what is the "shelf life" of a tranny
 

ok so I bought a 91 mustang GT with the police interceptor trans, but the stang has been sitting for about 3-4 years with the heads and manifolds removed. there is trans fluid in the tranny but it has not been circulated through since the engine was half way removed. What is the posibility that the trans would be fine if it worked when the engine was torn apart?

I got one similar to that once and the part of the gear that was not in oil was rusted and pitted, but I'm in Jax Fl with lots of humidity. I'd pull top off and and look down in there.
Bill

tranny life
 

some of the seals internally could have gone bad (dried up), due to the lack of lubrication. If it is still bolted up...i would try putting the motor back together....putting the rear on jack stands, new oil,...and seeing what happens.
Worse thing is, you are going to have to end up rebuilding it anyways.
Ryan

Apart from seals, though, would synchros and gears show any wear and tear from sitting? My old stang is at a wrecking yard nearby and it just occured to me that my transmission problems could be fixed by simply buying the fresh t5 back off the guy. I wrecked it 3 years ago and its been sitting out there ever since filled with nice redline.

I would say that the T5 would be ok. After running it for just a little bit, any flash rust that had started if any, would clean itself off as you drove the car. I would just change the fluid after a few hundred miles. It probably has been fine sitting there for the last few years...that there is nothing to worry about.