I need some big time help here. I recently became discouraged with all the computer controlled junk on my 1984 Firebird. The precious owner had trashed the system somethnig awful. I got rid of the old CC carb and distributor and went with a new Edelbrock Performer and ACCEL HEI distributor. BOY! What a huge improvement in starting, idle and adjustability. The engine runs great. It is running much cleaner than with the old CC stuff... no smoke out the tailpipe!

After I got the carb adjusted, I took it for a test drive to find that I only have first gear! Even manually shifting it did not produce anything other than first and I think I felt a quick shift to second for a short time.

Is this trans computer controlled too? If so, is there a way to get it to operate without the CC stuff like an ordinary automatic? Do I need to rehook something from the system to get it to work? Thanks for any insights and my apologies for my ignorance.

Brad

 

The transmission is not "computer controlled", but the torque converter clutch lock up is. That's not your problem for the moment.

Did you hook up the bottom cable on the carb throttle arm? It goes to the transmission and is called the TV cable for "throttle valve". This valve is in the transmission and tells the transmission how much throttle the engine is getting.

If you didn't hook up that TV cable, big problems.

 

Yup, hooked up the TV cable. I took the car out for another try and it did manage to shift from first to second and from second to third, but only after hitting between 2500 and 3000 RPM. Of course with this setup 4th gear OD is out of the question until some internal work is done to it. The shifts were quite harsh to say the least.

I've taken it in to the local trans guys and hope they can figure it out. I have never had it rev so high before trying to shift. I had originally thought that it was stuck in first gear, but upon pushing it harder, it did finally upshift. Thanks for the reply. This one has me stumped.

Brad

 

Needs adjustment on the TV cable.

 

Yeah, that was what I thought too. I adjusted it via the GM shop manual twice and still no luck. As I said, this one has me stumped! Thanks!
Brad

 

with the edelbrock carb you have to play with the adjustments about an 1/8 inch at a time till it starts shiftin right thats what my friend did on his and it finally worked fine

 

Yup, you could be right. It's at the trans guru right now. There were several adjustments that were out. First the TV cable, second the detent cable (can't figure out how since it's worked flawlessly until now). I wanted them to solve the leakage problem it seems to have.

Well, the bottom line is that we decided that after 162,000 miles it was really time for a rebuild. The trans has served it's previous owners well and myself as well, up to this point. There are too many variables and since I'm keeping the car, I want it dependable. We are thus redoing the trans and it should be ready for prime time next week. Then we get to save for the new crate engine! yeah!
Thanks for the reply and insights.
Brad