[Ragtop Man]

So - I'm sitting on three long tail TH's for my 2+2 project.

One is in the car hanging on to the XF 428 block, held in primarily by hope (and a 2X4.) Reportedly rebuilt with a shift kit. One came with the parts car that I plucked for a number of items, covered in dirt road oil and grime, but appears to be missing. Last one came in my recent 421 deal, also reportedly rebuilt, but no real good way to verify.

Local trans shop with a good reputation wants $3-400 to crack the case and look inside. Totally fair, and the guy helped me with a flip years ago. Unfortunately, that's an expensive way to sort the problem, considering cores are worth less than that.

Looking for a path out of the maze, here. Any leads on a shop in metro Detroit that might have a better way to navigate - or a pro looking for a side hustle?

Thanks!

[Sirrotica]

If you're just looking for an indicator of transmission health, pulling the pan will give you that, along with having the fluid analyzed by a outfit like Blackstone Labs.

If you're looking to see how far along in the life cycle a specific transmisson is, or what some builder put in as far as aftermarket parts, then you're probably gonna have to pay someone for an inspection.

As long as you have some of the old ATF you could have it analyzed by someone like Blackstone labs, here is their website info for transmission fluid analysis:

Transmission:

Backstone Laboratories > Engine Types > Transmission
Automatic transmissions ask a lot of the oil. Not only does the oil lubricate and clean internal parts, but it also functions as a hydraulic oil to operate various components.

Transmission oil can be contaminated with metals, solids, and moisture, and those contaminants need to be removed before they cause problems. Conversely, a test of your transmission fluid may reveal that it’s still in great condition, and you don’t need to change it as often as you thought.

There’s no easier way of knowing what’s going on in the system than oil analysis. We can tell you if the oil needs to be changed, if it’s contaminated, or if there are any problems at hand. Request your free kit today and make sure your drive train is wearing as it should!

Maybe this could be helpful, your call....