39 transmission gasket

ktgarcia

Senior Member
I am ready to put my 39 Pickup transmission in the truck and wondered if there is a trick to putting the cork/felt gasket in the two part coupler that fits the torque tube to the transmission? I can get the gasket in one half before I connect the two halfs. However, the second half looks like it i3wll be a problem. When I want to insert the rest of the cork/felt gasket in the second half it looks like I wil have to contend with the transmission connection. Any advice is truly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I am ready to put my 39 Pickup transmission in the truck and wondered if there is a trick to putting the cork/felt gasket in the two part coupler that fits the torque tube to the transmission? I can get the gasket in one half before I connect the two halfs. However, the second half looks like it i3wll be a problem. When I want to insert the rest of the cork/felt gasket in the second half it looks like I wil have to contend with the transmission connection. Any advice is truly appreciated. Thanks.

Don't quite picture your explanation?
However, I've used BOTH cork and/or felt for this job. I just put some gasket cement (permatex) on each cap (clamshell half) and place the gasket onto that. Helps hold the gasket in place if left sit overnight. When assembling, you should have a THIRD part...the BELL which fits up against the rear of the trans rear bearing retainer...WHICH ALSO HAS A GASKET ON EACH SIDE (permatexed also). These three parts are bolted (four bolts to rear of trans, then two bolts to pull the two clam shell halfs together). Of course, the torque tube has to be installed up to the 'bell' part on the rear of the trans...before the two clam halfs are installed! Clear as mud:D
 
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Good thread K.T. as I'm close to that part of my project as well. Would probably be posting this same question soon.

Thank's for the explaination Hardtimes, I can visualize it now:D. Scott
 
I may not be reading your question correctly but it sounds like you were leaving the cork strip in one piece. The strip gets cut in two.....one shorter piece to fit into each half of of the outer cap assy.
 
In addition to the cork and felt options there is a small diameter hose like material (looks like vacuum hose) available from John Kovar in Ohio. He claims this is a 'space age' material originally designed for some type of hatch seal. It is usually forsale on eBay or you can probably get it directly from John Kovar aka Hot Rod John.
There seems to be two methods suggested for installing this type of gasket. One method as Mac VP discribes and another method of installing this gasket in one piece into the two halves, butting the ends at the top of the groove in the upper half. The latter method being a little more difficult to do/assemble.
 
Thanks for the responses. I thought the gasket stayed in one piece, but cutting it in half makes sense and should make it go together smoothly. Thanks again.
 
Thanks for the responses. I thought the gasket stayed in one piece, but cutting it in half makes sense and should make it go together smoothly. Thanks again.

I have found it very helpfull to use a hot glue gun to put a spot at each of the four ends to hold the cork seal in its proper alignment. That way you don't have to rely on any sealant setting up. It bonds almost immediately.
 
Thanks for the responses. I thought the gasket stayed in one piece, but cutting it in half makes sense and should make it go together smoothly. Thanks again.

It can stay in one piece with ends butting together in the top half of the two piece cover. This is a more difficult method, but done right is less likely to leak IMO. If you go with the two piece method the ends on both halves must be cut so the are up slightly proud of the bolt flanges so that when the halves are assembled the ends of the gasket will butt together with enough interference to form a good seal on both sides. If this is not done correctly you could have two places for leaks.
 
It can stay in one piece with ends butting together in the top half of the two piece cover. This is a more difficult method, but done right is less likely to leak IMO. If you go with the two piece method the ends on both halves must be cut so the are up slightly proud of the bolt flanges so that when the halves are assembled the ends of the gasket will butt together with enough interference to form a good seal on both sides. If this is not done correctly you could have two places for leaks.

Exactly why I found the hot glue gun so helpful. You can orient the angle of how the cork sits on the ends to where you can get a very precise and accurate alignment that will stay in place during assembly.
 
I guess I did it wrong, I sorta put the lower clam in place with the seal in then added the upper clam, leaving the one gap in the seal at the top... I greased the whole cork piece first... Does seem to work though...
Karl
 
I guess I did it wrong, I sorta put the lower clam in place with the seal in then added the upper clam, leaving the one gap in the seal at the top... I greased the whole cork piece first... Does seem to work though...
Karl

Karl, that's not necessarily the wrong way. It's one of the two methods mentioned and the way I did my last two projects. It is a little more difficult to assemble but once assembled correctly only has one possible leak point at the top.
 
Thanks for the responses. I thought the gasket stayed in one piece, but cutting it in half makes sense and should make it go together smoothly. Thanks again.

Hmm...'cutting it in half' :confused: Well, every set that I've ever put in whether cork/felt, came in two halfs ...proper length , in a kit with the other necessary gaskets for assembly. NO cutting necessary! When both pieces installed (with a dab of permatex also on the four ends) have never had a leak. Both halfs, when compressed together via clamshell halfs....provide good compression to provide proper seal. Heck , I've even used properly installed seals over , having left them in place without disturbing their condition...and they seal again perfectly. Good luck

kt,
Source of best gasket kit for this job, is from BEST GASKET kit # 10001.
 
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