While changing out radiators, I lost some automatic transmission fluid from the transmission coolant lines. Today, with a new 3-row copper radiator in place, I went to top off the transmission fluid. Well guess what? I have no transmission fill tube! What a p**s*r! My C6 died from having set for a couple of years with me 2,000 miles away. The daughter found a shop to fix this problem - installed a rebuilt Jasper C6. Not only is this the wrong transmission - speedometer drive gear is wrong - but I just realized I have no transmission fluid fill tube or dip stick! Geeeeeeezery! Anyone know if all C6's use a fill tube? If so, are they all located in the same place? Yet another lesson: Never let someone work on your Ranchero is you can do the work yourself AND if not, be nearby to check the work!
Yes, they are "supposed" to have a fill tube. What is keeping the fluid inside the transmission and/or what is sealing the fill tube hole in the trans case?
Yeah, there has to be a plug in the hole; the top fill puts the fluid above that hole. Jack the car up and shinny under, see if a short tube was installed.
Yeah, I'll have to jack up the truck and take a look but what a p**s*r! But while looking at the C6 exploded parts, which part is the speedometer drive gear?
Clark, the "drive" gear teeth are machined into the C6's output shaft. The "driven" gear, the one that actually spins the speedo via the flexible cable, is mounted to the tailshaft on the driver's side. If looking from the rear of the trans, it is located about the 7 o'clock position. Hope this helps
Alright looked under the Ranchero and under the hood in full daylight and yes, there is a transmission filler tube and dip stick. However, these now come up hidden directly under the heater hoses at the firewall. No wonder I they weren't obvious yesterday in the fading light. I looked at some old photos of mine which are not the best but I just do not think the filler tube was hidden under the heater hoses in the past. Again, I just do not think this Jasper C6 was ever meant to be in a Ranchero. There are mounting ears on the side of the transmission case, the speedometer drive gear has got to be for large tires, and now the filler tube is in a bad place. I'd guess this C6 was for a large truck.
They could have twisted the tube a bit to get it to fit where it currently is. The tube itself does not index into the case in a specific orientation. For a mid 70's 460, I've mostly seen them mounted near/right next to the rear-most exposed head bolt.
Yes you can, there is an O-ring that somewhat holds the fill tube in the case. The upper mounting bracket sometimes, depending on application of course, is loosely fitted/crimped to the tube(not welded) and allows rotation so that the tube can be positioned for best accessibility of the dip stick. The mounting bolt is usually located on the back of the head. I modified my tube bracket so that the lower rear-most valve cover bolt locates the dipstick tube between head bolt/headers and A/C plenum box. Hope this helps
I just have been working on a c 6 in my 76 F-250. The transmission tube bracket is welded to the tube. And is held on by a bellhousing bolt.
One other thing, why I wanted you to look underneath--the early 429/460 tranny's in the big cars had short tubes and dipsticks, which ended right about at the corner of the exhaust manifold. My friend Joe's '73 CP wagon had a broken dipstick tube, so we yarded one from a '71 Marquis, and it was that short. You have to use a second rag to protect your fingers against the heat. A truck one will be longer. But, if you can find a member parting a 429/460 intermediate with a C6, they might have the dipstick and tube for sale separately.
IIRC, it's two-piece tube, so maintenance shouldn't be a headache. Funny as it is, the idea has merit.
