the trans mission will not shift into second?
It goes right from first to third. Not immediately, I have to get it up over 2000rpm then let off a little then it goes into third. It dosent slam into gear or anything but it skipps right over second. Is the trans shot?
HELP!

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K/D band (or KD lever) broken (or extremely @#$%ed up) or front servo piston sticking. Overrunning clutch continues to hold so it just stays in first until the front clutches apply for direct ("D").

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Yup..better fix it before you end up driving home in reverse like I did once in my old A100 van. It's kinda hard to see at night using only the backup lights to see where your going!

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Rob

'62 Plymouth Savoy Wagon
'64 Chrysler 300
'47 Farmall H
Merlins are cool
Radials rule
Jets drool

...I'd pull the pan, drop the valve body and inspect the K/D (front) band. You may luck up and the band just got so loose that the link fell out.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

OK, I have to get a book. I have no clue what is going on inside an automatic trans. I'll check the kickdown first. Thanks guys!

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Good idea. It's simpler than most people think. There are a few special tools that are pretty much required for a full rebuild, but it's not scary at all. You've basically got a torque converter, an oil pump, two sets of clutches - front and rear (neatly packed in drums), two bands and the servos (pistons) that activate them, a one way (overrunning) clutch (some rollers and springs) in the back of the case, some plantetary gears (not as complicated as they sound, they come out in an assembly), and a valve body. Of these, the only really intricate part is the valve body, and it comes off in one piece unless you need to take it apart. Key here is keeping up with all of the little balls, springs, valves, plugs etc. Also of critical importance in an auto trans are all of the selective-thickness spacers and thrust washers throughout the geartrain. If you can fix a carburetor and assemble a motor, you can fix a trans.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Special tools? Aside from a valvespring compressor and some big @$$ snap ring pliers, I don't remember having to buy anything special when I redid my 727. And both of those could have been avoided if you really wanted to. Did I miss some critical step?

...you could probably build a motor with a screwdriver, a pliers and a piece of carpet if you had too! I've historically done things the sleazy way (read: made do with the tools I had available) too, but it sure makes things a lot easier to have the right tools. You can get by without them, though.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

What are ya trying to do here... build Mopar's version of a Powerglide??

Broken front band, or some other reason that the front band isn't applying. You can adjust the front band without opening up the tranny, so you might give that a try. But my guess is that the adjuster will never tighten up so you'll have to drop the pan anyway. If you're lucky, the lever will have just dropped out of its slot from being so loose, and you can put it back in, adjust, and be on your way. But it might be a broken band, in which case pulling the trans out is the only option.

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...gee, why didn't I think of that!

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

I'm from Texas, I pull the trigger as soon as I know the answer

Nevermind the previous responses that said the same thing....

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