How much you like your auto tranny will depend on how much driving in traffic you do. I have an '85 with an auto, and an '84 with a manual. Most of my driving is in city, stop-and-go, traffic light to traffic light kind of stuff. A manual was LESS than optimum for this situation. I felt like I was rowing the d*mn thing all the way! The auto is a much easier drive, in this situation.

  The fill tube is easy to keep sealed. Tighten it up. It is an aluminum compression fitting on the steel tube, with a steel nut, into a steel fitting brazed to the trans pan. If you are already draining the trans, remove the nut and tube altogether, and make sure there are no burrs or raised ridges on the aluminum. A light touch with a file can fix them if there are any. The aluminum is what actually does the sealing at this joint. Then retighten the nut.

Aaron <lists@MYCOMMUNITYNET.NET> wrote:
  Hello all.

Is there a good way to keep one's auto tranny from leaking? I just
ordered the pan gasket and filter kit but it seems most of it is
actually leaking from the dipstick/filler tube. Has anyone found a
way to keep it sealed well there?

I'm not so sure I like this auto tranny thing. My manual sure seemed
a lot less hassle. $40+ differential gaskets, differing oils,
additional cooling hoses, different length cv shafts...oh my!

Thanks!
Aaron