Is the hole in the bottom of the tranny housing normal?
 

(1) I just replaced my starter on Saturday and while under there, (for the first time, really, as I've only owned her since October) I found a hole in the bottom of the tranny that allows me to see the flywheel. I don't ever remember seeing something like this on any of my other cars. I did a search and couldn't find anything. (2) Also, after getting under the car, I noticed that someone obviously, (not me) jacked up the car with the jack under the damb oil pan. It is dented in. I properly jacked her up using the crossmember only, but noticed where dumb and dumber have jacked her up (literally and figuratively) using the crossmember AND the oil pan and have also proceeded to crush other jacking points under the door panels and channels that run the length of the car. Is my oil pan damage going to cause other problems?
-marty

Its an inspection port, most if not all transmissions have them, Though most of teh time they end up having a small plate screwed or bolted over the hole.

Makes sense, since I could see the flywheel. Thanks. Do I need to cover it? Also, for my oil pan ?, if/when I fix it, should I just fix what I have or replace?

What's wrong with the oil pan?

Sorry, I didn't make it clear in my second post, but in my original post I explained what I found while under the car. It was dented in by a previous owner/mechanic by what was probably a jack. Although it could have also been caused by running over a rock or something else (a Nissan, perhaps?). Ha, Ha Nissan owners. Just kidding.

Depends on how badly and where it is bent. Pix would help.

How dented is the pan? do you have pictures?

Also is Chevrolets that are rocks, remember "Like a Rock!" commercials?

It's dented up about 1/2" to 5/8" over the entire lowest part of the pan about the size of an opened wallet. (Maybe about 4" by 8" give or take.) I'll try some pics tomorrow, but as I'm a noobie, I haven't tried posting pics yet. I have read a little on how to do it and I assume it's not too difficult but I'm a little intimidated by all this newfangled technology.

Also, should I plug the tranny inspection hole?

Sorry, fellas. I'm now thinking that I should be posting these types of ?'s in the new member technical area. Hope I didn't piss anyone off. I'll leave this thread here but in the future will post in a more appropriate area. Also, I'm trying to figure out how to post pics. I know I've seen some good instructions, but can't find them right now.

on mine it is plugged with a rubber plug :D i would say to plug it.

As mentioned, the tranny came with a rubber plug. Post a WTB in the 1st Gen For Sale section. It's not a critical part, unless you drive through a lot of water that may affect the clutch.

I would drop the pan and hammer it out. There isn't a lot of clearence between the oil pickup tube and the bottom of the pan. When you hammer the pan out, try not to warp the mounting flange and inspect the filter screen at the bottom of the oil pick up tube.