Transmission Oil Change

Lowell Brown recently changed the oil in his transmission, so I asked him to take some pictures to document the process.

First, there were three types of transmission used in 330 GTs.  The series 1 cars used a 4 speed transmission with an overdrive unit (tipo 571).  The interim and early series 2 cars used a 5 speed transmission (tipo 571/65).  This was changed to the 571/66 version when the engine was changed to the 2 mount style (~s/n 8279).  The latter transmission was also carried over into the 365 2+2 production.

Second, the pictures and information are from the 571/66 transmission, but should be similar to the earlier versions.

To start, remove the safety wire and drain plug from the rear of the transmission, shown below at the lower right. Let the transmission oil drain out.  It holds about five quarts.

The transmission has an oil pump at the rear, along with a mesh filter that should be checked and cleaned as necessary.  The filter is behind the brass fitting shown below.

Lowell wasn't able to completely remove the filter due to it hitting the cross member behind the transmission.  But it came out enough to verify that it looked clean.  This is sealed with an O-ring.

Lowell mentioned that his drain plug did not have any washer on it, so he used a copper crush washer when he put it back on, along with replacing the safety wire.

Access to the filler plug is through a panel in the side of the fiberglass transmission tunnel.  It is near the handbrake lever.  Pull back the leather cover and any jute that covers the panel and remove it.

       

It's been my experience, which matches Lowell's, that the filler plug is best removed with an impact wrench.  The limited access and the amount of force needed generally makes using a breaker bar impossible.

Once the filler plug is removed, refill the transmission with oil.  Ferrari recommended Shell Spirax EP90.  It takes five liters (tipo 571/66).  Lowell checked after five quarts and found that the level was about 3/16" below the bottom of the threads.  Lowell's filler plug had a fiber washer.  The drawing in the parts book looks that it should be a solid copper washer.