Is there a reasonable way to check and see if the transmission is trashed or not?

Note: In Park the Discovery rolls.

 

Inspect it for cracks. If you don't see any put some dye in some ATF and fill it up see where it leaks out. If you have cracks in the housing it is finished. Well someone here I recall had luck JB Welding their case but don't count on that.

 

Yes a visual inspection is the only way to know for sure.
Since all the fluid drained out it either busted a trans cooler line (if your lucky) or it punched a hole in the side of the trans housing.
If it did the latter you will need a new transmission.
www.roverlandparts.com
www.autosportsunlimited.com
Also check e-bay and Craig's list.

 

In the picture I see a hunk out of the transmission housing but the fluid looks like it is coming from the cooler lines maybe you will get lucky. Before I knew better I drove around for maybe 500 miles with a rattly, shaking front u-joint. I was lucky that thing held.

 

As stated, see where it is leaking, it will roll in park with no front shaft. Use the parking brake to keep it from rolling.

 

Ok,

Crawled underneath and took some new pictures.

It is leaking fluid from what appears to be a seal around the bolt closest to what looks like the transfer case (?).

Thoughts are appreciated.

Chris

 

Those pictures show damage to the the transmission pan. I would check the actual bell housing where the chunk is missing for cracks. You should be able to salvage it if it is just the pan.

 

Thanks,

I took a few more pictures and inspected the bell housing. Looks as if (to the naked eye) there are no visible cracks and the area where the chunk is missing is bone dry.

Chris

 

Looks to my like you got lucky and all you will need is a new front driveshaft and some trans cooler lines.
And your Y-pipe.

 

It appears you got very lucky. Since the u-joint on the driveshaft side let go instead of at the transfer case it wasn't able to do much damage. Compared to what it could have done anyway. The bell housing is no big deal, nothing is going to leak out of there.

Like Spike said, new driveshaft, y-pipe and oil cooler lines you'll be back on the road.