I was cruising on the highway at 65mph. Suddenly the car (85 TA 383ci) acted like I shifted into neutral. I pulled off the interstate and popped the hood. Set the E-brake and checked the fluid level in neutral okay it was at propper level. Took off and trans did not shift untill rpms got around 3500-4000 trans shifted into overdrive but if i pressed more than 25% of throttle trans would slip and once again felt it was in neutral. Made it home dropped trans pan no metal flakes but fluid was dark brown but did not smell burnt. Changed out filter added 5 quarts of Valvoline high milage trans fluid. Have only 1st and reverse. Trans allways shifted great. Trans is the stock unit no modifications. Trans has 135k miles on it. Would like to get it running while I save for a newer 30 spline 700R4.

 

I recently had a very silimar experience although mine "kinda fixed itself". Now I'm afraid to change the fluid even though its been 30k miles since I changed it. I read that a slipping tranny uses the friction material suspended in the fluid to help keep it from slipping worse.

My post is here - https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...e-explain.html

 

I've been doing some research tonight and found a bunch of info claiming that the "don't change the fluid" theory is just a widespread myth.

Since you changed your fluid, do you think it helped the situation or made it worse?

 

time for a rebuilt.

 

Changing the fluid made no difference at all. Still stuck in 1st gear. My guess is that either one of the screens is cloged or their is something cloged in the valve body. Either way I will be in need of a rebuild. Maby if the transmission had been serviced every 50k it would still be running.

 

you've got a stuck TV valve. VERY common on the 700-r4. It only takes the tineiest piece of material to get it hung. My tranny builder actually puts a special spring in his rebuilds so that you can pop the gas and unstick the valve. Having said that, you COULD possibly get away with changing the TV valve and SERIOUSLY flushing the tranny. If it was shifting ok before hand, the tranny probably isn't wrecked. But on 700-r4s that use the tv valve (before they went to electronic shifting and became 4l60e's) it's very VERY important to change the fluid at least every 30k. That prevents stuff from getting that valve stuck in the 1st place.

FYI - that old 'myth' about not changing dirty fluid isn't really a myth. I've seen too many trannys that were shifting ok, completely die when they get a flush. One of my shops won't touch a tranny if the fluid is dirty, and over 100k on the tranny.

 

V6 237k on the OD... Original OEM gasket on the pan, bolts were covered in muck and looked and felt as if they were never moved. Transmisison doesn't engage forward unless the gear selector is in D or 2 (never OD), but only when cold and only when its sat all night. Tranny holds 2nd gear for a very long time (up above 4000) if more than 1/3 throttle is used. Shifts back and forth between 2nd and 3rd at part throttle in the morning too.

I changed the fluid and filter.... No problems in 5 months now. Didn't solve anything, still rebuild time, but it sure didn't kill it.

 

Thanks IROZINCO I will start there. That being said I am planning on eventually installing a 14 lb intercooled Pro Charger and the info I have read in the GM Performance parts catalog showes that a 4L60 (replaced the 700R4) is only good to 375 torque. I am guessing I am pushing around 275-300 hp and 250-275 torque now and will be between 600-625 after the boost. What trans would anyone recomend or what would need to be done to a 700R4 to withstand the abuse. Also my rear axle is 308's possi. I will need to upgrade my rear diff also. I don't want to be racing a stinking ford and have something gernade on me hence losing a race.

 

700R4's can be built up to take over 500 horse. It would cost a LOT though. Might have better luck with a TH400.

 

my buddy has a car running low 9s with about 1100 hp with the nitrous on, and like 650 with it off. he uses a th350 trans that he picked up at a junkyard. got a pro around here to rebuild it for 300 bucks and its worked great for like 6 years.
oh yea, and that same problem happened to me. could be your governor gear or valve. now thats easy as hell to change and cheap as hell to change. you can do it with tranny still mounted up and closed up, it comes out of the side.im surprised nobody said that yet. the part was like 10 bucks for the governor assembly with the weights, gear, valve, springs, bla bla.

 

I am very lucky to be alive. I backed car up, tight against curb where I live and supported front on 2 jack stands under front lower controll arms. removed valve body cleaned and was installing. I was using a halogen light the yellow one. I forgot to install the manual linkage so I popped the car out of gear, (while still under it) the car fell on me. The light saved my life. I am still sore, Broke my colar bone and my shoulder and seperated a few ribs. But I will be working on it again as soon as I am able to crawl around under the car. I will support it next time w/ 4 jack stands.

 

Wow ......




Glad you didn't get hurt too bad.

I usually drive mine up on ramps, then jack it up, then use jackstands. I leave the ramps and the jack in place for extra protection and block any wheels on the ground.

I can't really imagine how bad it would be to have a car fall on me.

 

well I pulled out the governor and it was completly toast. the plastic gear looked like this )( and it should look like this l l. on a helpfull note when re-installing the metal governor cover, remove the trans brace but first disconect the tv cable from the throttle body. I did not do this and when I dropped the trans the 3 inches needed to hammer on the cover I broke the lock inside the tv cable so it will not adjust. I work at a dealorship so the new cable will only cost $18.00 the used governor cost was $25.00 used (but like new). trans does upshift but will not operate properly untill tv cable is replaced. Thanks alot for all your help guys I saved hundreds of dollars. I will use this trans untill it goes out completly. total cost $50.00 for Valvoline max life tranny fluid and filter (auto zone) $95.00 for repair.

 

Works as good as new. Thanks again guys