looking at a 87 4banger

[dirtyhowi]

i am looking tonight at a 87 4 banger w/auto that has a slippage problem supposedly, the current owner was told that the "sprague (sp)" needed to be replaced, was the shop just pulling his leg or what, is this a term specific to stangs...i have searched my auto tranny book from school and cannot find reference to that, although they do reference the c1-c6 and a4ld tranny's and how they work. if it is the t/c slipping replacement is not a problem...but would kinda like to know if there is anything i should look out for in this particular year that might have been a catastrophic failure in the tranny's.. i.e. something that would require a complete rebuild of the tranny (again no big deal, but it might reduce the price some if i can convince him that it is necessary.)

tia