Hey guys, its been a while since I posted but it is time i tried to draw from your extensive knowledge once again

I have an 89 RS with a 305 TB completely stock. I dont kno if my tranny fluid has ever been changed but i think it is safe to assume it hasnt. When I checked the fluid, it is no longer red. its like green.. or some dark damn color. And it doesnt shift very hard anymore.. It doesnt slip. but the shifts take longer. So I was wondering If I should drop the pan clean it all out and change the fluid, or just the filter or both? Thanks in advance

Tom

 

i suggest you drop the pan, clean it and the difference between the gasket and gasket & filter is maybe 2 dollars and 30 seconds of your time.
you'll see.
Fernando.

 

Keep in mind that to completly change your fluid you need to get it flushed. You only change out about 4 qts when you drop the pan leaving (I think) about 10 qts in the torque converter.

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85T/A 305/QJ work in progress.

 

This is like a catch 22. With my Elcamino,(other people could have different results) I had the tranny fluid changed when I rebuilt the engine, and after that, my tranny started to slip, and now it doesn't work well at all. I've come to the conclusion, with the help from teachers at a near by college, and other mechanics, that since ATF has alot of detergents, it cleaned out all of the old oil and grime that was sealing up the tranny, and messed up the clutches. Now it needs a rebuild. I hope that doesn't happen to you.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4

 

Could it also be that the rebuilt engine took the tranny out?

If the oil is really bad then the tranny is not long for the world anyways. Sorry. If it were me I would make a judgement call, combining what the tranny is doing and what the oil and pan look like. If I get it off and find what looks to be allot of clutch material in the pan I know it is time to fire up the air wrench. IF it is bordeline but it, and this is key, HOLDS in each gear then I would not only drop the pan and change the oil but I would put a TransGo Shift Kit in. I have DOUBLED the life of some higher mileage trannies doing this and I have also wound up pulling allot of units that I didn't think would make it.