I have almost the entire 1995 innards inside a 1993 case, and I am using the channel plate that came with it (different channel plates between stamped-steel and cast aluminum side pans). I will be gutting the 93 trans to get a few parts to fully build the 95 up (I need the internal harness, the valve body piston, and oil scavenger). I too suspect total thrust bearing failure, along with full wear on the clutches.

How quick can you get that stovepipe here?

Well, it is out! Don and I did it yesterday right before some torrential rains. Didn't take too long at all, since most of the work was done ahead of time.

So, after lunch Don was curious about what exactly failed on the trans. So after a brief look at the ATSG manual, I allowed him to tear it down just to see what surprises were lurking...

Our first surprise was the differential. After wiping it down, it looked near mint! Even better than the diff that is going INTO the SSEi. No play in the gears at all!


Our next surprise was the clutches. They too looked near mint. So here we are thinking "WTF?" So off to inspect the hard parts. Nothing too major with the exception of...


This is what happens when the thrust washers get all chewed up. This part is completely unusable as it is. Along with...


The reverse reaction drum. Too much play by the lack of thrust washers rersults in this. My donor 95 trans had the same problem, but no where near this severe. I have another drum on the way, so at that point I will take pics of reassembly.

I sorta suspected that may have been the issue as well. So the steel spacer at the manual 1st drum was intact then, I assume? Would you believe that thrust washer that goes in there is made of plastic? I noticed that one of those had worn down significantly on the trans I put together for Ben'*(it got replaced of course). I'm going to agree that the 4th gear thingee is shot How did the side of the 2nd gear drum(one that would have been rubbing) look? I'm just curious is all.

I'll have to take another look. I'll shoot more pictures tonight of a few other things and get them posted. Don was surprised at the fact that there really isn't a whole lot in these transmissions. It really isn't black magic as others say it is, but you still have to be meticulous when reassembling everything.

MLBB, thanks for sending that piece for me. Hopefully it won't be in vain. This is my first ever attempt at rebuilding a transmission. And some time ago I said I would offer this old trans up to Curt for his buildup, but I would only give him the case and the diff. As good as the other parts looked, I still wouldn't trust them for too long.

EDIT: This was the original transmission, but based on how the diff looked after we pulled it out, Don and I assume the following: One of the previous owners blew the diff, and was replaced w/o a full rebuild. Or a full rebuild was done, but not too good of one. One tip off that the trans had been out before: the subframe had been dropped. Possibly another tip off: Cork side-pan gasket. My other trans had rubber/metal side pan gasket.

Here it is a week later, and I still have issues

First off, thanks to MLBB, I got the stovepipe. VERY beefy unit compared to what I had in both transmissions. Now that it has a new home, Don and I started reassembling everthing last night. I was going to finish it up this morning when something told me to check out the oil pump.

Glad I did.



Don't ask how that happened. I have NO clue. And since the guts are from a 95, and I have an early 93 car, the pumps are NOT the same. 100 bux from the dealer, with one week leadtime. Funny thing though...the pump itself is pristine.



Now then, I will restate the work done. The guts, diff cover, and sidepan are from a 95 Riv transmission, with a case from a 93 vintage car (ebay special) Since the guts are from a 95, I had a choice to make on how to integrate them with the 93 PCM. The solution was to drill a new hole in the channel plate and take the temp switch from the old transmission, as well as the internal harness. This means I do not have to repin the external harness to accomedate, and lets me keep the traction control. I am using the structural side pan and the diff cover from the 95 as they are way stronger than even what was in my car to begin with. I will let the pictures do the talking

Did somebody say plastic He'* the piece that was taken out of my pan at 205K. Still running strong.

What is the pic of the pump showing us.. w/o knowing a lot about transmissions..many won't understand the failure you are trying to show in the pics.

Sorry about that...it was getting late when I posted those pics, and I just wanted to get to bed.



The first pic is the underside of the oil pump cover. Please note that there is NO gasket or any other form of protection between the pump and cover. I do not know how the hell it got all chewed up like that, but I can guarantee this will cause pressure loss.



Another pic of the pump cover, but a bit more close up obviously. Here the damage done is more apparent. Looks like a record die, doesn't it?



That is the oil pump for the trans. You can see there is absolutely NO damage at all to the vanes or body itself. This is why I am so stumped as to why only the cover is no good.



This pic shows the updated channel plate, valve body, and oil pump. Follow the yellow wire and that takes you to the oil temp switch that I had to retrofit into the channel plate to allow the 93 harness to be installed.

Hope the explanations help

It sure does... I didn't realize the "recorded" look of the pump plate wasn't supposed to be there.

I do wonder what caused those rings to gouge that like they did.... Strange....