94 Trans WTF? blowing out red fluid...

Hi everyone...this is my first post...so please be gentle.

I have a 94 Chevy 1500 Shortbox Z71 with a 350 engine, auto trans with overdrive 4X4.

The trans has been rebuilt by the previous owner and has less than 5000 miles I believe, and the truck has 88,XXX or so. My issue is a friend of mine took the truck out of town about 45 miles away, and (he says) it lost power as they coasted into their destination. A fellow motorist was next to them at a stoplight a couple blocks before, and says he saw (red)tranny fluid "pouring" out of the truck. The dipstick doesn't smell burnt, and the fluid looked cherry red...appears normal.

The leak appears to be coming from in front of the pan, but I am not sure yet.

So I am wondering some things:

1. What model transmission do I have?
2. What possible problems could this be?
3. If you have a good idea what this is, How much for parts and what difficulty am I looking at?

You have a 4L60-E transmission.

If it was my truck, I would pull the pan to see if there are any obvious sign of problems (metal in the pan).

//2000CAYukon

I will pull the pan...but what I have heard from the NAPA man was it is probably the front seal. Possible? What about broken lines?

I'd say almost definitely the front seal. Have you been pulling heavy loads or mudding a lot(I know, it's fun)?

no mudding...no pulling. The guy I bought it from plowed snow though.

I figured as much. Yeah, it more than likely the front seal. You know, there's a small metal plug in the bottom of the bellhousing right in front of the fluid pan. Pull it out n stick yer finger in there and rub around on the inside. If you have fluid in there, chances are it's the seal

So, if it is the seal, what then? Obviously I have to pull stuff out...but can you elaborate on the procedure?

Disconnect the ground on the battery, remove starter and all wires from the starter. remove flexplate(flywheel)to torque converter bolts(usually 3, sometimes 4).remove front and rear driveshaft. remove transmission crossmember. Remove cooler lines to transmission(Passenger side, close to bellhousing). Remove all vacuum lines and wiring from transmission and transfer case. Remove all shift linkages to the transmission and transfer case. It will probably be easier to remove the transfer case before removing the transmission, but not necessary(Its HEAVY!). Now put a transmission jack under the transmission(A regular floor jack and a block of wood will work, but the transmission can fall off it)Remove all bellhousing bolts. carefully pull back on the trans. while using the jack to support the weight of the transmission. Don't jack it too high. Once you get the trans. out, pull the torque converter off, pull the seal retainer off, then remove the front seal with a seal puller(can be borrowed at part stores), NOT a screwdriver. Careful not to gouge too deep, just catch the seal. Re-install a new seal with a seal driver or anything that will fit over the input shaft and make good contact with the seal and drive it home, then replace the seal keeper. Then just reverse the process! This can be done in 3-4 hours with practice. I believe this is everything. You may run into other prob's depending on your application.

also, another way to tell if it's the front seal. Pull out the bellhousing plug, then start the truck and put it in drive. Hold the brake firmly and press the gas hard for no more than 3-4 seconds. If transmission fluid starts dripping from the hole, you gotta bad seal.

Man...I really appreciate your time! This looks like a great board, I am glad I looked online. Thanks again

there are a lot of great people here. And I'm glad to help.

lol was your buddy doing burnouts in your truck right when it happened? yeah another thing, make sure you dont overfill that tranny or youll have a hell of a time with it blowing a seal again

Pulling this transmission is a bear. Why didn't Chevy put the crossover for the exhaust about 3" forward??? Then I wouldn't have to pull that crap off too. They also could have captured nuts on the top side of the frame where the crossover bolt on. Maybe that was a future rust=pain in the ass issue. They also have wired looms and connections very exposed...I kinda would have put those out of the way of any possible rocks/sticks that might find their way underneath. I'm just frustrated I guess.OHHHHHHH...
I forgot...one more quick question.

The front driveshaft has the forward u-joint, and moving back, there is a spin on connector where the driveshaft slides into the assembly that holds the other u-joint. Does this spin on connector have to come off before I can pull the front driveshaft out of it?

lol, some chevy's are more difficult to work on. I'm currently working on a '98 S-10. I had to take all sorts of stuff off to remove the transmission. On to the ?. This spin on connector sounds like a slip yoke. You shouldn't have to bother with it to remove the shaft. All it does is allows the shaft to lengthen or shorten as the front axle moves.

lOn to the ?. This spin on connector sounds like a slip yoke. You shouldn't have to bother with it to remove the shaft. All it does is allows the shaft to lengthen or shorten as the front axle moves.


So why won't it pull out? It feels like suction???

It's probably full of grease, which will create a vacuum.

if i were you, i wouldn't pull the front shaft in half, it would make it too difficult to line it and the transmission up at the same time. Also, the two halves must be phased, or lined up a certain way. If they're out of phase, you will feel a vibration because the two u-joints can't cancel each other out. I'd remove the whole front shaft.

ok...you just keep making new questions for me...lol

It is possible that since the previous owner had this trans out so much that he may have not properly phased the front shaft. How do I tell other than vibes?

I found a site to help you out. refer to the top image on the site. Also, keep in mind that your front drive shaft may have a master spline on the slip yoke, meaning it can only go on one certain way.

See picture here: http://www.driveshaftshop.com/phazshaft.htm