Good news, bad news

[mrf0rd]

Good news: I started up my carb'd 351W project for the first time today. Turned over first time.

Here's a pic.



Bad news: Transmission won't shift into gear. The only thing I have done to the AOD was to change fluid, install Lokar TV cable and upgrade torque converter. I currently have the tranny cooler lines blocked off at the tranny because I am waiting for the new lines to come in.

Could the lack of tranny fluid circulation cause it not to shift at all? Every gear except Park acts like it is in neutral.

All suggestions are welcome.

 

[mrf0rd]

ok, is there a tip sheet on how to post larger pictures? Sorry for the size of the first attempt.

 

[whtpny]

sounds lke it needs more fluid. Did you fill the convertor as far as possible before you put it in? Did it go all the way in and connect to the pump? I know they are remedial questions but we have all overlooked silly things before.

 

[mrf0rd]

I did not fill the converter up all the way. I put in approx. 3 quarts. After I got the engine started, I checked tranny fluid and topped it off. Does the AOD need fluid circulation to work?

Could I have knocked something loose just by dropping the pan, changing the filter and fluid?

 

[86bluecobra]

i doubt you knocked anything loose. sorry for my ignorance but what exactly is the lokar tv cable? sounds like a shift linkage of some kind? have you tryed putting car on jack stands and made sure the linkages are actually moving enough to shift the tranny?

 

[whtpny]

Good question. I know they make cables so maybe that could be an issue. You need the fluid to fill up the converter and be pumped through the valve body before anything will go in gear. Double check the cable and make sure there is enough fluid to make it go in gear.

 

[mrf0rd]

Thanks for the feedback.

It is definitely movingt the linkage when it is shifted, its just that nothing happens.

I'm just gonna hold off until my transmission lines come in and see what happens after that. I really don't want to drop the pan again to check it out.

 

[whtpny]

Keep us updated. It has my curiousity up.

 

[mrf0rd]

Update. Connected new transmission cooler lines, topped off tranny fluid and all is well.

 

[HISSIN50]

Did you have the two lines (to the radiator's heat exchanger) looped together with rubber hose before?

Glad to hear you got it - your follow-up will help others in the future.

 

[mrf0rd]

Good idea. Here is what I went through.

When I first got my engine ready to start, I did not have transmission cooler lines at all. So I plugged them at the transmission, got the engine dialed in and topped off the tranny fluid.

But when I went to move the car, every gear was like neutral.

Once I got the new transmission lines from inlinetube.com, and added more tranny fluid to make up for the extra fluid volume flowing through the radiator cooler, the car shifted normally.

So it appears that the AOD needs have the proper fluid level as well as the fluid flowing around and to work correctly.