[STenn]

Hey guys new to the forums. I’ve had plenty of S10s and have lots of mechanical experience. However, transmissions are kind of a back of the mind thing for me. I don’t really think about them until there’s an issue and boy do I have an issue. Long story short, I bought a 93 with the WC T5. The guy didn’t tell me the tailshaft/ yoke seal was bad and would piss fluid out. 70 miles from home I found out the hard way when the transmission wouldn’t shift or come out of gear. I forced it and felt a pop. (Synchronizer) pulled into a parking lot, pushed the clutch in and the rear end locked up like I smashed the brakes and the truck stalled. Fought it into 4th gear and hit the road for 70 miles, no fluid. Didn’t care because I wasn’t leaving the truck there or paying to have it hauled. Let it sit overnight, put some atf in it and was able to get it into gear without grinding, but it was tough.. So, My question is.. what all should I expect to replace in there? I know bearings and seals obviously, but what about synchros?

 

[ShadeTreeMech]

Hard to say until you open it up and assess the damage.
Maybe even a gear or two (lose tooth/teeth)?
I'd be amazed if the synchronizers weren't hurt.
g/l

 

[STenn]

Okay so I let it sit overnight again, fired it up and moved it out of the shop a few minutes ago and it took each gear pretty easy without having to force it, just a firm shift vs how it should basically slide in easy. I did notice the shifter didn’t seem to go as far into each gear as it should, kinda like how a short shifter vs a stock one would feel. There’s a lot of bearing noise so I do know they’re toast and need to be replaced like I said. The gears don’t grind now and didn’t grind when I forced it into gear the other night, so im doubting/ hoping any gears will need replaced. Flushed the rest of the fluid out with more atf after letting it idle and rotate for 30 mins and took a magnet to the case before draining and there’s no metal.

 

[ShadeTreeMech]

Sounds good, as far as the wallets' concerned. But you know the bearings are toast, and continued driving it as is, you risk the chance of a bearing coming apart and possibly get in the teeth of a gear(s).
Thats exactly what would happen with my luck if I drove it as is, lol.
If you're going to continue driving it w/o repairing it, you might should start checking junkyards for a tranny, just in case yours comes apart.

 

[STenn]

Sounds good, as far as the wallets' concerned. But you know the bearings are toast, and continued driving it as is, you risk the chance of a bearing coming apart and possibly get in the teeth of a gear(s).
Thats exactly what would happen with my luck if I drove it as is, lol.
If you're going to continue driving it w/o repairing it, you might should start checking junkyards for a tranny, just in case yours comes apart.

I’ve decided to go ahead and pull it, but I drained the fluid after I put that other atf in it and it had a small amount of tiny metal particles like a normal 30 year old truck would, but what kinda threw me off was the mangled chunk of thin white plastic that came out with it. It’s a piece probably the size of a fingernail. Looks like it’s got a characters on it, but only a couple. It says “T6”, any ideas?

 

[STenn]

 

[ShadeTreeMech]

not sure, maybe part of a needle bearing case or maybe a fork insert?