Ok, so... interesting. It looks like GM added a transmission dip-stick to the later years of this same transmission.

You can see it here in this version of the 5-Speed Isuzu here (where it says "TRANS FILL"):




Apparently, they also offered this transmission in other GM vehicles from the early 80s through the early 2000s, which included the J-Body.

The one here is from a ~1995-1997 Cavalier / Sunfire.


It appears as though they used the bolt hole location, originally meant for the hold-down for the VSS, as the dip-stick tube location. And then they apparently drilled two other spots for small screws to be used as the VSS hold-down.

Seems rather excessive for me to swap a transmission just because I want a dip stick... hahah... but since I'll be pulling the engine to rebuild it, I realize at least that this is a good replacement option, and... if there are better more appropriately geared versions of this transmission, it might be worth it for me to swap one of those in.

Anyone know what this transmission is technically called? Other than 5-Speed Isuzu?


Thanks!

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 03-23-2023).]

Ok, I couldn't help myself... I just took a quick picture. It looks like it comes off the side of the transmission case. Sort of like it just plugs into the side of the transmission and then is supposed to be held in place by that little bracket (which appears to have separated from the tube). I guess the fluid level would fill up to and include the little elbow piece on the side, allowing you to check the fluid level.



I don't think too many people care, but maybe there is a part number for this and people can upgrade / add it if they wanted to.


As you can see, this car has a lot of leaks, part of the reason why I'm pulling the motor and transmission. It ran perfectly fine, but my guess is the transmission itself is also leaking, which would account for the fact that there's a ton of oil on the case around the driveshaft and below the dip-stick tube.