I've been having nothing but problems with my trans since buying my firebird. Whne I bought it, it was stuck in 1st. Luckily that was just a stripped govenor gear. After that there was a slight delay when shifting to 3rd also had a very from shift to 2nd. Then 2nd gear started shifting smoother and 3rd shifted great but soon afterwards, 2nd gear was gone altogether. It would free rev when shifting to 2nd then hit 3rd no problem. I babied it the couple times a drove it like that. The knew problem is kinda strange to me, it was stuck in first so I limped it home, pulled the govenor out and the gear was fine. I put the govenor back in, and took it for a drive. Still stuck in 1st but if I go WOT for a couple seconds, it will hit 2nd gear. When driving in 2nd and lifting off the gas, rpm drops to idle just like it did with a stripped govenor gear. It will not shift to 2nd unless its at WOT. I also do not have 3rd or OD. I'm going to rebuild when funds allow, until then maybe someone has an idea of my issue.

 

i bet that an accumulator spring is broken. also when 2nd gear free revs usually means the band is slipping and can warp the reverse input drum.

 

please excuse my ignorance, but is the the accumulator spring in the valve body or elsewhere in the trans?

 

There were no broken springs or damage to either accumulator springs. The valve body appears to be in good shape. Though I was wondering about the locations of the checkballs. I cant seem to find any diagram specifically for the 700r4 in an F-body. Could checkballs in the wrong places cause my problems?

 

There is another spring above the seperator plate.The band might be burnt.Any clutch material in the pan.Wipe your finger across the pan.

 

an ATSG manual can help you with those check ball locations and answer any other questions about the tranny. i have a few and they are extremely helpful.

 

I pulled the separater plate as well as the 3-4 accumulator spring. No signs of burnt clutches and fluid didn't smell burnt. I may be getting a 700r4 from a '92 half-ton chevy. I've heard about some difference between the input shaft for the ones in trucks.