Dumb questions, I am still learning

[lilkiduno]

okay guys,

I apologize for what is probably dumb questions.

There are a few issues I would like to address. I just bought a 1976 K5 Blazer. The PO told me it has a 350 motor and I know it has a th350 transmission (confirmed by looking at the pan). I have a fluid leak from the right(passengers side) of the radiator, red fluid so I am assuming it's transmission fluid. My father believes it's a power steering line. I have not traced the lines and due to the recent snow, I do not have any pictures.

a few other issues that I am facing are: rolling in park, no speedometer readings, no fuel gauge readings an awful squeak and holes in the floor.  I have read that you can check the linkage on the transmission but I have not gotten under it and checked. When you put it into park you can hear the idle change would this indicate the transmission is in park or should I check the linkage. Also when it rolls there is no noise from the parking paw so this is another reason I am thinking the linkage needs adjusted but it goes into all the other gears fine so I am kinda afraid of screwing things up. The PO said all I had to do was plug the speedometer back into the transmission and it would be good to go. I am sure he lied to me as it appeared to be connected, What other items should I check? The fuel gauge I am at a lose on. I have not read any threads on fixing that. the squeak I assume to be the belt but I have not inspected it yet nor the other pullies.

Sorry for my ignorance,
Hopefully I will have pictures tomorrow after I get off work.

Thank You,
lilkiduno

[winky]

there is an article in the tech section on the fuel gauge. sounds like trans fluid to me. (power steering is usually clear unless substitute trans fluid like i do) im sure some one else will check in and give you some more info than i have, just take you time and do some searching on the forums there a ton of useful info on here.

[dvdswan]

power steering lines are all on the driver side of the vehicle.  auto trans lines go to the pass. side of the radiator for cooling or after market trans cooler.  so chances are that the leak is trans fluid. 

[rich weyand]

On a K5 the speedometer cable connects to the transfer case.  Inside the connector is a little doodad that goes on the end of the cable that has a pawl on the side that is driven by the speedometer gear in the transfer case.  If you pull the cable out to lube it from the dash end, the little doodad comes off the end of the cable and when you put the cable back, you have no speedometer.  Many cars you can pull the cable out at the dash end and just put it back, but not on a 70's K.  The little doodad is still down there, inside the connector.  You just have to pull the connector and slip the doodad back onto the end of the cable.

[bake74]

okay guys,

I apologize for what is probably dumb questions.

Thank You,
lilkiduno

     I just have to say this, as long as a question is asked so that you can learn something, then there is no such thing as a dumb question.

[lilkiduno]

Well I have to work late so there is nothing new for the truck for the rest of the week probably. By the time I get off work all the sunlight is going to be gone and I have terrible luck working in the dark even with work lights. I should get good time this weekend. working 11 hour days until Friday. Which I will probably get a belt and check the pullies. I have to get this beast "inspected" to tag it (haha Kansas' Inspection is a VIN number check since it was bought from an out of state resident). Would have had more money for work but backing into a garage door kinda stole all my spare money ($1000 later).

I have read a few post about classic tube for replacement pre-bent Transmission lines. Do you guys get the Stainless Steel or the regular OEM Metal?

Haha, well I accidentally posted via Facebook to.

[Captkaos]

I got stainless for one of my trucks haven't needed another set yet, but either is fine.  The benefit of stainless is not rust.

[lilkiduno]

well I figured out what the belt squeaking was. The A/C belt was a little loose. so i tightened it up and now the squeak is gone. Changed the oil and the oil filter placement kinda sucks. I sat under the truck having issues getting the filter off.

I have found the thread on how to make a gauge testing unit and I will probably run down to Radio Shack and pick up the items sometime this week. Sorry for now pictures (of the leaking lines) as of yet, Ill probably snap a few tomorrow. I knew the floor boards needed some love but today my seat belt separated from the floor. Oops better fix that..... Shhhhhh

[bobcooter]

The transmisson cooling lines should have tubing fittings that screw into the radiator. If one backs off a little it will cause a leak. Over the years I have seen some trucks that someone had cut the steel lines off because they are very stiff and hard to bend. Sometimes people will use a pieace of fuel hose to get back from the steel line to the radiator. If this was done to your truck it could simply be a loose hose clamp.
 A bit of advice the other guys here will agree with. When you are having a problem, always looks for the simple, inexpensive things first. And like Bake said, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

[lilkiduno]

Sorry I haven't replied for a while. Been surfing but no real work done at all. I have found out a little bit more about my "red liquid" leak. It's ATF and it's because someone added an extra transmission fluid cooler. It's tucked away behind the drivers headlight.... yes behind the headlight where no wind can pass though it. I have pop-riveted a few 26 gauge sheet metal pieces to a few holes in the floor boards. This is my temporary fix until I get my Volkswagen fixed and do more serious work. Rich do you have a picture of said doodad? Haven't had the extra money to put into the truck lately so most of the nice days we have been getting here in Kansas has been spent at the lake. But with longer distance hunting trips coming up fast I would really like to fix the speedometer, now the odometer I realized doesn't work and neither does the fuel gauge. I seem to be leaking fluid out of the transfer case and the transfer case shiftier indicates it's a NP203 which I have read to be belt driven. Which gear is the best to drive in out of Hi and Hi Lock? I think the shift is worn out because when I went to shift to high out of high lock it went to neutral. unless there is an EXTREMELY small space in between the gears. Also, can I change gears with the motor on? I have been shutting the truck off during the gear changes. When you change your transmission fluid do you guys just change the filter and replace the fluid or do you do an all out flush?

[rich weyand]

The NP203 is chain drive.  I assume yours has been modified, and you have manual hubs.  If so, best is to drive around with the hubs in FREE and in HI, not HI LOC.  The exception is to put it in HI LOC for a couple miles the first time you drive it every day to fill up the oil reservoir for the rear output bearing.  There is no oil pump in the NP203, the chain pumps the oil, but the chain does not run in HI after the NP203 has been modified to part-time.

The shifter lever gets loose, then it's hard to hit gears.  The shifter lever should be rigidly held in every position, not floppy.  If it is loose, remove the boot and tighten the two bolts that connect the chrome lever from the cab to the unchromed lever that runs into the shifter box.  That will also make it easier to hit a gear setting and not go past into neutral.  With the hubs in LOCK, you can shift from HI to HI LOC and back while rolling (unless you are spinning the rears); with the hubs in FREE, you can shift from HI LOC to HI while rolling, but you have to stop to shift from HI to HI LOC (because the front driveshaft is not turning but the transfer case is).

The doodad is going to look like one of these.  The transfer case speedometer gazinta is circular with a keyway, while the end of the cable is square.  One of these slips over the cable, then you put it into the transfer case.  If some dumba$$ pulled the cable out at the dash to lube it, and just stuck it back in, this piece fell off in the cable housing and is laying in there.  Put the cable back in, no workee.  I say dumba$$, because that's what I felt like when I did it.  :-)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedometer-Gear-Ratio-Adapter-Small-Part-Kit-/131108496838

[lilkiduno]

I don't think it's been modified unless who ever would have modified it didn't put locking hubs on. With the motor on I was able to get it to shift into high, checked your reply when I got to work this morning and changed the gear when I went on a coffee run haha. Hopefully it dries up so I can pull the cable out of the transfer case and check that.

[rich weyand]

If the NP203 has not been modified, you can switch from HI to HI LOC and back any time you want, as long as you aren't spinning any of the wheels on a loose surface.