[307caprice2nv]

My 87 Cutlass with a 2004R started doing that when I first got it 5 years ago at about 184,000km's. It would usually delay going into reverse after driving it hard or driving it at highways speeds for a while. The fluid still looked clean and good color but it was bubbling up. I eventually figured out the stock 305 was also running hot (up to 240 degrees on highway trips) and the lockup torque converter wasn't working. I put a good external trans cooler on which almost 100% solved the delayed reverse and bubbling trans fluid. Eventually replaced the rad with a good aluminum one which fixed the engine running hot. Then the car got parked due to rust underneath and I pulled the engine out of it. Later on my other car got wrote off and I had no choice but to put the motor back in the Cutlass and drive it. After reinstalling it the lockup worked again, and the transmission has worked perfect up until I parked it a few weeks ago with over 300,000km's on it and I've driven it really hard and raced it. Fluid still looks nice and red and will chirp the 1-2 shift at WOT. I think it's possible that some of these transmissions get rebuilt unnecessarily when the delayed reverse is due to an overheating problem. Anyone else seen this?