Last weekend I rebuilt my T-5 and am about to install it. Should I wait to install it to fill it with the fluid? Once it's in the car, where is the best place to add the fluid? It would seem that the easiest place to put it would be into the shifter area (before I install the shifter,) but I am wondering how difficult it is to get an oil bottle up to the fill hole??? (Never added oil to one before. Thanks.
I'd guess most folks wait til it's in and the driveshaft yoke is inserted to fill - otherwise you can lose fluid out the back. Some folks like to fill through the shifter hole. Some folks use a pump (many places sell inexpensive manually operated pumps) to pump into the fill hole. I've even run plastic tubing into the fill hole from above (down through engine compartment), and then used a small funnel to gravity feed from under the hood. Whatever makes sense to you. I don't want to take any chance on spills in the interior, so I don't use the shifter method, but it's personal preference. Fill until fluid just begins to run out of the fill hole - be sure car's sitting level. Should take around 2.7 qts.
Yeah, install it first then fill it. Unless you have a spare yoke you can stick in the output shaft, or you'll be swimming in 3 quarts of fluid, and if it's GM Syncromesh you wasted a few bucks... I've tried a bunch of different ways of filling manuals with fluid, and the easiest I've done so far with a funnel and some rubber hose that'd fit in the end of the funnel, and I snaked the hose up through the engine bay and had a friend pour and it made its way into the tranny... I used a pretty big funnel and hose so it went quick and wasn't messy. I think next time though, I got this electirc pump for transfering gas, and I think I'll try that ..
Yep, I use the hose up into the engine compartment with a funnel method too... usually have a guy under the car [make sure car is level on stands] and once trans fluid comes running out the top hole, yank the hose, and screw in the plug... I usually coat the threads of the upper and lower drain plugs before hand with pipe sealer or whatever.. permatex silicone works in a pinch [small amount] on the threads too.
u should just install it then use a manual pump, only take like 5 minutes to full it. i filled my t-5 untill it was dripping out the filler hole it it almost held a full gallon, still got a lil extra.
just recently swapped out my tranny and did pretty much what you said....the pump is awesome in theory, but it takes awhile to get it filled that way, but so far have not found anything else that works without taking it to a lube joint
armin - remove boot and shifter/plate from the back of the tranny; pour it right in the opening until it comes out of the fill hole (remove the fill plug in the side of the tranny). It'll take about 2 3/4 qts.
