Hey guys...
My tranny is having more problems. Its a th350. Im losing about a quart of trans fluid a week, i have to wait until my car warms up for it to even go into gear, so basically it will just sit there and rev until it warms up then when it wants to it will go into gear and will move. I have almost no reverse until the cars been running for about 15 mins, but when it hasnt been running for a while you rev to 2200-2400 and it will move a cpl feet in 15-20 secs. I just personally serviced the trans, and there wasnt a large amount of metal shavings or anything in the filter. The trans worked perfectly after i serviced it for about 3 weeks. If i sit occasionally i can see smoke coming up, or i can look under the car and smell and i can smell burning trans fluid.... im thinking this is a torque convertor? The car was originally a powerglide but someone before replaced it with what he said was a pro-built trans. The convertor however was from a stock th350/350 chevelle. Ideas?

 

Nooo, not the malibu!!!!!
Was it fine before the service? To me it sounds like the filter could have fallen down or the cheap plastick pickup tube has a crack in it.
This would cause it to act like it is if the problem happend after the service.
SSC

 

Actually it did this same thing before the service, but the servicing cured the problems for a while but now their back. I just got pictures back on it today so i hope to get them up soon for everyones opinions

 

i had that happen before about 8 years ago.when i changed the fluid it would "fix" it for awhile.if i remember right there was apump shaft that had agrove cut in it from a bad seal or bearing. it had to rebuilt, probably not what you want to hear but a th350 is cheap to have rebuilt.

 

If it was one of my Pro-Built transmissions, tell me when it was built/installed? You said there was not to much metal in the pan? How much are we talking about? Was there any black powder in the bottom of the pan? Was there a magnet in the pan? What color was the fluid before the change? If it worked fine on the oil change and in 2-3 weeks it is starting to mess up & you are losing fluid at the rate of a "quart" a week? (1) You have answered your own question, the leaks should have been fixed immediately. (2) Anytime you have to rev the motor to get it to engage, this should have told you something, "check the fluid level" especially when you "know" that you are losing/leaking fluid. There is a good chance that you have burnt the clutches when you rev the motor up to get it to move. First, check the fluid level twice and make sure it is a 1/2 quart over full. Second, do the morning start where you say there was a problem, and see what happens, if it shifts ok, you might save yourself a transmission rebuild for now and 'fix the leaks". If this does not solve the problem and the fluid looks good, then you are probably in the market for a rebuild. Try the above and see what happens. Let me know if I can be of help?

 

Good I want to see that car, I love malibu's.
I'd give up my thirdgens If I could find a 65.

You might have a leak in the front pump seal of the tranny But like Probuilt said your probably going to be looking for a rebuild or rebuilt tranny just depending on how bad thing got burned up.
SSC

 

Hey guys.. sprag clutch in the converter is messed up, and my tranny pump is gone... NICE! BTW... pics are up.

 

Graeme, your malibu is well worth giving up the firebird! Im going to get some pics of my friends 72, he just got put 4k into a paint job and wow that thing looks sweet. Sorry to hear about the front pump and converter.
SSC