So i've noticed that my transmission is leaking from the front driverside bolt.  I am thinking that the seal is probably bad/needs replaced.  I am wondering if there is some way to do this without dropping the transmission out of the car.  And if the tranny does need to be dropped should i just upgrade to one that might be able to handle a little more power. and if that is also the case what are some upgrade suggestions?

"Front driver side bolt"??
Need a little more info. Pan bolt, or something else? Can ya get a pic?

i believe it is a pan bolt it is leaking pretty good too, here is the pic

That is just a pan bolt and it could be a little loose or the pan gasket could be leaking at the corner. It could also be fluid coming from the shift rod seal just above it. Your going to have to do a little more trouble shooting to be sure where its coming from. Put it up in the air and clean all the fluid off with a cleaner. I always used carb cleaner or brake cleaner. Then take it for a small drive and put it back up and see where the fluid is coming from. Its not uncommon for the shifter seal to be leaking. You will need a special seal remover and installer to replace it but its an easy fix if its the seal. If its the pan gasket leaking you have to drop the pan which means changing the fluid while your at it. Can be a messy job but again fairly easy. And its also possible that the front converter/pump seal could leak which would mean trans removal. To replace the trans with an updated trans you will find 2 options and both would work fine. If you decide that path thats  a whole different tread! best of luck
Rodney Hake

Rodney.... there is something i would like to say to you and everyone else on this website.......  YOU FREAKING ROCK... i've tightened that bold and all the other on the tranny pan and will know in a few hours if tightening the bolt was the issue. Its not really running well right now so i have to wait to see if it will drip.  

|UPDATED|8/26/2012 6:13:17 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I'm wid Rod on this...looks like the pan gasket am leakin. Also looks like the gasket has sillycone on both sides of it...a sure way to guarantee it will leak. The shifter seal can also leak, but that's a pretty big leak I see....I'm betting the gasket is shot.
Another thing I see, is the shifter lock-out cable is bent, and most likely is not working. That cable is supposed to keep you from pulling the shifter out of Park without the key on, and it keeps you from being able to remove the key unless the shifter is in park.

i agree with that assessment based on how much fluid has been leaking out of the tranny so far...  so what kind of parts and protocol will i need to go through to replace that gasket without dropping the tranny out? 

|UPDATED|8/26/2012 8:19:59 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

The pan gasket change is pretty straight forward. Get a large drain pan for underneath, and remove the bolts, starting at the front. Leave a few(2-3) across the rear to hold the pan while it drains, then remove those, while holding the pan up. A helper is always nice. All you'll need is a new gasket and filter....and fluid.
The cable I see is most likely bound up, in the cable sheathing. You will not be able to straighten it and expect it to work. I would suggest removing the cable, and soaking it in oil for a few days, and then try to move it back/forth, trying to free it up. It should slide thru the outer sheathing fairly easily. Once you get it working, then you can re-install it, and it should be fine.

Okay so i've gotten the pan gasket and trany filter changed without too many issues, and while reinstalling the pan i noticed that a hose coming out of the driver side of the trany was leaking a little, i took it off and it seems like the fitting around the hose itself is loose, should i just reclamp it on there with a pair of pliers or replace this section of hose?  i've included a picture of the end of the hose too it seems to run up through the engine compartment and into the firewall

What you pictured is the speedometer cable housing and inside is speedometer cable. Protruding from the end of the housing is the small square end of the cable that slides into the tranmission. Normally there isn't any fluid inside the cable. If  fluid is evident, there is a small o-ring you can change where that screws back into the tranny. Ten minute job to replace. You were right that the other end goes into the firewall and attaches to speedometer. Let us know if you want to change the o-ring..