I'm going to change my tran's oil an Iv read that to fill it where the speed sending unit is but to be very carefull not to let the gear fall inside. What id like to know, can it be filled at the small plastic cap just above an to the left of the speed unit an next to the shift linkage I think it's a breather cap, it's gray an just's plug's in to the tran's case. Does any one know what im talking about? An can it be filled there?
Also, I'm thinking of going to syncromesh instead of 5/30 dino. Does it make that much more of a diffrent's? My trans shift's nice. Thank's for any info you can give me.....

[This message has been edited by georgie (edited 02-14-2014).]

No. That point is much higher than the fill level, you have no way of knowing how high to fill so you stand a chance of over-filling.

We yell so loudly about dropping the speedo gear because it's sometimes impossible to retrieve it if it comes off. They're usually dropped into the trans by someone that's doing a refill or check for the first time. It's really not a difficult or hazardous operation. They come off because there's very little clearance for the gear to pass through the VSS opening. Patience will be your best friend.

Remove the hold down tab and clean the area around the VSS with compressed air if available. Otherwise tear a strip of towel about 2 inches wide and place it around the base of the VSS like you'd use a bath towel to dry your butt. Now, alternately pull either end to remove dirt behind the VSS.

Try placing a flat blade screwdriver into the slot for the hold down tab and pry up while rocking the VSS with the other hand. If it doesn't move, use something to very lightly bump the VSS while continuing to pry upward. You may have to find a piece of wood to bump one side then the other, pry up, bump, pry until you get it to start to move.

Once it's moving, use two hands, brace them against the transmission and wiggle the VSS upward very carefully. You don't want to put enough upward force on it that when it comes loose, you jerk it all the way up to the top of the trunk wall. When it is free, you can see the gear well enough to carefully extract it through the mount hole. Fluid level markings are on the housing shaft.

Don't drain the fluid until you've decided upon how you plan to refill. If you pull the VSS, remove the gear and check fluid levels with the VSS until full, then reinstall the gear onto the VSS. Prevents the possibility of losing it during in and out fluid level checks.

Great info! Thank's. Is syncromesh worth getting over 5/30 dino oil? Or dex.

I don't see why you couldn't fill thru the hole you described if you know how much fluid to put back in. You could just measure how much comes out and put the same amount back in. I just had a bad experience dropping my gear into my Isuzu transmission, I was able to retrieve it with long needle nose pliers. I will never take my vss out again if I can avoid it, if its never been taken out its very hard to gently pull it out straight. As to using synchromesh fluid, I put it in my Isuzu 5 speed and it caused the axle seals to start leaking so I put 5W/30 back in and the leaking stopped.

Does anyone know how much fluid the 85gt 2.8 4speed man tran's take to fill? I think I read it take's 2gt's, also I beleave it's a muncie tran's.

Haynes manual says 3 qts but I don't think it would take that much on a drain and refill

Two and three fourths quarts. For some reason the 84 transaxel required 3 but the 85 and 86 was less.

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 02-14-2014).]

Thank's to all for the help!! I found out that all 85 an 86 4 speeds have a fill plug on the driver side of the tranny. So I looked an there it was.... ya!! I don't need to pull the vss. So if any one has a 85/86 4 speed your in luck.