It's pretty dark

How does it smell and what, if any, kind of crud is in the pan?

Pan's not off yet, smells the same as fresh but less strong, so at least it doesn't smell burnt...

Could be it had just never been changed? Burnt smell is usually a bad sign

Inside looks more promising.

 

I scraped the goop on the magnet to one spot on it, and the pan has no goop in the bottom of it.

Edited January 23, 201313 yr by CNY_Dave

If you're not smelling a burn smell and you're not finding crud in the pan I'm thinking you're okay. I've seen that color come out of smooth transmissions before. Probably just old.

That's pretty common and I've seen it plenty of times too, it's simply never been changed...or maybe really early on at the most.

 

Not that you want it to be your trans, but not burnt and insides looking good sounds promising as you said.

 

How did the front diff gear oil look?

+1 on grossgary's comments.

 

I have removed fluid that looked like mud and had the most incredible smell, and still the trannies functioned Ok after proper flush.

I haven't checked the front diff leavings yet- the boneyard drained both, but there's always some left.

When you put it back in pull the radiator trans hose and let the old fluid pump out and keep replacing with fresh. It usually takes me 3-4 gallons to do a flush on the trans this way.