Changing Fluid Coupling Fluid

As you can see from my face icon, I am somewhat perlexed. I want to change the fluid in my 1950 dodge fluid coupling, but am not sure if I have to remove the lower bell housing, or just take out the plug at the bottom of the housing.

Any advice will be appreciated.

1950 Dodge

'50 Dodge,

You shouldn't have to remove that whole bottom section of the bell-housing...

1) Working from the passenger front door, pull back the floor-mats to expose the access plate on the right side of the tranny hump ( sort of an oval-shaped plate, secured with one 7/16"-head screw). Vaccum all the loose dirt/crud from around the opening.

Remove the silver plug-button ("Fill Here") from the bell-housing.

2) Remove the plug-button from the bottom of the bell-housing, and place a pan capable of holding 3 to 4 quarts underneath.

3) Back up top, using the starter, "bump" the engine until the filler plug on the Fluid Coupling is lined-up with the hole through the bell-housing; loosen the plug with a SNUG-fitting six-point socket, then remove it entirely, being careful not to drop it down inside the bell housing.

4) Now (by hand) turn the engine over so that the open filler port on the Fluid Coupling points to 6 o'clock, and let drain.

5) Once it's done draining, you can turn the engine over to bring the port back up to the fill location and refill.

Now, once you pull the plug-button of the bottom of the bell-housing, you might decide there's enough room for you to pull the plug working from below ( plug at 6 o 'clock)... you'll probably get an "arm-full" of MoPar Super Fluid Drive Fluid in the process, but that'll wash-off...

Pulling that whole cast-iron bottom bell-housing cover can be a real pain, so see if you can avoid that...

Good luck !

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Would like to add, that when I check the fluid level on my 51 DeSoto I always stuff a rag around the hole before removing the plug, that way it is impossible to drop it down inside the housing.

Hmmm...good stuff. I presume that my 50 DeSoto will be similar...I will be doing this soon myself...now I have a clue...thanks to all!