I'm in the process of replacing the front transmission seal (re46 from 1998 dodge ram 2500 4wd with 241d transfer case). I installed this transmission (along with the rest of the drive train) under my 99 ram 1500 "frankenvan" along with a number of other modifications. Everything came from a truck that had an upper engine compartment and cab fire (electrical) that was working and running well before the fire. As far as I could tell there was no l fire or heat anywhere near the transmission. The clean fluid, appearance of the bands, in spec adjustments, and a couple of aftermarket internal parts indicate that it's has been rebuilt not many miles ago. It also seemed to shift and work well with no slipping, etc... except it was literally pouring fluid from behind the torque converter.

I've got it down under the vehicle and removed the front seal - it doesn't look like it was too bad. I was initially thinking I must have boogered up the seal when putting it in the van and am a little scared I'm going to replace the seal, put it back in and still have the leak. I've read of this happening to some people on here, but no follow up on what the real culprit was when the front seal didn't fix it. What other things should I change / check? I have a full rebuild kit sitting here and so whatever seals I need, but I have another transmission I plan to rebuild (with some upgrades) and if possible I'd like to avoid tearing very far into this one right now...

Any experience or advice here? I'd really appreciate any thoughts that might save me having to put it in and take it out again...

- Transmission lines are new, as are the cooler and inline filter I added. No check valve installed.
- flywheel / flex plate is new
- no leaks anywhere else in the transmission
- new clean atf+4 with no other additives
- new internal filter, front and rear seals when I installed it
- I'm also fairly certain that although I had to monkey around with dipsticks and tubes due to repositioning the engine and tranny, the fluid level is correct or close (if I let it go down a bit, it will slip and act up a little - I didn't drive it much like this was wondering if I had it too high and it was pushing out the overflow).

This thing has turned into a beast in it's current configuration and I'm eager to get the details worked out and start seeing what it'll do...

Thanks!

 

Maybe the gasket around the pump itself??? Might want to check the bushing the t/c rides in as well. If it's sloppy, it will much the seal pretty quick.

 

Thanks! I'll check / replace the pump gasket and see what it takes to check bushing while I've got the pump off. Any issues with pulling / reinstalling the pump with the transmission flat on the transmission jack? I dropped the tranny, transfer case and cross member (home made) all together to get to the front and there isn't room to roll it out from under without either taking it apart and off the transmission jack or jacking the vehicle up...

 

I don't think so....... but, not 100% on that.

 

I'd consider replacing the torque converter if its not new.... the lockup feature seems to be the weak link and you already have it in your hands.

 

Good thought! I forgot to mention, it's been replaced already.

 

Think this may have had something to do with it? It wasn't leaking significantly while sitting still, only when moving along at driving rpms and pressures... note that the rivet that is supposed to be holding the inside vent cover is MISSING (where is it?!?!) and the cover is warped / deformed so perhaps it directed fluid out the vent hole when being splashed rather than redirecting it past the hole... any thoughts?


wth?!?! rivet missing from cover, cover warped...

a different one I had laying around...

 

Looks to me like the two rivets on the side are likely the cause of the distortion. Not sure why they decided to do it that way. I suspect it's two rivets instead of just the one..... so, likely the one in the center in the first pic, was never there to begin with. Still and all, I would be tempted to do something with that vent..... Not sure what though.... Got a rivet gun??

 

I don't remember seeing one of those on my transmission or having a gasket like material around the bell housing (Ford pic covering the vent)

 

I pried the cover off. the area where the center rivet is supposed to be was broken off. I'm guessing someone broke the pedestal l the center goes into (maybe even in the factory?) and then drillled holes and put the two on the edges to hold the cover on.

Turns out I have several other 46re transmissions sitting here... I've pulled the pumps off and apart. one of them shows only very minor wear on the bushings or pump assembly. I'm just going to install it with a new o-ring and gasket... and put the one that was on it into the scrap metal bin... one more possibility disposed of.

The o-ring doesn't look bad either, but hopefully the problem is either that or the seal... I guess at this point I'll cross my fingers and put it back together... just because a seal looks good visually, doesn't mean it'll hold pressure...