Technical 55 olds hydromatic help

Hey guys I’m new to Oldsmobiles, with this being my first one. It’s a 1955 olds 98. I just picked it up, but it’s leaking a lot of trans fluid. I just pulled the hydromatic trans out to reseal it, it’s leaking from the front main seal, and also the rear tail shaft seal.

I got a few questions regarding. I did buy a manual for the 55 but I know there’s a wealth of knowledge here and was hoping for some help.

first off when I got the trans out the rear of the torus cover seems to be really loose inside the bell housing, the retainer nut is there and tight as should be but the cover just kinda floats around is that normal? Is there a seal missing inside the rear portion of the cover?

second is I know the rear seal goes in from the inside of the tail shaft from the reaearch I’ve done, looking at the manual looks like some internals need to be removed to take the tail shaft off. How extensive is this to do just to change the seals?

lastly I’ve started to pull the front apart to get to the front seal, I’ve removed the torus cover and drive torus, and the fly wheel housing off the trans, now there two bolts to remove the front pump and change the seals, is that all I need to do to reseal this front leak or do more of the internals need to be removed first.

Nobody here in socal seems to want to touch this trans, seems like they are all afraid or something so I’ll be down by to tear down and resealing myself, just hoping for a little insight on this thing.


Thanks in advanced for any and all help!

 

I'm doing some repairs on a 56 pontiac now with the same trans!! Phila here is the resident expert. Fatsco transmission has parts. When you call them ask for Robert in parts. He's got a ton of knowledge and gas helped me.