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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 10:29:40 am

Title: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 10:29:40 am
Vehicle: 1985 silverado c10 1/2 ton 2wd.  Just put in 74 350 with th350 from it that worked fine in the truck it came from.  I drove it, so it was not a scam.

I split the tranny and engine when doing my engine work.  I put front, rear, and shifter seals in the tranny.  After completing the engine, bolted up the tranny, ensuring the TC snapped into place.

I replaced the fluid and filter last night, no gears, no reverse, no drive.  Any thoughts on what this might be?  I read up some on here and will try the Lucas tranny fix if nothing else pops up...

Kurt
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: VileZambonie on May 27, 2011, 10:36:03 am
Did you bolt the convertor to the flexplate? Is the linkage hooked up? Is the fluid level correct? Are you sure you safely engaged the pump?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 10:57:44 am
Thanks for the quick response!  Answers in-line below...

Did you bolt the convertor to the flexplate? Yes.
Is the linkage hooked up? Yes.
Is the fluid level correct? Yes.
Are you sure you safely engaged the pump? By this, you mean when putting the converter back on after front seal change, yes, I think so, I mean, I didn't clam it on, but eased it on, turned it until I heard is sort of snap/click into place.
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 11:45:16 am
Even if the there is a root cause I'm missing, is there any harm in putting the Lucas in the tranny?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: Irish_Alley on May 27, 2011, 12:12:48 pm
did you hear two clunks or just one when you put the tc in?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: jaredts on May 27, 2011, 01:11:30 pm
Lucas won't fix your problem.  Did you fill your torque converter with transmission fluid before putting it in?  Embarrased to say I've made that mistake many moons ago.
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 01:13:11 pm
did you hear two clunks or just one when you put the tc in?

hmmmm, was a number of days ago and beverages ago. :)  I think maybe just one.  Should there be 2?  Is there any easy way to confirm its in there properly after its already in the truck and bolted up?  Or do I need to unbolt it and back it up from the engine to confirm?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 01:13:54 pm
Lucas won't fix your problem.  Did you fill your torque converter with transmission fluid before putting it in?  Embarrased to say I've made that mistake many moons ago.

I was told this is not necessary since it is not a lockup th350?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: jaredts on May 27, 2011, 01:29:02 pm
Lucas won't fix your problem.  Did you fill your torque converter with transmission fluid before putting it in?  Embarrased to say I've made that mistake many moons ago.

I was told this is not necessary since it is not a lockup th350?

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe every torque converter needs filled up on any automatic transmission before install.  Right or wrong my Dad called a friend when I did it and he said to let it idle to fill the converter, but there would be a risk of burning up the pump.  It idled for almost an hour before everything worked correctly, but I never had a problem after that.  This was on a front wheel drive Nissan that was very difficult to do a transmission change on.  In your case (assuming I'm correct) you'd be better off to just put some long bolts from tranny to engine and slide the tranny back enough to get the converter off and fill it.  Other than a few swaps I'm no transmission guy, so someone please confirm this.
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: VileZambonie on May 27, 2011, 01:36:06 pm
You should always prefill the converter. How much fluid did you put in? Did you flush the cooler before you installed this trans? What was wrong with the old one?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: VileZambonie on May 27, 2011, 01:36:58 pm
If you're sure everything is correct, drop the pan and inspect the filter and the manual valve.
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 01:39:15 pm
You should always prefill the converter. How much fluid did you put in? Did you flush the cooler before you installed this trans? What was wrong with the old one?

I filled the pan to th high mark on the dipstick, I have the cooler line fittings plugged off for the moment, I sold the old tranny, its gone, it was slipping
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 01:39:45 pm
If you're sure everything is correct, drop the pan and inspect the filter and the manual valve.

Put a new filter on it last night.
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: jaredts on May 27, 2011, 02:55:26 pm
You have the cooler lines plugged or looped into each other?  I'm not sure transmission fluid will circulate properly if they are plugged.  Is there a good reason to not hook it up correctly?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: VileZambonie on May 27, 2011, 03:17:33 pm
Flush out your old cooler and make sure there's no garbage in there. Hook up the cooler lines. You shouldn't even try running it without the cooler lines hooked up.
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 27, 2011, 05:56:42 pm
Yup fellas, handling that now.  I think there is just not enough fluid in it.  Should be case closed later tonight.  Done spiking wrenches for the moment, beer:30. :)
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 28, 2011, 09:37:50 am
BTW, does the top connection on the radiator go to the top connection on the trans and the bottom to the bottom?
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: VileZambonie on May 28, 2011, 03:00:42 pm
Look at the pic in this link

http://www.bmtrans.ca/FAQ's.htm
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on May 28, 2011, 04:44:41 pm
Look at the pic in this link

http://www.bmtrans.ca/FAQ's.htm

I think both of my cooler lines go right into the back of the radiator.  I believe that is how it was hooked up when I pulled it apart.  Does this sound incorrect?  The picture would seem to indicate one of them would go to the cooler on the front clip...
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: Irish_Alley on May 28, 2011, 06:59:32 pm
thats for a remote cooler. in your case they go into the rad
Title: Re: TH350: no reverse, no drive?
Post by: kmcbride74 on June 06, 2011, 09:48:37 pm
Connected my auxillary cooler per the diagram in the link above, filled up tranny, all good now!  Thanks for the posts!