My van's transmission went out 80 miles from home last Tuesday

I was driving back from a cleaning job in the next town over when my work van started making this grinding noise every time I hit 45 mph. Pulled over at a gas station and checked the fluid, it was brown and smelled burnt. Called three different shops and the cheapest quote I got was $2,800 for a rebuild. I don't have that kind of cash just sitting around so I ended up buying a used transmission from a guy on Facebook marketplace for $400 and swapped it out in my buddy's driveway over three afternoons. Took me 14 hours total and I skinned my knuckles about six times but it fired right up when I was done. Still driving it a week later and it shifts smooth again. Has anyone else taken on a transmission swap themselves and regretted it or was it worth the hassle for you too?

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alice_wilson734mo ago

Holy crap you actually drove on burnt fluid and it didn't grenade on you first?

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mark6114mo ago

Bet the burnt fluid acted like a thick sludge and plugged up the tiny oil passages enough to keep pressure up, @alice_wilson73. Not saying it was smart but those old engines can limp along on stuff that would kill a modern one. Still wouldn't trust it past the next oil change though.

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