Shifting Too Fast

[97fxdwg]

I'm not much of a mechanic but I'm working on it. My '68 302 coupe has a nice bit of oomph but if I jump on it, the thing shifts from first to second nicely, but is only in second gear for maybe a second or two before it shifts into third. (T4 auto 3-speed.) Is there an adjustment that I can make to the tranny to lengthen the time in second, or is it a function of the stall converter (unknown) or something else? I have no tach on it as of yet.
Thanks for any help!

 

[shotsy]

Check the vaccum line that runs to the modulator on the back of the trans for leaks should be a meatal line with rubber vac tube on both ends, if there's no leaks you may need a new modulator, and I think that some of them can be adjusted with a screw driver kinda like the vac advance on some distributors.

EDIT

My bad I think that the modulator might be for kickdown. Could be a valve body issue? Is there a shift kit installed?

 

[97fxdwg]

I don't know if there is a shift kit - how would I find that out? And I had to hook up the kickdown lever since it was hanging down loose. (The previous owner wasn't much of a mechanic either evidently although he acted like he was.) I followed the book on it and encountered no problem with that.

 

[10secgoal]

Check the vaccum line that runs to the modulator on the back of the trans for leaks should be a meatal line with rubber vac tube on both ends, if there's no leaks you may need a new modulator, and I think that some of them can be adjusted with a screw driver kinda like the vac advance on some distributors.

EDIT

My bad I think that the modulator might be for kickdown. Could be a valve body issue? Is there a shift kit installed?

No, you were right the first time. The modulator controls the line pressure in the tranny, which is turn tells the tranny when to shift. I can't remember which way, but a very small screw driver is needed to adjust it. One way will lengthen the time in gear, the other will do the oposite.

 

[shotsy]

Cool, I know that the kickdown lever downshifts at WOT but I was unsure about the modulator, thought that it was for down shift under load, but then you'd be WOT anyway!! Thanks

 

[97fxdwg]

Thanks - when I get within screwdriver distance of my car again, I'll give it a try.

 

[faultlessfocus]

No, you were right the first time. The modulator controls the line pressure in the tranny, which is turn tells the tranny when to shift. I can't remember which way, but a very small screw driver is needed to adjust it. One way will lengthen the time in gear, the other will do the oposite.

Why can't tranny's be this simple now? That is amazing, I had no idea they worked like that.

 

[TheEvII]

No, you were right the first time. The modulator controls the line pressure in the tranny, which is turn tells the tranny when to shift. I can't remember which way, but a very small screw driver is needed to adjust it. One way will lengthen the time in gear, the other will do the oposite.

In, or clockwise lengthens the shift and counterclockwise, or out, shortens it.

 

[dennis112]

In, or clockwise lengthens the shift and counterclockwise, or out, shortens it.

Also, it is not a "touchy" adjustment. Figure on using 1/2 to 1 full turn to start.