I have a '94 Z28, put a new LT1 engine in it last year and have 35k miles on it. The transmission is the original with 176k miles on it. I took it to a shop last week to have the transmission cooling lines fixed as they were leaking and I was having to add fluid often, say 1/2 quart or so a week. When I picked it up I noticed that the passing gear was slipping so I called the mechanic and asked if he had topped off the fluid level, not being the mechanic who worked on it but the owner, he said that he thought the mechanic did, that he is a throrough mechanic. I checked it a couple days later and it was not registering on the dip stick. Added about 1/2 quart, then a couple days later I added the rest of that quart. Over the weekend I could feel my passing gear still slipping and yesterday when I checked the level it was still not registering. Added another 1/2 quart, drove, checked, still not registering, added the rest of that quart and then it registered but was still low. I topped it off last night and now what is happening is when it shifts into 2nd gear it jerks into gear, and my passing gear is not responding like it should. It is no longer leaking and I suspect that the mechanic did not top it off. But now I'm having issues with 2nd gear and overdrive, passing gear.
Suggestions?
Thoughts?

 

Also, what is the expected life of this transmission?

 

it has been living on borrowed time already. It's rebuild time and if you have any plans for headers, CAI, tune and even more, then upgrade some of the hard parts and get better clutches. Sure, it will cost an additional $300 but it's well worth it
servo, sprags, sunshell and upgraded clutches at a minimum

If you can drop the tranny yourself then do it and save yourself $500-$700 in labor

and once the tranny is out, despite the newer engine, replace the rear main seal

 

Running any automatic without enough of the proper fluid is not a good thing. As torque said, with 170+K on it, it is well past its prime and due for a rebuild.

Running it with low fluid definitely sped up the process of wearing it out. I would bet that if you dropped the pan, you would find a lot of crap in the bottom of it. That crap will be your clutches that have been toasted.

You pretty much have no choice now, it is going to need a complete rebuild.

 

About this, if you don't have some special tool that the manual calls for, you need to pull the oil pan to change the main, which requires lifting the engine. That's what I ended up doing when my trans was out, lots of work. I replaced the oil pump while the pan was off, too.

 

Thanks for the info, it will have to be done at a shop, I'm not that mechanically inclined.....wonder how long I have before it just quits..