Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Powerglide issues

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by StefanS, Jul 29, 2015.

  1. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    So my post about the trans. cooler was semi successful. Now here's another one for you powerglide experts out there. The car starts right up and runs fine in park and in neutral. If I'm on the brake and put it in any gear however, it stalls out. When I'm coming to a stop I have to put it in neutral or it cuts out. When I'm ready to go, I have to release the brake and hit the gas as I'm shifting into gear. It'll sit there in neutral indefinitely. Once it's moving it drives great and the shift from low to drive is super smooth. There's no noise coming from the trans. or anything. What the h#ll could it be?
     
  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,794

    squirrel
    Member

    did you check the ignition timing and idle mixture on the engine? what is the idle speed?
     
  3. Da Tinman
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,222

    Da Tinman
    Member

    Torque convertor failing? Most of the time they start slipping but I have seen a few that started engaging at low rpms.
     
  4. ottoman
    Joined: May 4, 2008
    Posts: 341

    ottoman
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    I have also seen a converter lock up... just something to check
     
  5. No
    No
     
  6. Vacuum leak
     
  7. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    On my '54 three speed, the bb was obvious to see when lining it up with the pointer. On this thing, the flex plate has alot going on so it was kinda hard to tell where the bb was but I "think" I lined it up and the car starts right up. The thing with this carb is, before I got the car I was turning the idle mixture screw (carter yf 788) but it wasn't doing anything at all. I went from all the way in to when it seemed like it would fall out and nothing changed. I just seated it and backed it out 1.5 turns. I'm waiting on a tach from ups so I'm not positive what rpm it's turning but it sounds pretty much like the '54 did at 500 rpm. I was wondering about the converter since it feels almost like a clutch not being disengaged but it's not pulling forward, just bogging down and stalling. I was thinking maybe the vaccum line to the trans was either clogged or broken, but I have no idea what it actually does (tried searching for about 3 hours last night) so I haven't pulled it yet (or should I be looking for a vaccum leak somewhere else?)
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2015
  8. dirt t
    Joined: Mar 20, 2007
    Posts: 5,387

    dirt t
    Member

    I have had a torque converter lock up. Chased everything carb ignition vacuum it was torque converter.
     
  9. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    Any way to check it without pulling everything apart?
     
  10. Was it a lock up converter?
     
  11. If you've got a broken and jammed torque converter which is not impossible I suppose, but extremely rare, you've also got a trans full of metal ,and it's not gonna shift super smooth for long.
    Okay, foot off the brake , put it in gear..back and forth to neutral if you've got to, till you get it going down the street at about 15-20 mph. Keep the gas pedal in the same place and stand on the brake until the car stops.Tell us if the car quits running or not
     
  12. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    I'll try it today.
     
  13. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    I drained and refilled the trans the other day and I expected the worst. When the fluid started pouring out, it looked brand new.
     
  14. mamllc
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 223

    mamllc
    Member

    [QUOTE=" I was thinking maybe the vaccum line to the trans was either clogged or broken, but I have no idea what it actually does [/QUOTE]

    Vacuum to the modulator controls the shift, with a clogged or broken line it will stay in first gear.
     
  15. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    On the '51s trans it has to be shifted manually or do you mean it wouldn't shift even if the lever was moved?
     
  16. Correct..so I don't believe it has a modulator or vacuum line.
     
  17. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,756

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Will it stop without stalling if you keep your toe on the gas pedal with the other foot on the brake? If so, then you have a tuning problem or, worst case, a worn out engine problem.

    A failed torque converter is possible but very rare.
     
  18. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    It definitely has a vaccum line. It comes off the same port as the wiper vaccum line
     
  19. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    I'll try that monday. I'm going to the local junkyard to grab a rochester and I'm gonna rebuild it. I actually took the 4 float bowl screws out of it when I had my '54 since mine were stripped. Does anyone know what size screws I would need for it?
     
  20. d2_willys
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 4,343

    d2_willys
    Member
    from Kansas

    If your Powerglide is a 52 or older, it does not have an automatic shift. No vacuum modulator. However it does have a 5 member torque converter, that (in my brain's archive file) I believe has some weird hill holder or something weird about it. My guess is that the torque converter needs to be removed, torn apart, cleaned, inspected, repaired, then reinstalled. See the motors manual for more.
     
  21. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    Let me ask you guys this...is the idle to be set at 500 rpms in drive or in neutral? I upped the idle today a little bit and it was driving perfectly fine. I put it in reverse, hit the break the shift into low and no stalling. Came to stop signs in low and drive, no stalling. In gear it sounds about right and when I shifted into park the RPM's jumped up so was setting the idle in neutral incorrect?​
     
  22. d2_willys
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 4,343

    d2_willys
    Member
    from Kansas

    Set idle speed in Drive.
     
  23. StefanS
    Joined: Oct 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,319

    StefanS
    Member
    from Maryland

    Perhaps that's where I was going wrong...damn automatics!
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.