1985 Buick Regal Limited 3.8 V6 th200 transmission seals/gaskets

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pduarte

n00b
Jan 31, 2022
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Look for any information on what seals or gaskets need to be replaced for my stock 85 regal. Going to be taking it to a transmission shop, I just want to make sure I am doing the correct ones since they’ll have to drop the transmission? Car smokes from under the hood when not running and burns through transmission fluid.
 

MrSony

Geezer
Nov 15, 2014
6,792
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Des Moines, Iowa
Smokes when not running?

The only way transmission fluid "disappears" without leaving a puddle is being sucked into the engine via a bad vacuum modulator or the radiator is cracked inside where the transmission cooler is. If it's a proper transmission shop they should furnish all the necessary parts, you'll just have to pay more.
 

timo22

G-Body Guru
Sep 10, 2012
550
1,072
93
St. Louis,Mo
A th200 does not have a vacuum modulator. Honestly, spending a good chunk of money on an old transmission for seals seems like a waste. I would consider just getting a rebuilt transmission. And I would convert to a turbo 350 and never worry about it again.

timo22
 
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L92 OLDS

Comic Book Super Hero
Mar 30, 2012
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West Michigan
A th200 does not have a vacuum modulator. Honestly, spending a good chunk of money on an old transmission for seals seems like a waste. I would consider just getting a rebuilt transmission. And I would convert to a turbo 350 and never worry about it again.

timo22
Agreed, or upgrade to a 200-4R and put a nice gear set in the rear end. That would wake up that 3.8 and you would likely get better fuel mileage
 

L92 OLDS

Comic Book Super Hero
Mar 30, 2012
2,872
3,050
113
West Michigan
Look for any information on what seals or gaskets need to be replaced for my stock 85 regal. Going to be taking it to a transmission shop, I just want to make sure I am doing the correct ones since they’ll have to drop the transmission? Car smokes from under the hood when not running and burns through transmission fluid.
Welcome to the forum. We see this is your first post. Where are you from and what is your background?
 

69hurstolds

Geezer
Supporting Member
Jan 2, 2006
8,088
17,308
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To actually answer your question...

Burns through transmission fluid? I assume you mean it leaks so bad you're bleeding fluid everywhere? Usually that's the torque converter lip seal failure. The seals can get old, hot, and brittle over 37 years' time. And then they start to break apart and cause little escape routes, which means hemorrhaging of fluid all over the floor when sitting for a length of time.

Typically, you would want to replace the front and rear seals, selector shaft seal, as these are all lip seals. Also the pan gasket. Of course you need to make sure all the sealing surfaces are good as well, as deep wear grooves in the torque converter or drive shaft can cause issues, even with new seals.

The issue you may have to watch out for is that the transmission's fluid loss could have caused clutch damage that never fixes itself. So seals alone may not be enough. Assuming the engine is in good shape, I would suggest that if you're going to yank the transmission to change a front seal, it may be worth it in the long run to do a quality rebuild on the transmission while it is out. 200s aren't difficult. You could get a TH350, but unless there's a good reason to do it, like upgrading stuff later, the stock engine shouldn't tear up a properly rebuilt 200 that was mated to it. Consider your plans for the car. If a TH350 meets your long range goals, then consider it. But if your goal is just to return it to stock, why bother? Talk it over with the transmission guys if you trust them. They can see/touch/feel your transmission and hopefully guide you in the right direction on what your car needs.
 
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