Never overfill your TH400 with this idea

[Ned Kelly]

I'm sure some have seen this article. Neat idea on making a simple pan modification so that you never overfill your TH400. See 3rd picture and caption from the top of the page:
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_0611_1955_chevy_transmission_rebuild/index.html
I think I'd like to insall something like this in my pan. Any ideas for components?

EDIT: Some text from above link:
Kilgore came up with a very simple solution to this dilemma after witnessing multiple oil-level-related trans problems. Kilgore integrates an oil-fill standpipe into the oil pan's drain plug. Anytime the fluid is drained, the refill procedure is to add ATF until oil begins to dribble out of the tube. With the engine running, shift the trans through Reverse and Drive a couple of times to ensure the converter and valvebody both are properly filled. Check the level again and fill until oil dribbles out the standpipe again. Then the pipe is plugged and you're ready to race.

 

[K5dreamer]

links dont work here at work... thanks for the text copy and paste

seems like a good idea to me, course, i always just added the ammount of fluid the manufacture called for. or just went a half quart at a time and checked the dipstick as i went. this seems like a much quicker less annoying method.

 

[Greg72]

I read that article when it first came out and threw a Post-It on those pages. It's been on my "to do" list every since... I think it's a great idea and a quick way to get the levels perfect without the usual dipstick in.....dipstick out....drip, drip, drip...too low, fill, dipstick in...dipstick out...drip, drip, drip....wipe ATF off valve covers and engine...etc.

 

[Stomis]

Thats a good idea. Just make sure you use a tapered thread plug to seal it and I'd say run it.

 

[zombie1969]

I saw that same issue online a week or so and thought it looked like a good idea.If you can set it up right takes a lot of the guess work out.Its not a new idea though.A lot of new cars have a setup simular to that like my grand am.Diffs and transfercases have used that method for ever so not sure why transmitions dont all have it to begin with.

 

[dabomb6608]

This might be a stupid question but how do you know how tall to make that little pipe? Since you check the fluid when the engine is running, or at least thats how the 700R4, that seems like some guess work to me.

 

[DeviousK5]

This might be a stupid question but how do you know how tall to make that little pipe? Since you check the fluid when the engine is running, or at least thats how the 700R4, that seems like some guess work to me.

Its ok because the top of the tube should be at the same height as the cross hatch/ full mark on the dipstick, when running in park. Its worked for VW's and benz for years, gm's 4L30e's, fords 5R55's, it does make life easier to some extent, except that the fluid temp has to be within a certain range to make damn sure its full , while not being overfull.
A cool idea for sure, less mess, and if you have a fluid pump you can fill it from below til it pee's out.