Yep new gaskets set and use thread sealer on all of the bolts. Went the this a year ago. Replaced rear seal, then the tai shaft gasket and then the top cover? Felpro gasket set. The top cover was leaking.

 

all toploaders came from the factory with a little bubble in the cover that has a small hole in it. the factory never vented the tailhousing. drill a 1/16" hole in the bubble on the cover. do not use sealer on the gasket and do not use sealer for a gasket. buy a gasket set and install them dry and torque the bolts to spec.

 

Is this the vent your referring to ?

IMG_0634v_zps50ea94ea.jpg Photo by sessayan | Photobucket

 

I would take the time to fix it correctly or you could have some major issues adding another vent hole.

Shove a piece of stainless music wire (ace hardware) down the top vent hole, If its plugged for some unknown reason (most likely is) then this will solve the venting problem. If the problem still exists, I would say it's a gasket problem based on what you have described. Adding another vent hole will not fix the leaks. You can buy a complete seal and gasket kit for next to nothing.

I can drop the trans, change the input shaft gasket and seal, top cover gasket, tailshaft gasket and seal and bolt the trans back in under 2 hours. And I consider myself an amatuer

 

I had a 'ah hah' moment. The trans has a very thick coat of black paint on it. May have been blocking the hole. I guess we will see

 

It didn't seem blocked, but its hard to say laying on my back scratching the pick around on the top cover until I felt it go in.

I agree on the rtv bulging, I thought the same about the tailshaft, and behold it was made from a Kellogg's cereal box WITH rtv added.

I can drill it right next to the shifter boss, right on top, with out hitting it. I feel pretty confident on that. I think before I resort to that I'll spray everything down with brake clean and cross my fingers that I dislodged a piece of trash in that vent hole.

 

I put a pick down through the hole, pick was about 2" long, can't feel the gasket. It has red rtv around the cover, but so did the tail shaft housing and it had a homemade gasket on it.

Seriously thinking about drill/taping a pipe thread brass fitting on top of the t/shaft and running a secondary vent with a hose up to the engine compartment.

 

Seriously thinking about drill/taping a pipe thread brass fitting on top of the t/shaft and running a secondary vent with a hose up to the engine compartment.

I cant imagine why you would have RTV bulging out and a gasket on the top cover.

If you can get a pick ~1" down into the vent hole, then you should have all the venting you could need. Did the hole seem blocked?

Can you tap a vent hole in the tail housing without getting near the tailshaft?

 

Take a look at some of the pictures on the David Kee Toploaders site.

http://www.davidkeetoploaders.com/images/toploaders.jpg

On the front left side of the sheet metal cover, there is a bump that should have a hole in it.

There should also be a corresponding hole in the top cover gasket. Its possible that either this hole has been blocked, or maybe someone made up a custom gasket that does not allow the venting to occur.

 

maybe someone made up a custom gasket that does not allow the venting to occur.

I think you hit the nail on the head.

I found it, and it had a homemade gasket on the tailshaft housing, so that is most likely what is going on here

 

I got it guys, my trade is a diesel mechanic. I know there's supposed to be a vent.

That being said, it's leaking from everywhere. Tailshaft housing/ rear seal, you name it. It has got to be the vent, but I can't seem to find it with it in the car. I was feeling on the top cover for a tube or fitting. I wasn't aware it was just a hole. Then to further confuse things the exploded view had me looking in the wrong spot.

So- the raised area ( feels like a boss but the cover is sheet metal) is where the vent is supposed to be then?

Thanks for the replys so far

 

Previous reply is correct, Heat will cause pressure build up and force a leak if its not vented.

I've completely rebuilt quite a number of 4-speed toploaders and have NEVER seen a vent of any sorts in the tailshaft housing. The ONLY vent is the small pin hole in the dimpled area of the top case cover plate.

Where exactly is it leaking from ?

 

Thought top covers had tiny vent hole. You replaced tailshaft seal, did you replace tailshaft bushing? If worn, yoke may cause seal to leak as well.

 

I am prepared to drill/tap a vent in the tail housing. That has got to be why it's doing it, I figured it was plugged. I was wondering if I'm overlooking it, or if someone set me up for failure with mis matched parts.

 

Without a vent of some kind, pressure will build up due to heat. With no where to go, it forces lube out past the seals. Probably the easiest way for you would be to use the late cover.