No need to fill it before installing, you can fill it by the fill plug on the side or through the shifter opening. If you feel the need to fill it before hand, ensure you put the yoke in, or as soon as it tilts backward it will begin to drain.

 

Go to any parts store and buy a plastic plug for the tailshaft. I have a couple that I keep in transmissions I have laying around.

 

I have one of those bottle caps from a 90W oil bottle that will also screw onto an ATF bottle. I wedge a short length of hose onto that and it makes a pretty good filler. The trick is to squeeze the fluid in. When doing so, don't wear yourself out trying to empty a bottle in. Once the bottle is below about half, top it up full and then continue. Buy an extra quart to help with this, it's much easier than trying to finagle around and squeeze the last few ounces uphill into the case.

 

Definitely going to investigate this before I decide whether or not to fill it before installation.

 

I filled mine before installation with the recommend amount of ATF and installed with a plastic tail shaft plug and the speedo plug in place. I pulled the fill plug after install and a few drops came out.

 

Thanks for all of the great tips. I already have one of those plastic plugs that goes in place of the yoke so I might try to fill it before installation.

 

I just filled mine a couple of weeks ago and here's the easy way to do it. Go to your favorite auto parts store and buy one of these hand pumps that fits on quart and gallon bottles of motor oil, gear oil and transmission fluid. I know that O'Reilly sells one for $9.99.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluid-Pump...64gAAOSwrblb-2T6:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!76550!US!-1:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true


After the transmission is installed remove the filler plug in the side of the transmission and pump in slightly less than 3 quarts of ATF. No worries about spillage or a rubber plug.

 

Great info...thanks for sharing.

 

Not sure why everyone is doing it the hard way. Just put it into the car. Once installed, speed in, driveshaft installed remove the top filler plug.

From inside the car slowly pour the ATF into the shifter box. Keep filling until it starts coming out the fill plug hole. Put the plug in, install the shifter and you are done.

This is way easier than doing from underneath.

 

install the shifter

Much easier said than done on the T5 in my '65.

 

After a few test fit installs and checking out a couple of different shifters for fit too, I decided I was bloody NOT installing any more shifters after the transmission was in the car. I can, and I have, but really really don't want to anymore. I'll stick with my filling from underneath. Could be just me though.

I actually have one of the weird transmission-driven power steering pumps from a Honda. I have a pair of hoses on it. Chuck it in a drill and put the hoses where you need them. Pull the trigger and transfer whatever fluid you like, easy peasy. I actually concocted one of these at work and liked it so much I made another to use at home. The reason I made it is because I got sick of buying hand-held fluid transfer pumps that work a few times then quit. Especially if you don't use it for a year or so in between times. The Honda pumps have yet to fail me. They work in reverse too. You need to evacuate brake fluid from vacuum booster because the master cylinder rear seal failed? Got a nine inch rear end combination that has fill plug but no drain plug? Here, hold my beer.

If anyone is actually interested I'll take a picture of one of the pumps. They're off like 1993 Civics or something. But really, cap on a bottle with a hose, and I can fill a T5 in just few minutes just squeezing the bottle. Not enough trouble to merit dragging out a pump. And If I've been working on a T5, the car's up in the air already, right?


Last thought, every method of filling in this thread is fine. Just use whichever one fits your particular circumstances.

 

Agree with GypsyR, all methods will work.

Since with my aftermarket shifter I can remove the shifter rod itself, I have an easy way to fill from the topside. I am running a B&M shifter and with the notch, I didn't have to trim the opening. It is a bit tricky to set the stops, but is doable.

 

I initially used a flex funnel and some hose to fill my T-5 ,now days I just do it at work with the trans flush machine. But one of these pumps looks kinda handy for the DIYer
https://www.harborfreight.com/gear-...RCWARIsADc18TKObwPJJ8t285P8v3pp4js4Ld0N-BUpIPiIu3a7ZM4634inV-Dpb8oaAqMYEALw_wcB

 

As mentioned above, do not forget the speedometer cable or plug for the hole :swing: