i have an 89 Formula 350 parts car that runs that has 156K miles on it and is totally stock AFAIK. motor runs smooth and tranny shifts fine but slow which im guessin is normal for a stock high mileage tranny. i plan to keep the tranny and am thinkin of puttin a shift kit in it but would like to know how many ppl here have actually put one in a tranny with this much mileage and how it has performed. i just recently did a flush the old fluid was pretty worn but like i said tranny shows no signs of going south anytime soon. TIA

I put one in a tranny with 85K on it, that's the most I've ever done. I don't know about 156K. I mean realisticaly it shouldn't matter much, but you just never know. I don't think I'd do it unless I put in a shift kit that allows me to tailor it for a firmer shift but not a harsh shift. No barking the tires.

I wouldn't do it. Start saving up for a new transmission. Then you can get a shift kit in that one. Wow that is a lot of miles. I wished mine would have made it that long.

thanx for the input. any other opinions/experiences?

I did it on a 140K TH350 out of a 72 chevelle without me jumping on it the tranny went after 4 months so I wouldn't suggest it.

(Mine has 176k miles! LMAO)

Recommendation
TCI Pro Super Kit (same parts used in TCI Street Fighter Transmission)


Includes Bands, clutches, gaskets........read it for yourself!
http://www.tciauto.com/service_kits/index.htm

But buy it here... http://www.jegs.com//cgi-bin/ncommer...32&prmenbr=361

Much Cheaper.

Then go buy the GM Automatic Transmission Manual at Autozone for $15, and it'll walk you through as well as teach you about how it works!
You 'll save hundreds and have the satisfaction of doing your own work!

Good Luck!!
Tom

i'll check out the GM tranny manual for sure. however i have no experience servicing trannys except doing regular fluid/filter changes. do you think this is something a novice could handle? i wouldn't wanna mess anything up. i wanna keep it working in case the one in my 91 ever goes.

Well...I'm not saying a novice cannot handle it, as I am a novice tyo trannys as well, however if you have an easy time figuring out how things work, go together, or have helped somebody do an engine or tranny before, it isn't that bad. The kit comes with TCI instructions on how to do the rebuild, and the manual is there to help as well. I would recommend finding a junk 700 and working with that...maybye one with 176k miles.

Personally, I have bought a TH350 that I'm working on with that exact kit at the moment. That way my 176k-mile 700 can run until I get the 350 in, then I'll rebuild the 700. You may need a few special tools, but autozone is good for that.

Tom