To my short comings, I did not take any pics. And I'm kicking myself.
78 Big 10. TH350 90,k on the clock.
As soon as I got it in the driveway, I dropped the pan and changed the filter and fluid.
At the deepest end of the pan there was at least 1/8" of sludge that looked like old gray paint. The actual shiny metal flakes were not visable in the sun light. Fluid did not smell burnt, but was a tad cloudy.
I have read the gray krap is friction material.
The top of the filter was not plugged up.
There was no maintance records available, so no idea when the last change was done...if ever.
After the oil/filter change: it will now coast out of the level drive, at idle. (That was an improvement)
It seems to go down the road well enough and shifts as it should. If I stick my foot in it, it will downshift as it should...3-2 going up a hill and 2-1 if I really stomp on it.
I have not tried to burn the tires or a brake tork. This is a 6200lb truck. I wouldn't hesitate if the tranny was new.
Some things I've read suggest it needs rebuilt, but an old mechanic sayes it should be fine.
So, as I was watching "Roadworthy Rescues" this morning, they dropped a mopar powerglide tranny pan and man, the sludge in the pan sorta gave me flashbacks, and they got a rebuilt one to replace it. Their comments on the amount of sludge got me to wonder about my tranny.
Back story, I've had stick shifts all my life. Wife has had automatics and I've maintaned them but never tore off a pan. So, this is kinda new territory for me.
I am very mechanically inclined and have no reservations about rebuilding this tranny.
I just don't want to tear into something that doesn't need it.
We plan on using this truck to go camping with and pull a small pop-up camper.
So to the Collective:
Do you think it's Trustworthy?
Or,
Rebuild it, for sure...
If you have any questions, please ask.
Thanks in advance.