Help, Manual transmission, metal in oil

[Journey]

I have a 2000 taco, 5 speed manual trans. I ran it with very low oil while pulling a heavy load for about 400 miles. About 200 miles into it I started to hear a whine from the trans and I did not check it. . At 400 I could smell burnt oil. and i still did not check it. I just changed the burnt oil and there were several (about 7) pieces of metal in the oil, all of them smaller than the size of pencil lead. It did not look like a bearing, it looked like shavings. I took it for a test drive and it still whines.
So my question is on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being: ok and 10 being: get a new trany tomorrow. Where am I sitting.
Please Help.
I am so mad at myself I wish I could beat my own ass.

 

[bowyer2002]

I had similar experience with my tranny in my old Pathfinder, never changed the oil and at 163K had to get the transmission rebuilt. A tranny rebuild/replace is in your future, now or later.
The questions are:
How's your wallet?
Where might you get stuck if the tranny goes south? Can you afford the inconvience & downtime?

I'd say run it and meanwhile search for a rebuilt one and then make arrangements to install it by someone or yourself.

good luck!

 

[Journey]

wallet: thin
Where might you get stuck: I live in vegas. have you ever been 200 miles outside of vegas all you have is another 200 miles of desert in front of you. Thats where I would break down.

I can install it my self I just dropped the trany to replace the flywheel I damaged when I replaced the engine. Thats also when I changed the oil in the trany. Only I filled it wile it was out of the truck and did not fill it enough and told myself (Check the oil level when you get the trany back in you do not have enough oil in it) and then forgot until It stared to whine, and I still thought it will be fine until I get home.

Well I have always said it should hurt to be stupid, and that there should be a stupid tax. Well it does and there is.

 

[bowyer2002]

ALL education has a PRICE - and Lord knows I have paid for mine - good luck man!

 

[Duane]

As you live in a warm climate perhaps a thicker gear oil may quiet it down and extend the life you get from it. Perhaps a synthetic or an additive may help as well.
just my 2 cents