You don't need to remove the transmission to remove the valve body or install a shift kit.

FWIW (caps for reason I was shouting):
For shts and giggles, I decided to go cheap - filter and fluid change. Decided to use synthetic ATF (almost 2 gal. @ $40/Gal. and $15 filter for a grand total of $95. Why cite the math - I figured it was worth a one in twenty-five chance of working.

Although not a gambler - I WON! Drove for an hour today and reverse worked fine. I promise to report back if and when it doesn't.
BTW I have the same fluid in my Barth and I like it much.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin:
I would try a flush first

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Occam's Razor!

Finally decided to see what Occam's Razor met. As they say, "Oh!". Wikipedia uses a lot of fancy words, but can they be paraphrased to say, "Sometimes the simplest thing is the best thing"?.

I just presumed it meant "duh" (I usually feel that way about myself when I read Rusty's posts).

In all fairness, records indicate the filter/fluid was done 5K miles ago, albeit being 10 years. The truck is kept inside - only driven when the wife needs the impression I'm working. Thinking this fluid will "age" better, being synthetic.