THe cruise-o-matic in my 59 t-bird started acting up a couple of days ago. Upon startup, it act like it doesn't want to shift out of first, play with the pedal a bit and it'll finally shift. After it gets warmed up, it'll shift out of first, but later and harder than usual. Most of the time, it only goes into second gear for about a second, then straight to third. Sometimes it stays in second for longer than normal and shifts hard into third.This is my ONLY car, so this is really annoying! I checked the fluid and the level seemed ok, Gonna check it again after I pull into the garage where it's level. Outside of that is there anything else I should check? I need to limp it along until I can get my hands on a 390/C6 combo to stick in it...
It's the shift modulator. Check the vacuum line on the back of the intake. If the Vacuum line is intact it probably needs replaced. Chances are the vac*** line is pinched or something.
I would look at the governor if the primary valve is sticking it will delay the upshift and as the trans heats up things expand etc.You might try manual shigting it for a while.I think those old cruise-o-governors had an access plate on the extention housing.They're not really that hard to clean the problem is what made it hang up Hey it might be that or the valve body any good luck.
Yes there are vacuum modulators on cruise-o-matics. If you don't have a vacuum modulator on your auto-trans, it's possible that you have a Ford-o-matic instead, and they have a throttle valve. My vintage 1963 Motors Auto Repair Manual says: "1-2, 2-3 Shift points Low, High or Erratic: 1. Fluid level. 2. Throttle linkage 3. Manual linkage. 4. Governor. 5. Perform control pressure check. 6. Valve body. 7. Inner and outer throttle levers." http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/message/1216129951/O-T..Cruise-O-Matic+issues...
Yep, I was definately wrong about the modulator...I didn't see a vacuum line going to the trans though, could get under the car to look directly at the trans though. It's weird, after I got about halfway home from work today it started shifting like normal again. I'll just have to see how it does tomorrow...
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