I have my ol' plowtruck that has 136k, 4.30 rears, 4wd, 5.4 and I ran trash to the dump and noticed it gets hot enough to light the l.e.d. in the trans temp gauge... but only in second gear.
I drove on the highway and it even lugs in OD and stays reasonably "cool" (200 - 220) but as soon as I had to hit the back streets and climb this little hill it spikes to 320+ and lights the light. You can back out of the throttle and it is still climbing, doesn't fell like it's slipping - just here comes the heat.
The first time I noticed this was a couple winters ago and I was hauling my empty dump-trailer out in the woods for firewood (empty up - loaded down) and with the hills and all I thought it would be smart to pull the trans down into second. Well, it gets hotter in second than just letting it shift into drive.
Mainly this truck is used in the winter to plow - which is first gear but I do some parking lots where I'm sure it goes up into second at the end of the pass. And, I know... ya'll will say you should manually use first to plow but - if you've ever plowed lots and shifted from r-d-r-d-.... for eight hours then you would not drop to 1st either.

My questions:

- Is 2000$ a reasonable price for a rebuild. ( a very well known local shop that was purchased by some of the workers from the owner years ago )
- Should I pay extra for a converter upgrade?
- (the big one) Do you think I can get another year of plowing out of this girl by flushing and filling with all-synthetic and keeping my eye on the temp?
- Is there a check valve or solenoid that only operates in second gear that I could check/replace/service? Band adjustment?

PS This truck has been owned by me for four years and came from eBay down in TX w 105k. When I got it home i noticed that all the body pockets and shock towers etc were filled with mud and pebbles. The radiator was plugged solid with leaves, grass, and mud to a line half-way up. Under the floor-mat was solid clay. It was in/coulda been in a flood and could well have been in Katrina as it was owned by the North Texas Gas Pipieline - which could have had vehicles reg'ed in TX and operated in LA. Did they flush the trans? I'm sure it wouldn't last this long if not.

THANKS!!!