400 Transmission Disaster

[C-85 819]

I was thinking I was wrapping up my 400 restoration project and then I decided to waste about a quart of 90w gear oil!  I should have known that bad things were coming because its transmission was out of oil, so I put some in then saw leaks on its right side.  I checked the cover bolts and the one on the bottom right rear was very loose.  I tried tightening it and quickly realized I was stripped so I run tap through it and that didn’t grab hardly anything.  Then I thought I would just tap it out to 3/8 (it was 5/16) and that didn’t really get started either.  After a long process of getting the right hub off (I was surprised it finally came off w/o breaking it) I took its right side cover off and found a real mess, 3 of the bolt holes were broken off!  So I’m trying to figure out how I can fix this or if any used ones exist.  At first I thought I might run a threaded rod to its left side but it looks like any rods will interfere with some of the gears   HELP!

 

C-85

[SylvanLakeWH 32,277]

@stevasaurus

[squonk 47,986]

Put an add in classified. Maybe @Lane Ranger knows where a good case might be.

[oldlineman 1,802]

Call Lincoln at A to Z and see what he might have.

[Achto 32,451]

Honestly, it looks like you need a new tranny case. 

[c-series don 12,382]

Honestly I think I have one! Is this it? 

Edited Monday at 11:35 PM by c-series don

[953 nut 68,773]

                    Any good machine shop should be able to mill slots where the threads need to be. New predrilled cast iron tabs could then be placed in the slots then bolted to the side panel while the tabs are welded into the slots in place of the missing material. It won't be cheap but would make for a great "How I SAVED IT" thread.    

[C-85 819]

Thanks for the suggestions, this group is full of critical thinkers!  C-Series Don, I would be very interested in that case you have!

 

C-85

[oliver2-44 11,708]

10 hours ago, C-85 said:

Thanks for the suggestions, this group is full of critical thinkers!  C-Series Don, I would be very interested in that case you have!

 

C-85

Forwarding to @c-series don

[stevasaurus 23,816]

Those tabs are real fragile, but they can be repaired.  I found the right guy to weld a case I had at an old radiator shop...cost me $20.

Here is a couple of pics. 

 

 

 

Personally, I would take Don up on his offer...but keep your casting.  It is fixable.  You do have to be very careful with welds so as not to interfere with any gears.  Things are tight in there. 

 

[C-85 819]

Hi Stevasaurus,

 

I’m glad I’m not the only one that has run into this issue!  Seems like a strange design with the treaded bolts sitting in the oil bath.  I’m guessing they must have leaked a little or at least seeped some by the bolts?

 

 I am very interested in that case that Don has, I believe I sent a PM to him, but I’m not sure if it went through or not (I’ve never done that before), I haven’t heard back.

 

There must be a torque spec for those side cover bolts, but I haven’t found it.  If I’m lucky enough to get this fixed it will need some new seals and gaskets!

 

C-85

[953 nut 68,773]

1 hour ago, C-85 said:

will need some new seals and gaskets!

Lowell can fix you up.  https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/shop-now/

[mrc 1,114]

C85,

 

perhaps pipe dope on the bolts would prevent oil from seeping past 

[wallfish 20,547]

4 hours ago, C-85 said:

 Seems like a strange design with the treaded bolts sitting in the oil bath.

The handles on the wrenches must've been shorter in 1958 to 1961.  Someone went overboard and it was probably a gasket leak and they tried torquing it. 

I've had a bunch of them over the years and never had one of those bolts leak oil yet. In fact, I remove one of those bolts to drain the oil out !