Is there a way to tell with tranny still in if it's a seal failure or hard parts? Forsake the fact that one failure iminently leads to the other, I just want to be better able to diagnose this tranny before I decide how to procede.

First off, a little history. Very poorly maintained tranny, original to the truck. However, judging by recipts on work done, it's been like this since timing and glow plug controller were messed with at 97k. So the truck has been running very retarded for 100k and sat most of the last 14 years.

When I got the truck it had no cooler on it. After towing 2 mini vans, it over heated. smelled bad, a little fluid though it came from vent.

next time was backing a trailer up a steep driveway. Almost didn't go. again couple of drops.

After this I added a 6K fluid-air plate exchanger. 2 complete flush/filter changes.

No problems for a few mo. Then I fixed the timing issues and discovered how much power a 7.3 really has.

Twice since then it's spit out cups of fluid out of the weep hole on the inspection cover. The second time the truck 'popped' like shifting a gear, but no gear was there. Now when I put the truck in gear fluid gushes out of the weep hole. It'll drain the tranny in a min. Feeble attempt to move in any gears, however same solid feel shifting into any gears, just like before. Also, I've never seen my od light flash. The controller works fine, as prior to the no go, it shifted and tq 'locked' normally.

I haven't looked under the cover yet, as it's cold and wet here, and I have to work outside. So I was hoping for some expertise and insight on this before I decide to fix or junk. I can't swap to a manual as I can't afford to buy all the parts. It really sucks as I have put so much money in it. from ball joints to rad, injectors, tanks, pumps,...

The rad alone I paid more for than the entire truck is worth for scrap.....

 

Your converter seal is bad. The OEM gray seal cannot take the heat from towing and such and it will get deformed while hot and leak pretty bad. Then when it cools it will seal up again, for a while. Eventually it will leak all the time. Replace it with either a blue or black seal. This usually portends converter failure (the source of the extra heat) but you might get lucky.

 

If you have a factory original 1990 E4OD thats spilling fluid, then I'm sorry to say its on borrowed time.

 

Never back a heavy trailer up hill (unless in 4 wheel low on a 4X4).......

As stated if the trans has never been upgraded to 94+ year, then a rebuild/upgrade is over due. Once the front seal on the TC overheats and pukes not very often does it fixes itself.
Fluid from the vent ?? on the top that was a trans overheat indication, from the drain tube on the TC inspection cover that would be front TC seal.

181K is didly squat...... if the truck is solid and the engine is running fine now, consider an upgraded trans installation.......