transmission wont go when its cold

[Liberty Home Improvement]

I'm looking for some advice, I have a 75 chevy pickup fulltime 4 wheel drive 3/4ton. This morning when i hopped in my pickup and put it into drive the truck acted like it was in neutral for about 10 seconds.  I've been told that i should be putting it in neutral and let it warm up for a bit. After the tranny kicked in it felt fine. What is causing this? Im just wondering what i can do about this and what to watch for. I'm fairly mechanically inclined so i should be able to do about anything except replace the tranny myself.

My truck needs a lot of work so ill probably be posting here regularly as the info her seems pretty good.

Thanks in advance.

[Liberty Home Improvement]

Transmission is a th350 after looking at the identification guide. hope this helps.  not sure what the engine is but probably a 350

[ccz145a]

Could be low fluid level.

[Liberty Home Improvement]

sorry i didnt say that i had checked that. it might actually be a little to full and the fluid is clear and red.

[Swims350]

sounds to me like when it's cold the fluid is thicker of course and is not pumping thru as it should. Might want to at least clean the filter, maybe it's clogged up and won't let fluid thru until it gets warmed up or something?

[Grim 82]

Welcome from Fargo. A new filter and fluid won't set you back too much; hopefully that's all it needs.

[Swims350]

about $10 for filter and gasket and about $3.50 a quart for trans fluid here and you gotta have 5 quarts for it. Almost $30 total.

[VileZambonie]

You are checking the fluid at operating temp after it's been driven while the engine is running on level ground?

[bobcooter]

Mine did the same thing this winter when it was down in the high 20s and low 30s. Interested to see what anyone comes up with.

[zieg85]

Mine did the same thing this winter when it was down in the high 20s and low 30s. Interested to see what anyone comes up with.

I had a TH350 in a previous truck, shifted as smooth as one could imagine with no slurring between shifts but nothing harsh either.  Every winter reverse took a while to engage when it was first started.

[Liberty Home Improvement]

Howdy from Jamestown grim.  And yes Vile the fluid was checked properly. so i started it this morning and did the same thing. took my friends advice and let it idle in neutral for a minute. took off when i put it in drive.  so i changed the fluid and filter. what a dirty pain in the ass.  Im no gear head but there seemed to be a lot of metal shavings. ill post pictures of them once i figure out how. took it for a drive and seemed to shift a little more smooth, definitely less violent shifting gears.  supposedly has a shift kit in it and supposedly that makes it shift hard, i dont know and dont know how to tell. i only got the truck 2 weeks ago and knew that it would need some work. you only get so much for 800 bucks.

so anyway ill let you guys know tomorrow if it cured the problem up or not. if not ill probably just run it till the tranny dies and replace it.

i bet ill be asking lots of questions on here. seen that the wire for the taillights had 4 splices while i was under it. the truck needs a lot of work but im sure this is the best vehicle for the money for my needs.

[bake74]

   Can't complain about a running truck for $800.00 bucks.  You are right, they do not make trucks like this anymore.  My 74 1/2 ton pulls like any 3/4 ton new one, and my 81 3/4 ton hauls and tows as good if not better than my 2001 ford 1 ton.  I love these old trucks and really are work horses.  Good luck on your build and plp here are more than willing to help out when they can.    Tom

[Liberty Home Improvement]

Good news everybody, the tranny took right off this morning.  I will post here if anything changes. but now to the next issue.  i have some major boiling fuel/flooding issues, but thats another thread.

[beastie_3]

Im just worried about those shavings. If it has a shift kit, you will know it.

[bake74]

  If you are boiling fuel/over filling and running out of carb. sounds like you need to rebuild the carb. before you catch your engine bay on fire.  YIKES