4-speed shifter shaft seals leak

[usraptor]

When I bought my 'Cuda the trans, while not installed yet, had been rebuilt and came with a box of used/replaced parts.  While it shifts perfectly it leaves a small puddle of trans fluid under the car when I park it. I put it on the lift and determined that seals around the shifter rods (not the shift rods themselves, but what they connect to on the side of the trans) are leaking.  I have hesitated to have the seals replaced because I was under the impression that the trans has to be removed from the car and torn down to replace these seals from the inside of the housing.  However, I recently read a post where somebody said they had taken their car in and had the shift rod seals replaced, making it sound like it was done without R&Ring and disassembling the trans.  So can somebody in the know inform me how difficult it is to replace the seals?  I really hate oil leaks but at the same time I'm not looking forward to having to R&R my trans and paying a shop to disassemble and reassemble my trans just to replace a few seals that should have been replaced when the trans was originally rebuilt. 

[DeathProofCuda]

Is it all three of the shift rods?

I haven't done this before, but it looks like the 1-2 and 3-4 rods attach to the side cover, so seems like it might be relatively straight forward to remove the side cover and replace those seals?  Seal for the reverse rod might be a different story though.   

[usraptor]

Thanks, that's a great point.  When I get it up in the air for an oil change next week, I'll take a look at the side cover.  Thanks. 

[Mr Cuda]

 Typically,  it's the reverse lever in the bottom of the case that leaks. Not to be outdone,  the counter shaft can do some serious seeping also.
Both require full disassembly  as the reverse lever goes in first.
To deal with the reverse lever, we've had an extra groove ground into the shaft for a second o ring.
The counter shaft just needs the right  sealant.

[Chryco Psycho]

It depends which year the trans is , the 70-74 they are replaced from inside , & as stated above the 1-2 /3-4 are not too hard to do but reverse requires the trans to be disassembled , the Later OD version the seal can be replced from the outside , remove the levrs & there is a nylon pressure ring & a seal behind that .