I have an 87 dodge pickup that I put a 74 360 in backed by a 904 transmission, I daily drove it for years and years but it has been neglected for the past 4. I recently drug it out of the weeds and have fixed a lot of stuff that made me take it off the road in the first place but now I'm having a problem I just cant solve. I rebuilt a holley 600 and put on it and after a lot of fiddling I think I got it dialed in but the engine wants to stall when the truck is in gear and my foot is on the brakes. If I press the brakes in park or neutral it makes no obvious difference in the way the engine runs. I figured the booster was pulling too much vacuum and stalling the engine but after replacing it I'm still having the same issues. I can find no obvious vacuum leaks. It otherwise runs and drives well other than the trans slipping a little bit in first and second but it's done that for years. I am by no means a mechanic, just somebody that likes piddling with old junk so please dont neglect to suggest the simple things to check because you dont want to insult my intelligence. Thanks in advance for your help.
Bump... but after some research I'm starting to think maybe somthing is wrong with the valve body in my transmission amd its keeping the converter locked in amd that's causing the stalling issue? Comments?
Yes it does. Well the later ones did anyway, the engine is a 74 but I used the original trans from the truck so it's an 87.
If the trans does have a torque converter clutch there could be a number of seemingly unrelated items that might control when the TCC engages or disengages. Your brake lamp switch may have an extra circuit that opens when the brakes are applied to keep the converter from locking up. There may be a coolant temp switch that stays open when the engine is cold to prevent lockup until the engine warms up a bit. There may also be a manifold vacuum sensor that unlocks the TCC when the engine is under a heavier load. Or even a vehicle speed sensor that won't allow lockup below a minimum speed. This should at least give you something to ponder. There might even be a simple way to temporarily unplug the TCC and see if that helps to cure your stalling problem.
Most of what I suggested is GM based, though I think you'll find that most of it also applies to MoPar and Ford products as well. Also keep in mind that the HAMB is very narrowly focused on vehicles and drivetrains from 1965 and prior. There can sometimes be some gray areas, but . . . Questions about later models and things like EFI and Mustang II front suspension and such will likely get you a pretty cold reception, or worse. Read up on the rules for using the site and read thru the forums a bit to get a feel for the place. Stick around; this place is generally a goldmine of solid information and helpful members.
Thank you for your advice. I have been a member of the hamb for quite a while now and I am well aware of the rules and guidelines which is why I posted this in the antiquated section rarely frequented instead of the main board where it would get hundreds of more views.
I hadn't noticed your "joined date". So you should have a pretty good feel for the place by now. Hope you get your problems sorted out. Don't know if this applies to your '87 trans or not. At some point Mopar seems to have started using a PCM to control converter lockup. In general it sounds like most TCC complaints concerned a shuddering or shuttling problem when engaging or disengaging the TCC. https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46677
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