I had this trans rebuilt by a local guy that is very well known for doing great work. The guy has been in at least one magazine that I know of. I won't give his name, but he knows his ****, so I don't doubt his work. With that being said, I don't really like the guy, he's kind of an ******* and I'd rather not deal with him any further unless I absolutely have to.

The problem: trans shift seems about right on the 1-2, shifts around 2000-2200 rpm.

trans shifts late on the 2-3, around 3500 rpm. I haven't even been able to get the car to a point where it would shift 3-4. Both shifts are nice and tight, no slipping.

This problem has been on going for a few weeks. Earlier today i read about disconnecting the tv cable and pulling it several times in case it was a sticky tv vavle problem. I tried this trick and then the car wouldn't even shift out of first. I'm guessing if the tv vavle wasn't stuck before, it is now?

Please help...I'm not exactly sure the tv cable is holding tension as it should. Anyone know any troubleshooting tests?

 

Was the TV cable adjusted properly during installation. That is super key.

Have a 3 page article (top right to go to page 2/3). http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php

 

Yes I adjusted the cable using the instructions on that site when I dropped in the engine and trans.

 

I'm gonna go ahead and add that after looking at videos and the pics on tvmadeez that my tv cable doesn't seem to be pulling back tight(no slack) after a throttle pull. I can set the cable, but when the throttle linkage goes back to idle position, the tv cable will slowly pull it's self back but never fully.

 

Still won't shift out of first gear. I disconnected and reconnected the cable at the transmission just to see if it would help but it didn't.

 

Sounds like you or someone else is gonna have to go in there and physically see what's holding up the valve from returning as it should . If you find it's only the cable binding all well and good , but the way you describe it being stuck forever in first it sounds like the valve got stuck all the way in when you pulled the cable like that .

 

The cable is returning and holding tight now. I think the tv valve is stuck, is it visible once you drop the pan?

 

Yes, it is.

 

Anyone have any good links to check for proper tv function? I've searched Google but most of what is popping up has to do with setting the tv cable.

 

The information you ask for is in the attachments. It's the only way I know of to check for proper TV function.

You don't specify if you're running TPI, carb, etc. the cable adjustment procedure is the same. Make sure you start off with the cable pushed in all the way towards the transmission. If you don't, there's a possibility that you can damage the cable inside the transmission by opening the throttle full past the limit of the cable's travel.

 

It's a Tbi. The cable is adjusted correctly. I'm wondering about the valve it's self.

Thanks for the attachments. I'll check them out when I get home.

 

Pulled the governor and this is how it looks. What's going on here? Does the gov need to be replace or do those pins need to be put back in place and bent on the ends? One pic shows rub marks so I'm sure the pins didn't just come loose when i removed the cover...

 

I think you found your problem.

Am I really looking at bent over (pardon the expression) finishing nails?

 

That's what it looks like

 

I just came across a photo of a Sonnax governor gear kit. It contains a gear, roll pin and two nails.

GM uses what appears to be nails (psudo nails??) peened on the ends (not bent) to keep them in place.

Are the nails a cheap alternative replacement for the GM pins when replacing the gear provided they're held in place (obviously, bending isn't cutting it)?

I also came across a weight kit that appears to use e-clip pins. Would this be a more robust alternative if someone doesn't have proper peening tools?

 

I researched as well and nails seems to be common practice. I bent the ends and stuck it back in. Trans is working great now. I think I bent them to where they won't be coming back out.

 

I'm glad to hear it's working again.

Finishing nails....that just doesn't seem right to me.

 

It doesn't but if it works, it works, i guess.. I have half a mind to go back and tell the trans guy his nails didn't hold up.

When I first installed the trans and it didn't shift right, i went to the guy who built it and told him him it wasn't shifting correctly and he basically told me the tv cable wasn't adjusted correctly. I knew the guy was a dick before I even had him build the trans(delivered parts to the guy when i was younger) but as i said he's very well known for his transmissions.

 

They have been using nails since 1964 in the TH400 transmission.