88 spider trans fluid question

[alanP]

Hi All, Hope everyone had a great summer...great top down weather for sure.
Finally getting around to changing trans fluid in my 88 veloce (shell spirax HD 85w90) but I noticed some sludge on the drain plug & figure there's a lot more sitting in the pan.
Should I take the trans pan off & clean the stuff out before refilling? Also, will I just create leak/seeping issues by messing with it?
I didn't see replacement gaskets on IAP site.

Thanks for any input.

alan

[bobbrady]

Alan,

I assume your car is not an automatic. If true, there is no "pan" to drop. I wouldn't worry about the sludge.

bob

[alanP]

Thanks Bob, I suppose "pan" was not the correct word but there looks to be a section under the trans that can be removed where the drain plug threads in. It was just a thought to clean out the gunk before refilling.

Thanks
alan

[bobbrady]

Are you sure you're looking at the transmission? The trans case is split down the center. There is no pan that I have ever seen. Only way to open up the trans is to pull it and split the case. The engine, on the other hand, has a large finned sump that is bolted together in an upper section and a lower section. You don't mean that, do you? Also, the rear differential has a finned aluminum cover on the bottom of it, where the drain plug is. Is that what you're talking about?