If its not one problem its a whole new one. One at a time ever since the engine rebuild i've been working out all the little issues that seemed to have appeared. The newest one is i'm not shifting into a higher gear. I can go about 20mph and no matter how much push to the pedal thats my top speed. I know little to nothing about transmissions so i'm looking for a few pointers. I've got a 62 Fleetwood with the 390 in it. I was told that one thing it may be is the modulator but I couldn't find anything on it in the shop manual. Any and all help is appreciated.
Hey man, I've learned a bit here and there tweaking on my 62. If you need some help this weekend let me know...I was actually planning on taking the tail off my ****** to replace the governor this weekend! Sounds like maybe the linkage isn't set up right to the ****** or carb. Have you pulled the pan on the ******? Have the proper fluid level?... bryan
bryan...good to hear from ya..hope things are going well. I appreciate the offer of help but i'll have to email ya tonight or tomorrow and let ya know if i'm even going to have time. i'm supposed to help a friend on his dodge this weekend. I haven't double checked the linkage setup at the trans so i'll double check that and i'm pretty sure my fluid level is fine but it's worth a look too. I haven't pulled the trans pan at all. NONAME...whats a slim jim trans?
Ok, had this same problem on my 62 years ago, no shift 20-25 mph top speed. Pulled the pan and valve body out, cleaned every p***age with brake parts cleaner, gallies, valves, everything. Re***embled and drove it for 2 or 3 more years no probs.
Hubnut...thanks for the input. another question...is there any way to test for a possible problem...one friend of mine suggested starting and driving in low and as I speed up manually shift to drive and see if it will switch to a higher gear after that?
You dont have a "slim jim" you have a controlled coupling hydramatic better known as the jetaway. What probally happened was during the rebuild of the motor you knocked the rod loose that goes to the ******. These transmissions dont have vacuum modulators that rod that goes to the ****** acts as the modulator. These transmissions sense throttle position throught the rod and shift accodingly. It has a very close tollerance so if it is not adjusted exactly it will not shift properly. I would definitly start by checking the adjustment of the kickdown rod. Manually shifting wont do any thing. I just rebuilt the ****** in a 62 last month because the input shaft broke in half not complicated ******s just a lot of parts your problem definitly sounds like a linkage problem though. Look for whitness marks on the linkage as to where the adjuster used to be near the carb. Your book should tell you how to adjust.
If it is a linkage problem, it will be very obvious when you drop the pan. There are ****** parts suppliers in Hemmings that still sell the filters and gaskets for 'em too, I couldn't find any thru local parts suppliers. Hydros don't like dirty fluid.
Nick...thanks for all the info. Hubnut thanks again my transmission fluid is fresh...could still be low from being empty as i had lost track of how many quarts i put in...the books says it's 14 quarts when transmission is completly empty and i don't think i've put that many in.
yeah.. hydro's are REAL picky about fluid level too. If it's too low, your shifts will be hard, and you'll hear a clang, if it's too high, you will risk blowing seals, and a trans leak that never goes away. So BE careful, and check that dipstick.. often.
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