Thread: Update.... New video.. Read last post... Final thoughts

The TC doesn't really have wear parts. It's a hydraulic pump using vanes/fins. Either these fins break off (like Bill said) or they work fine - they don't wear out.

Worn clutch material and the heat caused by worn clutches is what will blacken your fluid.

The tc IS a pump, it doens't have a pump (that's what I meant).

It's not a positive displacement pump (like a PS pump), but similar to a SC roots air pump.

I'm using the vague term 'pump' to mean anything that moves fluid (as the stator and rotor fins to inside a tc).

I remember a very old automotive book my dad had that described a TC as two fans facing each other at about 2" apart. One fan is powered (by the engine), it spins, moves air (ATF in the case of a TC), and induces spin in the other fan.

Unless the vanes in your TC are shot, it won't result in slipping. If the vanes in your TC ARE shot, you should have chunks of debris in your pan as well as a rotating eccentric mass (as well as huge vibrations and noise at all speeds). Also, I think the TC locks anyway in higher gears (I could be wrong on this so don't quote me).

Bottom line, I would be stunned if you have a damaged TC resulting in slipping. You most likely have worn clutch packs. Try a bottle of Lucas oil (or something like that) and see if you can limp it along until you get it rebuilt.

Then you're in the same boat as me - I'm currently replacing my tranny with a TEP rebuilt unit.

I added two bottles of Lucas - nothing happened with me either.

My band is glazed and I get shuddering during acceleration (as the band slips/grabs/slips/grabs). This is accompanied by relatively dark and HOT AS HELL fluid.

Your TC has no wear friction material. It's a strictly fluid coupling. Your wear parts include fcriction discs, bands, steels etc. But, not the TC.

One way to confirm it's your friction material: if it's worse when warm. The more viscous cold fluid can 'hide' a slipping tranny to some extent.

no - ran fine except for shuddering accelerating from a stop.

The shuddering was so bad that I replaced pretty much every front end suspension component in a failed attempt to fix what I was sure was wheel-hop

You TC sits in the bell housing. That's a big speaker really - I think all of your tranny noises will seem like they come from there just due to acoustics/physics.

You have separate clutches for each speed. My fwd apply band is shot, your 3rd gear clutch pack could be smoked.

Either way, I highly doubt it has anything to do with your TC.

Axles?

you can tell pretty easily - take off the flexplate cover and get an inspection mirror.