1st gear ok, 2nd grinds/pops, 3rd grinds - Fluid? Synrchos?

[hank]

Vandor... you are right I meant front seal.

OK, I'll ask about the input shaft seal and the bellhousing o-ring. Thanks.

[hank]

They said it might also have been over-filled with fluid which is a good possibility considering I filled it on my bench before putting it back in to check for leaks. Does that hold water with you?

[vandor]

If it was sitting level, and you filled it through the hole on the right side that has a plug with a 17mm hex head, then it's impossible to overfill it. The level should be up to the bottom of the hole, anything extra will flow out.

If you filled it through the hole above, which on early cars has an emissions switch, and on later ones has an aluminum plug that takes a large Allen wrench, then you overfilled it.

[hank]

I think I flipped it upside-down for a while when working out the drain pan leaks so that would have gotten oil all kinds of places it normally doesn't go. I guess if it is over-filled, I'll know because eventually it should stop!

[aj81spider]

Level it, then open the fill plug. If it's overfilled it will drain until the right level. That will be quicker than waiting for it to drain through odd holes it shouldn't.

If nothing comes out then it's not overfilled and that's not your problem.