Thread: How to tell if a trans is good

Tweet

About the only way you can tell at first is to give it 'the sniff' test. If the oil is dark brown or if it is empty smells burned, walk away. Then the sight test - and that's to pull the pan and look at the filter and the sediment as Roger noted. I wouldn't put much money into a used transmission when there are several fairly good companies who will sell you one for less than a $1000 bucks and set up for a low level of performance. Automatic Transmissions - SummitRacing.com. The first 3-4 here are $660-950. I'm not going to get into the merits of any of the rebuilders, but all will do the job just fine with an occasional dud. My TCI Ford C4 Street Fighter has been fine.

Good advise. Don't do what I did years ago. I bought a 350 tranny and pulled the dip stick and the oil looked good so I got it at a good price. About 20 miles down the road after installing, it froze up and started smoking. Pulled the pan and it was full of clutch material. I learned quickly now to pull the pan and see whats in the filter.

Originally Posted by chevy 37

Good advise. Don't do what I did years ago. I bought a 350 tranny and pulled the dip stick and the oil looked good so I got it at a good price. About 20 miles down the road after installing, it froze up and started smoking. Pulled the pan and it was full of clutch material. I learned quickly now to pull the pan and see whats in the filter.

This is good advice.

Although, even if the oil looks good with little sediment, there is nothing telling you if the seals are ''crispy''.

I tore down a th350 this morning, found clean oil, nice clutch plates but the seals on the low/reverse apply piston were hard.

Is the transmission standard shift or automatic? If standard shift, it should shift smoothly with no gear rake as you manually shift it, have little or no oil leaks and make no noise or vibration. For an automatic, again check for oil leaks and avoid a car with a greasy transmission. Hold the brake and put the car is drive with the engine running. You should feel a very mild jerk.