Whats the max temp a transmission would get after a bit of driving? I went cruising around for about an hour lastnight and the transmission was hot enough that I couldn't hold the back of my hand on it. Not sure if the exhaust system being so close had anything to do with it.

thanks guys

 

Ok, I'm just trying to figure out why you'd want to touch a hot trans....
Anyway, I know transmissions run hot normally (their whole concept is frictional, hydraulically actuated). I never got a good reading off one of these axles-A/T's-T/C's but I know a Ford 9" after about 4.5 miles of driving is around 250*F.

 

It's like when people warn you that your coffee is hot but you still try and drink it anyways

 

If you dont have temp gauge. You could hook up trans sender unit drill on trans pan and plug it. and wire from sensor to temp gauge. So you would not gonna to worry what temp your running

 

I know some companies make a trans temp gauge... I think Autometer has one...

Yup, they sure do...
Autometer Trans Temp Gauge - C2