I got screwed again on craigslist today. I purchased a SM465 and a NP205 from a guy for $280 along with the adapter, bellhousing, new clutch and pressure plate, and turned flywheel. The problem is that when I got the transmission and transfer case home to my shop, I pulled the drain plug and water came out. I know I should have done this before I purchased it, lessons learned. I then pulled off the cover on the side of the tranny and the top shifter plate to look at the damage. The gears have surface rust and other crap on them, some look ok. The transfer case looks the same. Both turn freely, go in and out of gear smoothly, and there are no chiped teeth. Since this is going into a trail only vehicle with a stock small block and 36" tires, should I worry too much about the rust? I know the bearings are probably not too happy, but I am a cheap bastard and don't want to rebuild it. Should I run it and see what happens? Find a better tranny and case? Any advice would be great.

I'd run it! At least its not just me getting screwed with craigslist buys

if your too cheap to replace the bearings why wouldnt you run it? :beer:

Run it.

Run it, but change the fluid after a rust break in period :laughing:

Run it, but change the fluid after a rust break in period :laughing:

They should be fine

The beautiful thing about bearings is that gear oil usually stays trapped inside and around bearings and bearing surfaces, so the chances of horrible rust aren't that high. Unless its been open to the elements for a couple years and been hit with rain and snow and sun, its probably okay.
I would run it, but don't be surprise if you get a noisy bearing or two after a little use.

Run it easy for a bit give a quick fluid change then run it with a bit of umph. Do a flush and fill it, itll be fine.

Great thanks for the advice guys. Thats what I was planning on doing, but I didn't want to be the only guy who thought it was a good idea. Thanks for the help.

Run 'er till she blows!! ( or rods come through the hood !) :evil: :evil: :evil:
"If it won't fit force it! - If it breaks it was no good anyways"

Might have been a bad rusted through radiator - one of those with a built-in tranny cooler.
I always go for the external tranny cooler myself.

It's NOT a "good" idea. It's a Walmart cheap fix. A "good" idea would be to have the tranny and t-case rebuilt.

quote
redbeast Run 'er till she blows!! ( or rods come through the hood !)
"If it won't fit force it! - If it breaks it was no good anyways"

Might have been a bad rusted through radiator - one of those with a built-in tranny cooler.
I always go for the external tranny cooler myself.

It's NOT a "good" idea. It's a Walmart cheap fix. A "good" idea would be to have the tranny and t-case rebuilt
last time i checked sm465 doesnt have a cooler.

I was just tryin to come up with some ideas for why this thing got water & rust in it. I'm not too familiar with the Saginaw Muncie trannies. I've mostly run automatics on mine th-350 and th-400's.
Another reason could be the thing was sitting out in the rain in someone's back yard or at a boneyard. Either way it's bad news without a full or partial rebuild. Take it to a tranny shop they might trade ya ( with some cost ) for a rebuilt one and take yours as a trade in. Just tryin to come up with some ideas for ya.
Otherwise run it till it blows teeth and then pay full price for another one - up to you.

We are not talking about root canals and brain surgery here.
This is a 465 4 speed, however bad water is for metal, its not the end of the world. They are pretty damn bullet proof and I would be suprised if you blew a boat anchor with gears inside cause it got a little water in it.:rolleyes:

EXACT same thing happened to me.

pulled my trans-hump and SM465 cover in preparation for pulling the block-tranny-np205 in one yank... then... i got sidetracked, so i just tied a tarp over the block while it was still in the truck, and thought my doorless cab would protect the open tranny.

WRONG... 8" of freak snow in march (upstate NY) found it's way into the tranny.. fast forward while i work on my SAS in my 94 B4000... sun, freeze, sun, freeze, sun, freeze, sun...

by the time i notice that there's snow IN my tranny, it surface rusted the gears.

unlike you, i actually know how long it was exposed.

i ran it for 100 miles, flushed and refilled, and haven't had any noise or shifting issues.

trust in that SM465 until you have reason to believe it's really screwed... but i doubt you'll even remember that rust after a couple hundred miles

Dont bitch bout what ya bought you should have drained it like ya said and im not trying to sound like a dick but replace the bearing which is simple as hell or just run it and change the fluid

Run 'er till she blows!! ( or rods come through the hood !) :evil: :evil: :evil:
"If it won't fit force it! - If it breaks it was no good anyways"

Might have been a bad rusted through radiator - one of those with a built-in tranny cooler.
I always go for the external tranny cooler myself.

It's NOT a "good" idea. It's a Walmart cheap fix. A "good" idea would be to have the tranny and t-case rebuilt.
:shaking:

the sm465 is tough and like theve said just run and flush it a few times should be fine, t little its a standard tranny its not the tranny cooler lol

standard tranny with a cooler :D
paying for a rebuid on an SM465 or NP205 :D
paying full price for a replacement SM465 :D

standard tranny with a cooler :D

As an aside. Don't the newer 6 speed Ford pickups have a tranny cooler?

Well the bad thing is that I will not be installing this tranny and transfer case for a while. I was thinking of pulling both side covers off the tranny and flushing it all out with brake cleaner and solvant to get all the gunk out of it, reseal the covers and fill it with oil for now to prevent further rust. I have anther major build up I am trying to finish before I tear into mine. Thanks again for your help.

Don't fergit the little pine tree hangin from the rear view mirror!
Just keep swervin' so you don't hit da tree when you're drivin drunk! :flipoff2: :flipoff2:
Oh, and did I mention ....:flipoff2: :D