powerglide problems

the powerglide in my el camino will not shift into high until the water temp. gets up to 180. does anyone have any ideas. thanks

 

This may be a stretch, but make sure the filter is not clogged. If so the cold ATF may be too thick to flow through easily. However, this usuall will cause a slip condition more than a no shift. You could have seals that are getting hard and need to heat to soften a little as well.
I know these are sort of 'out there' but with out checking line pressures fluid levels etc... it is hard to make a good diagnosis.

 

what year El Camino, the later ones might have had a temperature vacuum switch that only opens when the engine warms up, and possibly the vacuum modulator is connected to it by mistake.

 

mine does the same thing, i am putting on a new vacume modulator tomorrow....

 

Its in a 1965 el camino once it gets up to temp it shifts fine.

 

Try the VM first, and make sure the vacuum line is in good shape and hooked to a good vacuum source from manifold, not carb.

 

Had this happen on my 1967 elcamino with a glide,Unhook the vacuum line from intake ,hook up a mitey vac to vacuum hose pump to 18 in of vacuum,see if it holds,if so vacuum line and modulator is ok and the governer is stuck.

 

Modulator is most probable cause, simple fix.