how do you know when to rebuild??

[6FIVE_STANG]

when i first bought my car ( 1 year ago ) the thing would burn rubber from a complete stop! now it takes off like an old cadilac. i thinking its my tranny and considering to get it rebuilt but how do i know if thats my problem?
note: its a C-4 but i usually manually shift and hardly never keep it in drive....thats another reason i think its my tranny.

 

[302 coupe]

manually shifting will not hurt a transmission. You probably just need a good tune up.

 

[rbohm]

start with the basics. check the compression pressure, condition of the plugs and points, ignition timing, carb settings, etc. if this doesnt help, then check the slack in the timing chain. then adjust the bands in the trans if needed. you might also change the modulator valve in the trans as well.

 

[A67StangMaster]

When you start smoking out the other end thats a good time to rebuild.. but it sounds like you just need a tune up..

 

[krash kendall]

It could be something as simple as a vacuum leak - tune up will fix that.

 

[6FIVE_STANG]

When you start smoking out the other end thats a good time to rebuild.. but it sounds like you just need a tune up..

- now that you mention that,..when i use to start my car its was very rare to see smoke , but now everytime i start my car white smoke comes out from the exhaust. what does this mean.?..

- ( MY MAIN CONCERN IS WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE I HAVE NO TORQUE WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A STOP?)

 

[A67StangMaster]

do u still see smoke when your car is warmed up?

throw some 100 octain into everything should be new agian...lol

 

[6FIVE_STANG]

no smoke when warmed up,...just when i first start it.

- what are some clues showing that the tranny needs some attention?

 

[302 coupe]

slipping, slow to shift, etc. If it were the trans causing your problem, the engine would rev free but you wouldn't be going anywhere. It wouldn't just bog the engine and take off slow. Its sounds like your problem is more in the tune of the engine. White smoke on startup is nothing to worry about, its just condensation.

 

[6FIVE_STANG]

what the average cost of a good tune-up? (etimation) just so i can have an idea...

 

[69 Rustang]

Smoking when first started is usually just bad valve stem seals. The symptom is a quick puff of blue that disappates within a minute or even seconds of starting. Smoking when revved up is a sign of more wear such as rings and bore wear. The typical signs for a rebuild for me are: 1) knocking 2) excessive sludge buildup affecting oil pressure or top end lubrication, 3) low compression/poor leakdown performance, and 4) excessive oil usage (approximately more than 1 qt per 1000 miles).

From what you described I am with many of the other opinions of tuneup and maintenance items needed.

 

[68RCodeConv]

You might have a ruptured vacuum modulator which would allow tranny fluid to sucked into the intake. The VM is attached to the tranny and has a vacuum line running to the intake somewhere.

 

[69 Rustang]

You might have a ruptured vacuum modulator which would allow tranny fluid to sucked into the intake.QUOTE]

I have had that happen on two Mustangs previously and from my experience that is not a likely scenario for what he described. With both my cars, the car drove and shifted fairly normally, what was not normal was the blinding white James Bond smoke screen my cars left in their wake. In one car I was actually pulled over by the Nebraska State Hwy Patrol and the officer greeted me with "What in the He_ _ is wrong with this thing and why is it on my roads?!?!?!".