I was all happy after getting the T5-Th350 swap done 3 weeks ago. It shifted perfect the 5 times I took it out. Never pushed it past 5000rpm. It sat for the past week. Took it out. Shifted into second gear and it barely moves. Has a 3500 Art Carr converter, so Im on the gas at 4000rpm and it just keeps the car moving. I dont think it is shifting into third either. First gear and Reverse work fine. Checked the fluid, it was at the bottom of the dipstick. Filled it up, same problems. Did a burnout just now with P275 M/T DR's. When its in second barely moving if I hit the gas real hard just for a second the car jumps like its about to take off, but then stops.

Are these obvious signs of a done tranny?

 

Rebuild time! Actually check your vacume line going to your trans first that has some weigh on your shifting.

 

Drop the pan on it,first be sure the filter is on properly,then check all of the bolts in the valvebody.I once had a TH350 in a truck do something similar,and when I pulled the pan to check it out,one of the bolts for the valvebody was laying in the pan.I put it back in,snugged up the rest of them,and that tranny worked perfectly for about 5 years after that.Just an idea,worth a shot.

 

Vacuum line is fine. I dont want to drop the pan and replace the gasket and fluid. Might just call this car quits and start my other one. yes, I think I am giving up. This cars been nothing but a problem.

If the tranny were low on fluid wouldnt it take more than one shift to destroy second gear? And if second gear were weak, wouldnt it shows signs of it and not just go from good one day to dead the next?

 

I knew this didnt make any sense. Now its workin again. I had to loosen the kickdown cable for some reason. But now its not tight enough cuz its shiftin late 3/4 throttle. I just have the cable looped over top the tranny and the end tied to the torque armk bracket.

 

just a thought, but check the govenor. It's under the round cover by the tail shaft. It has a plastic gear on it that turbo 350's love to eat. If you lose it, you'll only have 1st and reverse no 2 or 3.

 

check the governor and hook the kick-down cable up properly.

 

I agree on also checking the governor,I've also seen troubles with that.But,if he's oo lazy to pull the pan and filter,odds are that he won't be willing to check this either