Used Old TH350....still good?

[87Kevin]

I have a th350 that has been sitting around the shop for about 4 years now. It worked fine when it was pulled. Just wanted to know if it could still be in usable condition without beeing rebuilt? The fluid is a bit dark, and smells a little. Does any deterioration happen to a sitting tranny?

Also, i have an other th350 currently in use. It engages in "drive" and "reverse" way too hard, but shifts fine from 1st to 3rd once moving.
The fluid looks cherry and does not smell at all. Fluid level is fine, and everything is hooked up properly. Could this be a bad torque converter?
Sorry for the two part question...any help would be much appreciated.

 

[A. G. Olphart]

I have a th350 that has been sitting around the shop for about 4 years now. It worked fine when it was pulled. Just wanted to know if it could still be in usable condition without beeing rebuilt? The fluid is a bit dark, and smells a little. Does any deterioration happen to a sitting tranny?

Also, i have an other th350 currently in use. It engages in "drive" and "reverse" way too hard, but shifts fine from 1st to 3rd once moving.
The fluid looks cherry and does not smell at all. Fluid level is fine, and everything is hooked up properly. Could this be a bad torque converter?
Sorry for the two part question...any help would be much appreciated.

I don't see a problem with a trans sitting around unless it gets moisture in it.

You say the fluid smells-- like tranny fluid, or burned? Burnt = rebuild
Some fluids are more brownish than pink. If you have any doubts, rebuild it; a kit should be fairly inexpensive.


Can't help you with the second half. If it were mine, I'd throw a new vacuum modulator at it and see what happens; I know they make for harsh shifting when they fail, but cant say about shifting from neutral.
I don't see a connection to "bad torque converter": No way am I an expert, but my (faulty?) logic says 'bad converter' means less coupling, not more. Is the idle speed way high?

 

[87Kevin]

Thanks A.G. Yeah I think the fluid smells burnt, so I'm gonna replace the vacuum modulator on the other "hard shifting" th350 and see what happens. could it be that the vacuum modulator is not reciving enough vacuum? I know it has some vacuum, but could a small leak cause the hard engage?

Thanks,
-Kevin

 

[A. G. Olphart]

Thanks A.G. Yeah I think the fluid smells burnt, so I'm gonna replace the vacuum modulator on the other "hard shifting" th350 and see what happens. could it be that the vacuum modulator is not reciving enough vacuum? I know it has some vacuum, but could a small leak cause the hard engage?

Thanks,
-Kevin

Here's a link that might help- Turbo Hydra-matic 350 - Google Book Search

You have stretched my limited knowledge as far as it will go. :biggrin: