I have an 86 auto and a few weeks ago I noticed as driving, the transmission wasnt shifting the way I felt it should. I got it home when it was good and hot and checked the fluid and it seemed to be low, so I added a quart and checked it again, it still seemed a little low, so I added another quart. It's seemed to be ok. I set up an appt to get it inspected, and took it over to drop it off, and it didn't want to shift and was making a weird noise that I can only describe as a squeal/growl from behind the motor, so either the trans or torque converter area. And it seemed to be slipping some. I dropped it off and asked them to take a look at the fluid and filter or anything else they could to see what might be up with it. They called me later and said it wouldn't move so they couldn't inspect it. I went to get it after work figuring I would have to have it trailered home, but decided to give it a shot, I put it in gear and it moved just fine, so I started driving home, I got a mile up the road it and started slipping so bad I had to pull over. I let it sit for about 5 minutes and tried it again and I made to the bottom of the hill in my development and had to stop again, I let it sit again and made it home after a bit. I checked the fluid then and it looked to be way over full, I got disgusted and came back to it a few days later. I checked it and it seemed to way over full again, but it wasnt an ideal situation, i had started it but couldn't cycle through the gears because it didn't want to move. So I came back to it tonight and drained about a quart and half out of the trans, and started it, the noise was gone which was good. I put it in gear and drove it off of the wood I had the front wheels for jack clearance, and closed the hood to take it around the block and it wouldn't move.
So ... anyone have any ideas on what might be up, or do I need to start saving for a trans?

 

debris is plugging up the filter it sounds like a trans rebuild is needed

 

What's a typical price for a rebuild? I'm in Pa and just want a general idea so I don't get ripped off.
Thanks

 

Depends on what you want the trans to do. You can get a Jasper reman for pretty cheap but I wouldn't trust it. I'd give www.rosslertrans.com a call and tell them what the car will do, ask their recommendation and try go one step above if possible. That will give your car room to "grow".