Last night, when I shifted from 1st to 2nd there was a loud clunk, and I had lost 2nd completely. Now when I tried to test it this morning I don't have reverse anymore either. However, I still have 1st, and think I still
have 3rd.

What did I break? This is my everyday driver so I really need some help.

-Jason

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'86 305 TPI 700R4
Edelbrock headers, highflow cat, borla cat-back exhaust, AFPR, modified MAF, ported plenum,
Stage 2 chip, 1.6 ratio roller tip rockers, b&m megashifter, Transgo shift kit, MSD 6AL

 

In addition there seems to be a low whining noise coming from the tranny.

 

The whining occurs only in park, reverse, and neutral and it gets louder when I increase the rpms. 1st and 3rd definitely still work, I'm not sure about 4th yet though. When I shift from drive to reverse I can feel the tranny shifting like usual, but when I get on the gas it is like being in neutral.

 

You have broke the sun shell in the rear portion of the transmission, time for a rebuild.

 

As Pro Built said, your Sun Shell is broken. This is very common. Make sure that the shop installs the newest version from the dealer and not some used piece from a core.

 

What exactly is the sun shell? Is this in the rear housing? Or is it deep inside the tranny? How much do you guys think a shop would charge?

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'86 305 TPI 700R4
Edelbrock headers, highflow cat, borla cat-back exhaust, AFPR, modified MAF, ported plenum,
Stage 2 chip, 1.6 ratio roller tip rockers, b&m megashifter, Transgo shift kit, MSD 6AL

 

I see what the reaction sun shell is from my tranny repair manual. How did this break though, was it just because it was old?

 

The tranny is an '88 and I'm not sure what car it is out of. Did it bust because it wasn't strong enough as a 700r4 out of a camaro.

 

It was time.
Rebuild the entire tranny.
You are looking about about $1,000 - $1,700 rebuild price.
Join the club.
Mine went, too.
I only have a 3.4 V-6.
And I have to pass smog with only 1-2 maybe 3 of my 700R4 (if I get lucky with probuilt autos tips THANKS).
Many places will do it within a day.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

look into a aftermarket one.. for 1100 you can get a pretty damn god one...

 

I just opened up the tranny and sure enough the sun shell is broken. The band looks good and so do all of the clutch packs.
How can I be sure that I won't just break the new one that I put. I think this tranny is out of an '88 Caprice, it should be able to handle 305tpi or is this what broke it?


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'86 305 TPI 700R4
Edelbrock headers, highflow cat, borla cat-back exhaust, AFPR, modified MAF, ported plenum,
Stage 2 chip, 1.6 ratio roller tip rockers, b&m megashifter, Transgo shift kit, MSD 6AL

 

This is a common problem on these. You could call it a bread and butter job for tranny shops. To prevent this, go to the dealer and buy a brand new one. Most shops just grab another one from a core and send it on it's way. GM has redesigned the radius a couple of times and seems to have it down now.

This is also why I harp on people about jumping onto the Huge Servo/Boost Valve bandwagon looking for the hardest 1-2 shift they can get. As KED85 found out, even V-6's do this. what do you expect when you have a strong small block and tire chirping shifts?

 

Thanks. That makes sense since it broke when the tranny shifted from 1st to 2nd. I just got a new one from gm and now I'm looking at the band and clutch packs. They all seem to have a lot of material left, and I don't see any blacks they all look kind of like a brown color.
However, on one of my overrun clutches almost all the friction material broke off, so there is chunks of it all over in the input housing. Did this happen because the tranny had been sitting for probably over a year, and maybe the clutch was dry and got stuck?

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'86 305 TPI 700R4
Edelbrock headers, highflow cat, borla cat-back exhaust, AFPR, modified MAF, ported plenum,
Stage 2 chip, 1.6 ratio roller tip rockers, b&m megashifter, Transgo shift kit, MSD 6AL

 

Whenever I see friction material come off of a clutch I suspect a bad radiator. It breaks down the bonding on the steel backer.

 

What do you mean by a bad radiator?
My current radiator is only about 2 years old and looks to be in good condition from the outside.

-Jason

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'86 305 TPI 700R4
Edelbrock headers, highflow cat, borla cat-back exhaust, AFPR, modified MAF, ported plenum,
Stage 2 chip, 1.6 ratio roller tip rockers, b&m megashifter, Transgo shift kit, MSD 6AL

 

The tranny cooler is inside of the radiator and if there is a leak the water/antifreeze mix will attack the bonding of the friction material. I'm not saying this is what happened, just that it has to be considered.

 

You would be able to tell as antifreeze/water would turn the fluid an opaque pink color instead of transparent red.

 

Nope, the tranny fluid still looks deep red.