What do i look for in a junkyard tranny?

[JORGIE95961]

Transmission that is!! lol? no ok... Seriously though.. im gonna set out to find a junkyard th350.. now I know some of you will say.. there at a junkyard they are junk.. but ive scored trannys before out of yard that have lasted for th elife of my cars.. The big questions is. what di I look for ? Is there anything about a tranny that can tell me its shot?.. id like to have at least an %80 chjance of it working versus the old 50/50...

[dan42]

Check to see if it came in in a running car; check the color of the fluid, and for a burnt smell -

[Jessechop]

Smell and color and keep in mind if the fluid looks real nice and fresh chances are the car had a bad tranny, owner did a fluid/filter swap and it didnt fix it (like it ever would) and then it got hauled to the scrapper

[JORGIE95961]

I remember readind some where to put it in gear and turn the input shaft while checking the output? but its a hydraulic tranny would this work?

[special-K]

See that the fluid is still red.

[Beat68CST]

If you can pop the pan, do so, check for an EXTENSIVE amount of metal shavings.

Get a Turbo400 :P

[Jessechop]

Originally Posted by JORGIE95961

I remember readind some where to put it in gear and turn the input shaft while checking the output? but its a hydraulic tranny would this work?

That wont tell you anything really. Fluid color and smell are the 2 big ones. If you find one you are really considering pull the pan and see what you find in the pan

[JORGIE95961]

Originally Posted by Jessechop

That wont tell you anything really. Fluid color and smell are the 2 big ones. If you find one you are really considering pull the pan and see what you find in the pan

i was under the impression that one should not introduce new transmission fluid into an old tranny due to the detergents in th efluid wearing down internal components and seal? i probably misunderstood.. if its just the outer seals i gues its fine

[Jessechop]

Originally Posted by JORGIE95961

i was under the impression that one should not introduce new transmission fluid into an old tranny due to the detergents in th efluid wearing down internal components and seal? i probably misunderstood.. if its just the outer seals i gues its fine

I have never heard that

[vasquezmrysvll]

i plan to pull my working th350 in favor for my 700r4. ill make you a sweet deal. i just need to gather more parts for my swap

[stich626]

get it from a place that if it don't work they give you another..
you'll pay alittle more but..
checking the smell of the fluid, bring a long q tip run it on the inside of the tube if the fluid looks freesh and the tube swipe smells burnt you know the fresh fluid was a last atempt
look for a car that was hit,, cars that are junked that are not hit hard are there because of engine or tranny..
hit ones from being totalled
good luck..
I just got one and it was 100.oo
good yards will know if a car drive in or if the tranny "should be good or if it's junk(rebuild core)
mine came out of a early 70's van motorhome.. that wasn't hit..
but I'm gonna rebuild it,,
good luck

[JORGIE95961]

Originally Posted by vasquezmrysvll

i plan to pull my working th350 in favor for my 700r4. ill make you a sweet deal. i just need to gather more parts for my swap

orale ! thanks .. i actualy havbe one bro and a buddy of mine that owns a shop said he has a rebuilt one for me free of charge..... i was just curious how to spot them as a friend of mine is on the search

[.030over]

... and don't buy it until you are ready to install it. Most yards give a 30 day exchange which is better than nothing but if you look at it on the garage floor for months (or years) before installing it you will have no warranty. There is no sure fire way of telling if an automatic is good. The problem with changing fluid on an old unit is the new detergents will loosen chunks of sludge and clog up tiny passages. This is more of a problem on newer computer controlled ones. We won't do a flush or fluid change on anything that has over 100k.

[bigsnookmaster]

Go to a yard that will let you look at them all. Years ago, on my third tranny, the third I picked myself, I found a real clean one that had the written markings of a recent rebuild on it. It had a shift kit, and lasted for years. Good luck!