input shaft on 64

[Peter Ansted]

The bellhousing on this 64 is caked with grease. The rear seal seems ok - is there a seal at the base of the input shaft to prevent transmission lubricant from exiting the trannny via the input shaft ? Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: input shaft on 64

Peter-----

There is no front seal on a Muncie 4-speed transmission.

[Wayne C.]

Re: input shaft on 64

You didn't mention whether the tranny is manual or automatic. Since you said "lubricant" rather than "fluid", I'll assume you mean a Muncie 4-speed.

The transmission lubricant is fairly heavy, there's no pump so it's not under pressure, and it's level is well below the mainshaft, allowing the countershaft gears to dip into it to spread lubrication up to the mainshaft gears and bearings and drain back to the sump.

None of the vendors offer a front seal, and none appear in the shop manual illustrations.

From reading the 64 shop manual, it appears to me that the 4-speed tranny input shaft is probably "sealed" by the shaft's front clutch bearing design... the bearing is pressed onto the shaft on it's ID and pressed into the case on it's OD... there is no mention of a seal, so my guess is that the design is such that nut that locks the clutch bearing in place tends to prevent the exit of stray lubricant by forming a channel ring around the shaft, allowing any lubricant escaping the clutch bearing to drain down and back into the case through the lower portion of the bearing. There is a gasket used between the case and the "clutch gear retainer" (the outer sheath or housing that surrounds the base of the mainshaft and bolts to the case) that appears to be designed to prevent any dripping from below the bearing nut's "drain" channel.

[John C.]

Re: input shaft on 64

Peter, what you may be seeing is just oil that has leaked out of the engine and coated the bellhousing. It's not uncommon to find a bellhousing's exterior caked in grease and dirt, especially on a car 38 years old. I am assuming you are talking about the exterior caked with grease and not the interior.