When I try to put my 1971 Skylark custom Th350 133k miles in gear nothing happens? it does not enguage..If I keep going through gears (drive neutral reverse) it will go into gear.. Is this a linkage problem or do I need a rebuild?
When it goes into gear, does it drive normally? When you move the shifter, nothing happens at all? As if it were in neutral?
yes it drives nomally once I get it in gear..But when I move the shifter from park to reverse or drive it doesn't enguage /nothing happens just like it is not in gear..after a few tries it will go into gear..What do u think???
Fluid check, engine running, in Park? Crawl under the car and check for anything obvious like loose/damaged linkage. I would then drop the pan and check/change the filter.
Thanks Larry70GS!..The fluid level is good. I will crawl under the car and see if I can see anything later. I am trying to do as much as I can before I bring it down to a transmission shop. 2 of the 3 shops I talked to already gave me hard sell on rebuilding the trans.
Sounds like converter drainback. Check fluid running in park, shut it off and mark fluid level on stick or measure distance from "Full" mark after it has set a few minutes. Use this as a reference. Let it set overnight and check fluid level before cranking up. If it is way high from previous reference mark and it doesn't respond when dropped in gear, it was drainback. It just takes awhile to pump up again and refill converter and bleed air out everywhere.
Thanks TexasJohn55! I will check fluid levels when car is hot and cold and update post tomorrow/this weekend...
I experienced something similar today . Car wouldn't move from trailer no gears after 5-10 minutes and car warmed up got back gears and raced all day no problems. Can you please explain converter drain back and possible causes and corrections. Thanks Bret
I believe a certain amount of drain back is normal, but the front pump should fill the converter instantly upon engine restart. I would expect a front pump problem or some kind of cross leak is involved. In any case, not an easy fix.
