Tranny Questions

[bonestockSHO]

A while back I was driving home from work in my SHO. I was racing this corvette on a stretch of 2 lane highway that was dead straight for about 3 miles. Well I was winning until right before I shifted from 4th to 5th gear at about 120mph. Right before I shifted a large cloud of smoke emited from the ass end of my car. I saw it in the rear view. About 3 seconds later I was still in 5th not gaining any speed. Then it felt like my tranny was trying to lock up. I then proceded to pull over and check it out. On the way to pulling over I noticed it took a large amount of effort to take it out of 5th gear. Once I was stopped I popped the hood and checked it out and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. But when I looked under the car the whole under carriage was covered in tranny fluid. So I towed it home. I has been sitting there for 5 months now. It has been to cold to work on it. Winter in Montana is harsh and I don't have a garage.
So after that is said I have to questions.
One is my tranny possibly saveable. I dont think it is because of it trying to lock up on me. I suspect that I blew the seal in between the engine and the tranny. I think that I probably ruined the gears after I lost the fluid. But if I drive it it will go through all the gears and still drive. Do you think that I can save it?
If not now to my second question.
I have been looking for a cheap used replacement tranny. I found one for $350 out of an 88 SHO. Would there be any problems installing an 88 tranny into a 91. I have heard that the older SHOs had a smaller clutch and a different shifter.
I was wondering if the input shafts are different because I don't what to use the smaller clutch I heard that they were junk. Also if my shifter is compatable with the older tranny. Any information on this subject that you could give me would be very helpful.
THANK YOU

 

[shorook90]

First of all the exact same thing happened to me. What you did was blew the spider gear in your differential right through the case in your transmission. There should be a dime sized hole and a golf ball sized hole. what happened was the hole caused all of the fluid to rush out of the tranny causing it to cease up. I had mine towed. Second yes you can hook up the older tranny to the newer. I have a 90 cable shifter mated up to a rod shifter tranny out of a 91.(I couldnt find a rod shifter for cheap) About the clutch just use the one in you car right now if it is still good. if not i would go for the larger clutch, take my advice the smaller is weaker.

 

[billyshoe]

You have ruined your transmission and will need to buy a new one! It will cost you near $2000 for the repair. You now own a $300.00 SHO.

<small>[ February 15, 2003, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: billyshoe ]</small>

 

[billyshoe]

1988 year model car does'nt have a trans that will work in a sho. The gear box will have to be from a 1989 or later yr. model SHO.

 

[AutoSHO]

billyshoe:
You have ruined your transmission and will need to buy a new one! It will cost you near $2000 for the repair. You now own a $300.00 SHO.

I suppose if you had someone else do all the work it would cost that much. However, if you find a used tranny (and make sure it is an 89-95 SHO only tranny) it should only cost about $500 if you do all the work. It is a very good idea to replace the clutch while you have the tranny out.