Hi guys (and gals) this is Kerry in the U.K. I have been reading this board for a while and thought I better join in 'specially as I need some info. I have almost finished my `31 Truck, it has a 283 and powerglide tranny. I re-built the tranny as it had been sitting for years, the last couple of nights I have taken the truck 'round the block just to test it out, yesterday it did'nt shift into 2nd, no problem I thought as I did'nt have the vacuum modulator hooked up. Hooked it up today and...........still a one speed. I have never driven anything with a 'glide in it, when do they change up? I probably have'nt been over about 30mph in it so is this normal? I will need to put a few more "legal requirements" on it before I can take out on some faster roads. Any info/suggestions much appreciated. Cheers, KT.
Kerry, I had a burnt out Powerglide rebuilt when I lived in the Philippines, and after refitting it to my car it wouldn't shift up. The shop that had built it told me (after I'd finished abusing them) to drop the valve block out of the bottom and check it was clean. I did that, found it full of shite, cleaned it, and all was well. Just have to pull the pan and undo a few bolts, and the whole thing drops out. A Powerglide is surprisingly simple inside.
Hey Kerry welcome to the HAMB.......about time too! put some pics up on here of your projects, they like pics!! Kev.
Welcome! The powerglide trans. uses a sliding governor valve to upshift. You can access it by removing the tailshaft. It is a small valve body surrounded by a sliding weight,kinda lopsided looking thing on the output shaft. Make sure it "rattles" freely. Another problem could be the dowshift lever or T.V. valve stuck in the "downshift mode. Check your linkages. It should'nt move untill you give it about 85% throttle. Hope this helps. Powerglides are great for learning on,they are very simple to rebuild. Glenn
'43 speaks the truth, but The throttle pressure linkage is a direct link from the carbeurator to the transmission, not 85%. A quick test to see if it's the governor or stuck linkage is to pull the linkage off the carbs and drive the thing with minimal pressure on it. It should upshift very early then. IIRC the linkage pulls to the bell crank and then pushes from the bell crank down on the transmission lever. Disconnect it and set it at minimum pressure and see if it shifts early. Did you change the carb on the car?
I'll clean the valve body out today, I removed it when I re-built the box but did'nt split it to clean it or anything just put it back. I never drove it before I re-built it so I can't compare. I just love tranny fluid in the face don't you? Thanks, Kerry.
I had to remove the governor when I re-built the box, I can't recall a problem with it, i'm not that familiar with auto's but i can usually tell if something's not right and I put it back so I musta thought it was right, I can have another look easy enough tho'. Cheers, Kerry.
I don't have the kickdown/pressure valve lever hooked up at the mo so I guess it would change up early now? So this means its the governor??? Thanks, Kerry.
Is that Kev as in you got more shite in my shed than I do Kev or another Kev? There are pictures of my projects on here Marqs `35 truck was built by my own fair hands up to drivi'n. Cheers, KT.
Does this trans have a rear pump? If so, theres a little pin on the output shaft that drives the inner pump gear. If its missing or sheared off, you get no upshift.PS, there is no 2nd gear in this trans, only low & high. DAVE
Before my high gear on mine died it would shift at about 25mph (with 3.36 rearend) with no "kickdown" linkage attached. Leading up to loseing the gear it would feel like it was slipping when it went into gear. Then one day as I was getting off the highway it just went away. RPMs rose, but no acceleration. Low gear was fine. From then on it would just do the RPM thing when I tried to put it in high gear.
Is there anyway to go around using the shifting linkage where it will still downshift by itself if needed. Would look ugly if you was running a tall tunnel ram. Maybe a cable type linkage coming down? I don't know just wondering if anyone else had run into this.
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