Transmission side cover gasket

RSUKOVICH

MEMBER
1995 BUICK LESABRE
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
165 MILES

Re: 1995 Buick LeSabre 3.8 L eng. No Overdrive. Can the side cover gasket on the transmission be replaced without removing the transmission?

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 AT 6:55 PM

7 Replies

SATURNTECH9

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30,870 POSTS

I checked the in service list for the transmission and it says you can replace that without removing the transmission.

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Monday, May 23rd, 2011 AT 12:42 AM

RSUKOVICH

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What would be the best source for me for instructions on how to remove the cover?

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Monday, May 23rd, 2011 AT 1:17 AM

SATURNTECH9

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I posted a partial list showing the side cover as being removable with the transmission in the car.I also posted instructions on what we have access too for removing the side cover which includes removing the valve cover as well. It lists those instructions in the transmission tear down section which gives directions for everything for the transmission being out of the car. So why are you removing the cover to replace the gasket?Also is the cover not have a clear path to remove it?The frame of the car in the way?Do you have any pics you can post of how its sitting in there?

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Monday, May 23rd, 2011 AT 9:52 PM

RSUKOVICH

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The gasket is leaking so it has to be replaced. I read the things you posted and I don't see that cover coming completely off. There is not that much room unless there is a tipping or tilting effect to be employed as the cover is being removed. Standing at the fender and looking down, I see the cover at about 5 " high or thick and I see that the space to pull it off is about 5" too, but there are pipes running along the inside of the fender to the brakes and they prevent a full "pullback" and limit it to about 2 1/2-3"

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Monday, May 23rd, 2011 AT 11:43 PM

SATURNTECH9

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Most of the time you have to drop the frame and transmission to get them off and get enough clearance to clear the cover. Are the lines that cross the cover hard or are they flexiable?

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Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 AT 4:16 PM

RSUKOVICH

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The lines are metal and not very "giving". What I intend to do, I am going to pull the cover as much as I can. I believe the 2 1/2 - 3" opening will give me enough room to remove the old gasket and clean both surfaces. Then I'm going to split the new gasket at the top to get around the girth of what is under the cover, get it in place and then rejoin it. Hopefully I can complete the task in that way. I can believe that GM has made this blunder. Bob

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Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 AT 5:37 PM

SATURNTECH9

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Sorry it took so long to get back to you I have been without a computer or internet for several days.I was going to say your plan sounds great the only other thing I would do is get some loctite 515 anerobic sealer use that on both sides of the gasket. It works great gm dealers use it to seal up the transmission paper gaskets.I used to use it to seal up the saturn transmissions when I worked at the saturn dealers. Let me know how it goes.

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Sunday, May 29th, 2011 AT 4:16 AM