RW> Some people will take that gamble. Chances are that the trans is good and
RW> junk yards will replace a bad one. I did that with a 700R4 trans for my
RW> 72
RW> Chev pickup and it worked out fine.

Yes, you can always find some treasures in the junk yard.  I have always
enjoyed going to them to grab hard to find parts for vehicles over the
years.

RW> You wouldn't believe the condition of the Firebird it came out of: it had
RW> been rolled at high speed and landed on its roof. The top was level with
RW> the dash. The trans worked like it was supposed to though.

There seems to always be things you can salvage from vehicles in the junk yard.  
RW> I called in an out-of-work mechanic and he installed the above in my
RW> (machine) shop for $100...no hoist, no tranny jack either.

That is cheap!  

I put a 350 transmission in my 80' Malibu with the help of my brother and
one of his friends.  Just used one of those things that movers use (low to
the ground with wheels).  Put the transmission on that - rolled it under
the car and two of us lifted while the other bolted it to the engine.

RW> If that was a 4spd auto w/od, it is free wheeling in 4th, unless the
RW> torque converter is locked. This is why I don't use OD around town.

It is 4spd w/od.  My 4th gear was totally rounded off.  They saved the part
and gave it to me, and I still have it in my garage.  

RW> They make self-tapping drain plugs as replacements for leaking originals.

Are those the ones with the wing-nuts?  I still have not gone under the car
to try and figure out what was replaced on the oil plug area.  

RW> Hmmm. Supposed to be copper, but it may be a teflon or nylon plastic
RW> washer...

The one that was on my original motor was metal.  This one felt like
plastic to me.  That would explain why it cracked if that was the case.  I
suspect that was what was replaced, but I can't really tell until my next
oil change.

- Mark

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