Transmission Dipstick Added to the Engine Bay

[krisk]

I have been looking for a way to make checking the transmission fluid in my 10r80 a little easier since I’m changing the fluid regularly due to track use. I haven’t found any dipsticks designed for the Mustang, but I came across one from B&M which is designed for the 10r80 in the F-150. I took a chance on it, and everything fit. It was a little tough finding a good spot to mount it in the engine bay, but I settled on attaching it to the bottom of the strut tower brace.

It’s not a super exciting mod, but I am glad I don’t have to get under the car just to check the fluid.

Here’s the link for anyone interested. I’ve also included some photos after the install.
https://www.holley.com/products/drivetrain/transmission_pans_and_accessories/dipsticks/parts/22200

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[D/\rK•650]

This is pretty awesome^ Very good idea .

 

[DarkHorsePremium]

Very interesting. Appreciate the post. I had just watched a video on the change a few days ago. I thought... I may pay Ford to do it . Frequent changes are definitely necessary if you're tracking the car. My garage and driveway are pretty small.

This is the video I watched.

 

[krisk]

Very interesting. Appreciate the post. I had just watched a video on the change a few days ago. I thought... I may pay Ford to do it . Frequent changes are definitely necessary if you're tracking the car. My garage and driveway are pretty small.

This is the video I watched.

If I was doing it at normal service intervals, I’d probably pay the dealer to do it. It’s not terribly difficult, but disconnecting the heat exchanger makes it a little more involved.

I installed the PPE pan the first time I did the fluid change so now I have a drain plug, which makes fluid changes much easier. The bigger pain is checking the fluid level since the car has to be hot and running.

 

[LouG]

What a great idea. This is why we still need pioneers.

 

[nitepjony]

I have been looking for a way to make checking the transmission fluid in my 10r80 a little easier since I’m changing the fluid regularly due to track use. I haven’t found any dipsticks designed for the Mustang, but I came across one from B&M which is designed for the 10r80 in the F-150. I took a chance on it, and everything fit. It was a little tough finding a good spot to mount it in the engine bay, but I settled on attaching it to the bottom of the strut tower brace.

It’s not a super exciting mod, but I am glad I don’t have to get under the car just to check the fluid.

Here’s the link for anyone interested. I’ve also included some photos after the install.
https://www.holley.com/products/drivetrain/transmission_pans_and_accessories/dipsticks/parts/22200

Been considering adding a dipstick too. Can you add fluid from the tube? Also how did you do the markings for the dipstick, I know these ones just use a black dipstick with no markings, also how easy is it to read the dipstick?

 

[krisk]

Been considering adding a dipstick too. Can you add fluid from the tube? Also how did you do the markings for the dipstick, I know these ones just use a black dipstick with no markings, also how easy is it to read the dipstick?

You can add fluid from the tube. It requires a hose partially down the tube because it runs horizontally for the first section. However, filling from underneath requires a hose of some sort as well.

I measured the fluid level hot on the factory dipstick, marked the level, installed the new dipstick, checked the level and transferred the corresponding high and low level marks to the B&M dipstick. I used a utility knife to score the new dipstick with the level markings.

The dipstick isn’t as easy to read as the factory plastic one, but not much different than trying to read clean oil on the engine oil dipstick.

 

[DarkHorsePremium]

@krisk

Yes. The whole getting it to 205°-214° and cycling the shifter, removing the heat exchanger and marking the pan where the studs are vs. bolts, plus needing the upside down "J" fill tube thing and not burning yourself .... I'd probably need a skin graft. . If I had a lift though, no problem. I envy you. The mod you did is wonderful.

 

[krisk]

@krisk

Yes. The whole getting it to 205°-214° and cycling the shifter, removing the heat exchanger and marking the pan where the studs are vs. bolts, plus needing the upside down "J" fill tube thing and not burning yourself .... I'd probably need a skin graft. . If I had a lift though, no problem. I envy you. The mod you did is wonderful.

Having a lift makes it significantly more manageable for changing or checking the fluid.

My heat exchanger sprung a leak when I was over 1,000 miles from home, and I had to do a replacement with the car on jack stands in a parking lot during a heat wave. Of course that involved doing the whole transmission fluid fill and check procedure as well. That was no fun whatsoever.

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