Any way to tell?

There is a '83 Mercury Capri in my local Pull-A-Part with a T5. This sounds dumb, but is there any way to tell if the transmission is good without being able to start or drive the car? It seems to shift through all gears good. If I take it out and it spins good in all gears, is it a safe bet that it is good?

I am wanting to setup a T5 in my "test mule" '76 Comick I'm building this summer. I can get the trans for $45.

 

i would think if it goes through the gears and turns okay that i'd take a $45 chance on it. the core charge is probably higher than that.

 

I don't think they have a core charge, but thats a good idea. I better look into that first.

 

what i meant was that if you were to buy another from a shop, the $45 tranny would probably be worth more than the $45 to them. didn't mean to imply that the j/y had a core charge. sorry for the confusion.

 

Your can also smell the fluid.......