I have a TCI th400 Streetfighter (which by the way always leaked a little since day one) and did a trans fluid/filter change. The local speed shop got me a "Duroprene" gasket (also from TCI) and said it was worth the extra money. Now I've over torqued bolts in the past and destroyed gaskets so I was real carefull. Well I got it filled with fluid, no leaks, and took it for a ride. Got back and had one small leak towards the back of the pan, ended up one of the pan bolts was a little loose so I tightened it and check all the others. Went for another ride, came back, no leaks so I pulled it in the garage. Next day I find a "huge" puddle of trans fluid under the car and its in the front of the pan??? I clean everything up and give all the bolts a half of a turn, couldn't start the car because my kids were asleep. Next day (before I start the car) another huge puddle?? Should I give the bolts another turn? Keep in mind I have installed a trans pan on a '94 camaro and a '92 silverado and didn't have any leaks. I feel like this dam thing is cursed or something. Please help!!!

Get under there with a flashlite and make sure the leak isn't coming from higher up on the case somewhere OR You might have a porosity problem and not a pan/gasket sealing problem~ I always used some RTV on the gasket to pan to make sure it was sealed all the way around on mine. I have sealed aluminum pans to the case with sealer and then hand tightened the bolts all the way down, but you only do that IF the pan has a drain plug built in. Otherwise it's a pain to get the pan back off at fluid change time.

I have checked for a higher source of the leak, the kick down "thing" is leaking a small amount but is definitly not the problem. Last night I gave a couple of the bolts another 1/4 turn and the leak has slowed down. At this point I feel that I have nothing loose by cranking them down hard and see if it gets any better. If it doesn't I'll buy a better pan, use some rtv sealer and try it again. Any other insight would be welcomed! Thanks.

You need to torque the bolts to about 95 INCH/lbs. I prefer the Accopac or Farpak gaskets installed DRY or with a light coat of Trans Gel or Vaseline....NO RTV or sealant of any kind...., and NOT any rubber or cork varieties for pan gaskets. Make sure the pan has no dimples or wavy spots on the sealing surface. The cast aluminum pans are better not only from a sealing standpoint but they also help reinforce the case. Nothing pi$$es a guy off more than a leaky pan, lol....

Maybe its an overfill problem :confused:

Well, I cranked the bolts down tighter than normal and got the leak to slow down, by the way it leaks without the engine running so I doubt it's over filled. I think it's a combination of a cheap pan and the pan being abused. Between shipping the trans on the pan and me leaving the trans on a floor jack that eventually loses pressure (i didn't know at the time) and the trans falling off onto the concrete, this pan has seen better days. I ordered a cast aluminum pan and will be installing over the weekend. I'll update you guys on the outcome and brand/type pan that I purchased.

It is possible to leak while sitting, some of the fluid in the torque converter drains back into the pan, but with the abuse the pan has taken, that is probably your problem.