First off my car is an 86 firebird with 2.8L engine and automatic transmission.

Couple days ago my car started acting up, whenever I give it gas the transmission seems to slip once it reaches ~3000 RPM and the car would jerk forward 2-3 times before finally shifting. It's most noticeable when shifting from 1st to 2nd but it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it happens too when I start going from a stop even at low RPMs. It doesn't seem to be too bad if I'm easy on the throttle but once in a while you can feel the car jerk forward when it has to shift.

I checked the fluid and it seems alright. I've never had problems with the transmission or tried working on any so I don't know where to start looking. Could it be a dirty filter? Any help pointing me in the right direction would be much appreciated

 

Have you tried adjusting the TV cable? There's a write-up in the tech articles.

 

If the TV cable adjustment doesn't affect it then I recomend a new filter and fluid change while blowing out your cooler lines, Also check to make sure the governor isn't sticking.

 

But if you got a high mile trans that never had its fluid changed, a whole bunch of fresh fluid in it can make things worse as it losens up junk.

 

Very valid point!

 

so if I need new fluid and filter I pretty much need a rebuild? Or are there any high mileage fluids or any additives that can help too?

Also I tried the TV cable adjustment and still no luck. Still have that same problem if I go past ~1/2 throttle. If I'm easy on the throttle it shifts 1-2 and 2-3 with no problem. This happens in both D and OD. Going to look into the governor next.

 

Dunno whats wrong with your trans but changing fluid in a high mile one thats never beem changed can be a crap shot. Are no hi mile trans fluids, all trans fluids are full of detrgents and it can losen crap that will make things worse not better if its never been changed.

If you pull the pan to change the filter, capture the fluid and put it right back in, only top off as needed with new.

depends on who you get one from, most places don't even charge a core charge, so you can order a rebuilt one and keep driving yours till ready.
Though also get a new TC and flush the cooler n lines before the new ones goes in.

 

Only thing is I'm looking into doing an engine/transmission swap over the winter so I don't want to have to dump money into this trans, would like to patch it up for cheap so I can keep it running for the summer.