so i just bought a 1981 chevy 4x4. the price was right and i needed a truck. so i started going through it and changing fluids. i pulled the trans pan to change the gasket, filter, and the fluid. i noticed that there was brass bits in the bottom of the pan. the fluid looked and smelled really good. and it shifts really well. so is this just normal wear and tear or do i need to be concerned about it? it has a turbo 350 in it and it was supposibly rebuilt 25000 miles ago. i called a guy at a local tranny shop and he said that it's probly just normal wear and tear. i just wanted a second opinon and thats why i am asking you guys.
Yes it probably is. Before you put the pan back on get you a flat magnet maybee about 1/4" thick and put it in the bottom corner of the pan, make sure it does not interfere with anything, this will attract all steel shavings like from the clutch pacs ect. so they don't keep going through the transmission. Also you might want to look at putting a drain plug on the pan if you are going to keep the truck for awhile.
Unless your TH350 is acting up or making noise you are probably fine. With 25000 miles on a rebuild I would expect some fine clutch material in the pan but not brass. Keep an eye on it.
yeah the thing still sounds fine and it still is shifting great. i had some one suggest to me that maybe they didn't clean it out very well when it was rebuilt or that they didn't clean out the pan before they stuck it back on.
Anything is possible..... I don't know anyone who would remove a pan with metal bits in it without cleaning it. I clean pans in order to paint them before I put them back on. It also keeps metal bits from being circulated through the transmission.
