I have a '75 Duster /6 and I think the tranny is going. I have had it for a few months and put a few thousand miles on it and the problem has never seemed to get worse.....What it does is, it will shift very hard into second when say I accelerate in first then get completely off the gas before it shifts. There is a very noticiable thump, both felt in terms of vibration and sound. If I acellerate smooth into second (never letting off the accelerator) it will shift smoothly and barely perceptably. Also when going uphill sometimes when it wants to shift to second it will make a stange noise (almost a grinding noise but not quite) and while it won't slip completely it will seem like it loses some power til it "catches". This problem can be avoided by shifting into first manually for a steep hill. The third symptom is sometimes if you punch it from a dead stop it definately feels like two gears are jumping teeth. It is almost like a burnout but it goes is a bump bump bump kind of intermittent traction thing. The fluid is pink and full. I am 99% sure I have a "going" tranny, but I just need to know how long can I likely baby it to get all the miles I can out of her? Also what does a used but working tranny sell for and how hard is it for a home mechanic to install?

How about you try adjusting the bands and kickdown linkage? There are articles here and it's been discussed often in the forum as well.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

I had no idea that could be done?!? Could that be my problem from what I have descibed of the symptoms?

Yep, your problem does indeed sound like too-loose bands.

Time for a properly-done band and linkage adjustment, fluid and filter change.

Can loose bands cause a frewwheeling problem also. My uncle has Fifth Avenue that has a very big problem with this.

Buy the way, is an 87 Fifth Avenue with a 318 2-barrel supposed to NOT be able to spin the tires on takeoff. I can't even get this thing to powerbrake.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Explain what you mean by "freewheeling problem".
Between the big tires, the strangled engine and the super-tall rear axle ratios, most stock '87 Fifth Avenues would have a very tough time spinning the tires from a standing start, yes.

What I mean by freewheeling is you will be cruising around town and hit the gas. The engine will rev up and then CLUNK the tranny will "catch". You back off the gas and there is no engine braking (drag) whatsoever, so I have to ride the brakes constantly to keep from flattening somebody.

By the way, a tag on the rear axle says 2.2. I hope that is not the rearend ratio, is it?

Another thing, this car has THREE catalytic convertors on it. No wonder why it has such a crappy exhaust tone.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Yep, that'll probably be a fault with the low-reverse band. Sounds like it's actually broken, not just loose, but maybe you'll get lucky.
Yep, 2.26. Zero to sixty in about 45 minutes. Better 2.93s were available in the cop cars; a swap axle should be easy to find via www.car-part.com (searchable used auto parts clear across North America)
Yep, a mini oxidation catalyst close to each cylinder bank, and a reduction catalyst under the floor. You could improve flow considerably by going to a unitized 3-way underfloor high-flow converter. But, with that 2.26 rear axle and faulty transmission, you've got bigger fish to fry at the moment...

Ummm... hmmm.... the low/reverse band is only active when the shift lever is is "1" or "R". If he's driving in "2" or "D" and having those symptoms then there must be another problem(s).

Ah, right, it helps if I read the OP's post correctly, thanks for catching that.

In any event, the subject transmission is a sick puppy in need of diagnosis and repair.

Intermediate band? Faulty governor perhaps.

How about you take a 0-200PSI gauge with a 1/8 NPT fitting and a long hose and watch your main pressure while driving? Youll have to be careful how you route it s it doesnt get tangled up and youll have to be able to see it from the drivers position. One option we have in Ont. is many shops have a chassis dyno for emissions testing, so you can drive the car and still have it stationary to diagnose driving mechanical faults.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

[ Yep, 2.26. Zero to sixty in about 45 minutes. Better 2.93s were available in the cop cars; a swap axle should be easy to find via www.car-part.com (searchable used auto parts clear across North America)


Actually this car has very good acceleration. It makes the run from 0-60 in 10 seconds, which I consider good for this car. Always wondered why it could run over 120+. Guess now I know why.

By the way, the big catalytic convertor has been gutted out, only the two smaller pre-cats remain. My uncle wanted me to ask yoy why has the two pre-cats started to smell horribly since we gutted out the main cat. Smells worse than it did before but he says it runs terrific and the gas mileage went from 15 MPG to 20-23 MPG. Can't argue with that.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2