the car running - I get an accurate reading every time. Actually had mine way overfull also and had to siphon about a quart out.

09-26-2005, 09:46 PM	#8
firewrench Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Re: C-4 Trans Puking Well the saga continues. Apparently I was able to assemble a trans without a vent. I guess early C-4's had the vent on the main body and later models had vent on tailshaft housing. When I combined the transmissions we had, I inadvertantly mated the two halves without vents. Spent too much time getting the clutch packs and bands right and didn't pay enough attention to the vent. doh! I hate it when I do that. Oh well, back to the grind. Thanks for all the help.

09-26-2005, 10:36 PM	#9
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: C-4 Trans Puking Sorry to hear that man... hopefully you can get away with draining the fluid, dropping the driveshaft, and swapping tailshafts.

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