Transmissions drying out due to long inactivity

Bob Dunahugh

New member
Sep 17, 2012
2,784
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3
Anyone ever heard that one? Our 78 GMC sat outside in Iowa from Oct of 1996 to Oct of 2015. 20 years. Went on 3 trips with it. Worked fine. I changed it as a prevention due to miles/age. The 73 GMC we have sat outside in Iowa from Sept of 1998 to 2015. Both are original trans. It too works fine. Bob Dunahugh
 
I haven't heard of that one, it may happen though. I have a 1974 Dodge
Monaco, ex cop car. bought it after it sat almost 35 years. Put a new
battery in it, fresh fuel and a little maintenance, fired right up and
drove it out of the hole in the ground it was apparently burying itself in.

Changed tires and some other rubber parts, still runs fine.

The Transmission, a 727 Torqueflight, came to life as if someone had just
parked it 5 minutes earlier. :D

Sammy

> Anyone ever heard that one? Our 78 GMC sat outside in Iowa from Oct of
> 1996 to Oct of 2015. 20 years. Went on 3 trips with it. Worked fine. I
> changed it as a prevention due to miles/age. The 73 GMC we have sat
> outside in Iowa from Sept of 1998 to 2015. Both are original trans. It
> too works fine. Bob Dunahugh
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
 
Only Issue ive ever had is the driveshaft slip yoke being rusted and eating up the rear seal
ATF does a good job of protecting seals.

--
76 Glenbrook
 
Sammy...you bought the Bluesmobile !!
So who sold it to you, Jake or Elwood?

Mike in NS

> I haven't heard of that one, it may happen though. I have a 1974 Dodge
> Monaco, ex cop car. bought it after it sat almost 35 years. Put a new
> battery in it, fresh fuel and a little maintenance, fired right up and
> drove it out of the hole in the ground it was apparently burying itself in.
>
> Changed tires and some other rubber parts, still runs fine.
>
> The Transmission, a 727 Torqueflight, came to life as if someone had just
> parked it 5 minutes earlier. :D
>
> Sammy
>
> On Fri, Oct 20, 2017 at 12:53 PM, Bob Dunahugh

>
> > Anyone ever heard that one? Our 78 GMC sat outside in Iowa from Oct of
> > 1996 to Oct of 2015. 20 years. Went on 3 trips with it. Worked fine. I
> > changed it as a prevention due to miles/age. The 73 GMC we have sat
> > outside in Iowa from Sept of 1998 to 2015. Both are original trans. It
> > too works fine. Bob Dunahugh
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
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>

--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
 
Sorry if this is a repeat.. I responded my email but don't see the topic so.........

some years back I had my truck transmission rebuilt.

We were talking and RV transmissions came up in the conversation.

He had worked on an RV tranny that sat most of its life, not driven.
It was towed in because they couldn't get it to move.

He found parts, levers rusted and some rusted through.

He stated that the operation of the transmission keeps everything wet and coated, thus preventing atmosphere from getting to the metal parts.
If the transmission sits long enough, that coating will drain off and the metal will be attacked by atmosphere, rust will begin and metal will be
damaged.

It does happen.

slc
--
GatsbysCruise. \
74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
Located in Waukegan \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center in Waukegan
 
Didn't someone ask Manny about long-term storage? I recall the answer being only a few years due to risk of rust on internal parts. I also recall a comment that he often finds rust on the internal components of his core units.

Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'

>
> Sorry if this is a repeat.. I responded my email but don't see the topic so.........
>
> some years back I had my truck transmission rebuilt.
>
> We were talking and RV transmissions came up in the conversation.
>
> He had worked on an RV tranny that sat most of its life, not driven.
> It was towed in because they couldn't get it to move.
>
> He found parts, levers rusted and some rusted through.
>
> He stated that the operation of the transmission keeps everything wet and coated, thus preventing atmosphere from getting to the metal parts.
> If the transmission sits long enough, that coating will drain off and the metal will be attacked by atmosphere, rust will begin and metal will be
> damaged.
>
> It does happen.
>
> slc
> --
> GatsbysCruise. \
> 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> Located in Waukegan \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center in Waukegan
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Manny usually ships his transmissions chock full of fluid, for longer
periods of storage. Don't know about short term.
Jim Hupy

> Didn't someone ask Manny about long-term storage? I recall the answer
> being only a few years due to risk of rust on internal parts. I also
> recall a comment that he often finds rust on the internal components of his
> core units.
>
> Les Burt
> Montreal
> '75 Eleganza 26'
>
>

> >
> > Sorry if this is a repeat.. I responded my email but don't see the topic
> so.........
> >
> > some years back I had my truck transmission rebuilt.
> >
> > We were talking and RV transmissions came up in the conversation.
> >
> > He had worked on an RV tranny that sat most of its life, not driven.
> > It was towed in because they couldn't get it to move.
> >
> > He found parts, levers rusted and some rusted through.
> >
> > He stated that the operation of the transmission keeps everything wet
> and coated, thus preventing atmosphere from getting to the metal parts.
> > If the transmission sits long enough, that coating will drain off and
> the metal will be attacked by atmosphere, rust will begin and metal will be
> > damaged.
> >
> > It does happen.
> >
> > slc
> > --
> > GatsbysCruise. \
> > 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> > Located in Waukegan \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS
> FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> > UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center in Waukegan
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
When Manny's rebuilt transmissions and stored them here, they're placed on
the chain drive cover. We plug the bell housing vent, and the cooler hose
ports. Install a speedometer gear "bullet" and a governor. Then fill the
transmission all the way to the top (final drive mating surface) with ATF
(typically WalMart's unless it's a switch pitch, then Mobil 1). Secure a
rigid cover with a few bolts to the FD mounting surface to "seal" it up.
Should be good for many years that way, 'tho' not one has been here more
than about 6 months. :-)

Ken H.

> Didn't someone ask Manny about long-term storage? I recall the answer
> being only a few years due to risk of rust on internal parts. I also
> recall a comment that he often finds rust on the internal components of his
> core units.
>
> Les Burt
> Montreal
> '75 Eleganza 26'
>
>

> >
> > Sorry if this is a repeat.. I responded my email but don't see the topic
> so.........
> >
> > some years back I had my truck transmission rebuilt.
> >
> > We were talking and RV transmissions came up in the conversation.
> >
> > He had worked on an RV tranny that sat most of its life, not driven.
> > It was towed in because they couldn't get it to move.
> >
> > He found parts, levers rusted and some rusted through.
> >
> > He stated that the operation of the transmission keeps everything wet
> and coated, thus preventing atmosphere from getting to the metal parts.
> > If the transmission sits long enough, that coating will drain off and
> the metal will be attacked by atmosphere, rust will begin and metal will be
> > damaged.
> >
> > It does happen.
> >
> > slc
> > --
> > GatsbysCruise. \
> > 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> > Located in Waukegan \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS
> FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> > UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center in Waukegan
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>