Trans drain question - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Z51JEFF · 11-19-2011

Ive got to change the oil and while under the car I want to tighten up all the pan bolts,clean the pan up and change the trans fluid.Ill be doing this in the garage with the car up on jack stands.How easy is it going to be getting to the fill plug on the trans?Thanks.

tccrab · 11-19-2011

Jeff:

Getting to the drain plug on the trans is fairly easy.
It's right on the bottom.
Gettiting the fill plug OUT can be quite a challenge.
They're both big allen plugs, 6mm or so if I recall correctly, and there's not a lot of room between the side of the trans and the body of the car to get a wrench on the fill plug.
I've a picture of it around somewhere, I'll have to go digging around.

TomC
'Crabs

Z51JEFF · 11-19-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tccrab

Jeff:

Getting to the drain plug on the trans is fairly easy.
It's right on the bottom.
Gettiting the fill plug OUT can be quite a challenge.
They're both big allen plugs, 6mm or so if I recall correctly, and there's not a lot of room between the side of the trans and the body of the car to get a wrench on the fill plug.
I've a picture of it around somewhere, I'll have to go digging around.

TomC
'Crabs

Thanks for the info Tom,I just need to find the fill plug.Im working in a one car garage so whenever I do work like this I try and have everything set in place before I begin the job.Ive got a Hurst shifter I thought about trying to put in the car,not in this garage

.Once I find out the wrench size for the fill plug I can modify something at work.

ittlfly · 11-19-2011

Here ya go...S&K makes the exact plug remover 1/2" socket tool. You can just buy the 17mm as a stand alone like I did. Works great.

http://www.skhandtool.com/bit-sockets/41417.aspx

tomtom72 · 11-20-2011

Jeff,

Like it was said the both plugs are aluminum pipe plugs with recessed 17mm heads. Be careful because I have a set like ittlfly has and I can not put the 17mm up there when it's on the 1/2" rachet as my trans tunnel isn't wide enough. Also be careful with the 17mm allen key as the heads on my plugs a fairly shallow and you don't get much of a bite if the plug is very stubborn.

If this is the first time you're doing a change, clean all the sand & dirt out of the plugs. I don't know if having the trans fully up to temp or having it cold is a viable thought to deal with a stubborn plug. I know the next time I do mine I'm going to look for plugs with the male heads, in brass, so you can get a real wrench on them.

Tom

mike100 · 11-20-2011

Hazet 985

Hazet makes a short version of 17mm plug insert that won't wobble, angle off, or strip. I got one back in the 90's when i was a VW mechanic.

ittlfly · 11-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomtom72

Jeff,

Like it was said the both plugs are aluminum pipe plugs with recessed 17mm heads. Be careful because I have a set like ittlfly has and I can not put the 17mm up there when it's on the 1/2" rachet as my trans tunnel isn't wide enough.

Tom

Tom is right about not having enough room. I use a open end wrench on the hex barrel part of the socket to turn it. I forgot to mention that.

mike100 · 11-20-2011

German socket for German transmission:

Aurora40 · 11-22-2011

I have an allen wrench and a 1/2" drive socket. The socket is like 4" long though, which is a pain, but I've always gotten it on there. You have to put it over the exhaust, and have just the right length extension, but it works. I put it on a breaker bar, though, not a ratchet, so the head is a lot smaller. I think you'd have to be the Hulk to get it off with just an Allen wrench, they can get really stuck on there, especially if it's been decades since the fluid was changed. Once it's loose though, the Allen key is easier to get it out.

FWIW, it helps to warm the trans up, I drive the car around for a bit to get the trans hot, then let the car sit for 15 minutes or more just so the exhaust isn't scalding. They come off much easier than cold.

Z51JEFF · 11-22-2011

Thanks for all the tips guys.I took my 17MM Allen socket to work,chucked it up in the lathe and trimmed about 5/8 of an inch off of the length.I thin k with this and my breaker bar I should be able to get this off,thanks again.

11-19-2011	#1
Z51JEFF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fremont,Ca Posts: 3,085	Trans drain question Ive got to change the oil and while under the car I want to tighten up all the pan bolts,clean the pan up and change the trans fluid.Ill be doing this in the garage with the car up on jack stands.How easy is it going to be getting to the fill plug on the trans?Thanks.

11-19-2011	#2
tccrab Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Folsom CA Posts: 1,658	Re: Trans drain question Jeff: Getting to the drain plug on the trans is fairly easy. It's right on the bottom. Gettiting the fill plug OUT can be quite a challenge. They're both big allen plugs, 6mm or so if I recall correctly, and there's not a lot of room between the side of the trans and the body of the car to get a wrench on the fill plug. I've a picture of it around somewhere, I'll have to go digging around. TomC 'Crabs __________________ TomC '90ZR1 #792 Honorary Pirate [B]If it ain't FUN, you're doing something terribly WRONG. [/B] Last edited by tccrab; 11-19-2011 at 12:08 PM.

11-19-2011	#4
ittlfly Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Redding Calif Posts: 223	Re: Trans drain question Here ya go...S&K makes the exact plug remover 1/2" socket tool. You can just buy the 17mm as a stand alone like I did. Works great. http://www.skhandtool.com/bit-sockets/41417.aspx __________________ 1994 ZR-1 # 0102...SOLD

11-20-2011	#5
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,639	Re: Trans drain question Jeff, Like it was said the both plugs are aluminum pipe plugs with recessed 17mm heads. Be careful because I have a set like ittlfly has and I can not put the 17mm up there when it's on the 1/2" rachet as my trans tunnel isn't wide enough. Also be careful with the 17mm allen key as the heads on my plugs a fairly shallow and you don't get much of a bite if the plug is very stubborn. If this is the first time you're doing a change, clean all the sand & dirt out of the plugs. I don't know if having the trans fully up to temp or having it cold is a viable thought to deal with a stubborn plug. I know the next time I do mine I'm going to look for plugs with the male heads, in brass, so you can get a real wrench on them. Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

11-20-2011	#6
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,801	Re: Trans drain question Hazet 985 Hazet makes a short version of 17mm plug insert that won't wobble, angle off, or strip. I got one back in the 90's when i was a VW mechanic.

11-20-2011	#8
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,801	Re: Trans drain question German socket for German transmission:

11-22-2011	#9
Aurora40 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 2,712	Re: Trans drain question I have an allen wrench and a 1/2" drive socket. The socket is like 4" long though, which is a pain, but I've always gotten it on there. You have to put it over the exhaust, and have just the right length extension, but it works. I put it on a breaker bar, though, not a ratchet, so the head is a lot smaller. I think you'd have to be the Hulk to get it off with just an Allen wrench, they can get really stuck on there, especially if it's been decades since the fluid was changed. Once it's loose though, the Allen key is easier to get it out. FWIW, it helps to warm the trans up, I drive the car around for a bit to get the trans hot, then let the car sit for 15 minutes or more just so the exhaust isn't scalding. They come off much easier than cold. __________________ Bob Saveland Former owner of #2517 [IMG]http://a.random-image.net/aurora40/vette.jpg[/img]

11-22-2011	#10
Z51JEFF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fremont,Ca Posts: 3,085	Re: Trans drain question Thanks for all the tips guys.I took my 17MM Allen socket to work,chucked it up in the lathe and trimmed about 5/8 of an inch off of the length.I thin k with this and my breaker bar I should be able to get this off,thanks again.