I have always shifted my auto manually. When downshifting manually,to get a little engine braking, I blip the throttle to build a bit of line pressure then flick the shifter down a notch. This has worked well for quite a while. The trans would grab the lower gear and I'd roar through the corner.

Lately I've been toying with the governor to get the automatic shift points at WOT just right. That means a lot of trial and error and a lot of WOT shifting. I finally got it right and on my last test run it chirped the tires going into third for the first time. I was stoked.

Now when I down shift before entering a corner the trans doesn't want to grab a gear. Sometimes it revs as if in neutral. I use the brakes to slow down for the corner and when I get back on the gas it is in the selected (lower) gear.

Did I break something from down shifting like that all of the time?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

It sounds like there is some slip occuring in the transmission. I forget the "stages" of the shift kits and I can't say that I've ever shifted my transmission the way that you have except occasionally out of boredom. I have a strong feeling though that those shift kits increase heat build-up in the transmission much like running a higher stall converter. I think that the governor modifications also change heat dissipation since your reving the engine higher by changing the counterweights and springs. I did all the same modifications as you did and had the transmission to the point that I could bark the tires going into the third on the highway. I don't care what anyone says, its hard on stuff.

Wish I had more info for you.

 

The lack of engine braking is in the overrun clutch sprag assembly. If there is no engine braking, then the sprag itself is gone (no holding power), or the overrun clutches are gone. When you downshift, do you give it gas at the same time to match the rpm's of the next gear then let off the throttle?

 

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the info.

When I down shift I give it gas to match rpms then shift. If I'm doing it to slow dow I then usually let off the gas little. I don't do any real hard engine braking but I've done a lot of it.

I've known this could cause a problem. Is there a test I can do to verify that this is the problem? Does the trans need a complete re-build or just a partial?

It seems to be holding under acceleration. Is that going to get worse as a result?

 

"If I'm doing it to slow dow I then usually let off the gas little. I don't do any real hard engine braking but I've done a lot of it".
This is the cause of your problem, downshifting without giving it throttle. Doing it your way will take out the overrun clutches.
Go up to about 35mph and have the lever in 2nd gear, it should slow the vehicle down with engine braking. If it does not, then the transmission will have to be taken out and have this addressed at a minimum.