Most of the trans that I've rebuilt did not have flakes but rather a fine greasy mush in the bottom of the pan with some particles mixed in. A lot of the particles get suspended in the fluid, but most of the fine fiber particles go thru the filter and are lodged in the perimeter of the converter by centrifugal force. I've taken pans off and found almost nothing plenty of times. Along with bright pink fluid (which he does not have). On this particular trans, I see some black mush but I also see brass particles; which would make me grab that input shaft and check the endplay immediately. It would be a larger commitment to condemn a trans that was still in a vehicle but on this one, I wouldn't be comfortable driving it a long distance. Fact is, we really don't know if the fluid and filter have been changed in the past and particles were already cleaned out at least one time. Going behind a 340 stroker motor with Edelbrock heads and god knows what else; that's a $5,000 motor easy...and the guy's gonna slap a junkyard tranny behind it? Does not compute. It's just too easy to check it out. Dropping the vb to change the seal and you're almost there anyhow.
