3rd gear slows me down in my Th350
02-15-2010, 06:36 PM
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3rd gear slows me down in my Th350 My Th350 is fairly fresh. It's built with Alto red clutches and kolene steels, hardened sprag, ATI RMVB, ultra-bell, and mesh filter. About a year ago, I lost my driveshaft and it cracked the bellhousing in 3 places. It happened during 3rd gear. The truck managed to coast from about halfway through the quarter mile and then another 1/4mile after that on the shutdown/return road.
I just recently added the ultrabell and ATI valvebody. I have plenty of trans fluid and the filter is brand new. I have a super loose stall and a big cooler. I also have 4.56 gears if that makes a difference.
What happens is that when I leave the truck parked for a week or more, it takes some revving to get the gears to engage. After it's been driven, it works fine. Then while driving, shifting to 3rd gear slows the truck down. I mean it has drastic resistance. It's like I'm hitting the brakes. It will coast just fine in 3rd, but the shift feels like it slows the truck(no matter what rpms). I'm wondering what could/would cause this? What can/should be done from here? Can i run it down the track without fear of it shooting it's guts through the floor?
I just recently added the ultrabell and ATI valvebody. I have plenty of trans fluid and the filter is brand new. I have a super loose stall and a big cooler. I also have 4.56 gears if that makes a difference.
What happens is that when I leave the truck parked for a week or more, it takes some revving to get the gears to engage. After it's been driven, it works fine. Then while driving, shifting to 3rd gear slows the truck down. I mean it has drastic resistance. It's like I'm hitting the brakes. It will coast just fine in 3rd, but the shift feels like it slows the truck(no matter what rpms). I'm wondering what could/would cause this? What can/should be done from here? Can i run it down the track without fear of it shooting it's guts through the floor?
02-15-2010, 08:34 PM
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It sounds like you have 2 problems 1 it sounds like the converter is draining back when the truck sits it could be the pump or pump bushing letting it drain back.2 it sounds like there is a cross leak when you go to 3rd & puts the trans in a bind.Basically 2 things are on at once.The trans is going to have to come out and get looked at.Check the linkage first.
02-15-2010, 11:20 PM
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Dang it! I didn't want to have to pull the trans.
I know the pump was replaced when it was rebuilt. The trans shifted perfectly before the driveshaft incident. I let the trans sit for almost a year, then I installed the valvebody and the ultrabell.
What would cause a cross leak?...those gaskets or the plate things? Is there anything I can do or check with the trans in the truck? I fiddled with the linkage a few times but that didn't fix the 3rd gear issue.
What's the worst that could happen if the band is staying applied in 3rd?
I know the pump was replaced when it was rebuilt. The trans shifted perfectly before the driveshaft incident. I let the trans sit for almost a year, then I installed the valvebody and the ultrabell.
What would cause a cross leak?...those gaskets or the plate things? Is there anything I can do or check with the trans in the truck? I fiddled with the linkage a few times but that didn't fix the 3rd gear issue.
What's the worst that could happen if the band is staying applied in 3rd?
02-16-2010, 07:08 AM
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Is the valve body a reverse manual w/brake? or a foward manual v/b. With reverse v/b you usually get rid of band.The cross leak could be v/b gaskets if there are any, the case could have high spots and needs to be flat sanded I woud not suggest driving any more as it will cause more damage. At this point the directs are probably burnt.Drop the pan and if you have any black stuff at bottom you have some clutch damage.
02-16-2010, 09:15 AM
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It's a ATI compu-flow reverse valvebody. ATI said to keep the band. I'll drop the pan tomorrow and see about checking the case for high spots.
Now that I think about it, I don't remember replacing that smaller odd shaped gasket around where the shifter linkage is in the case. I hope that's the case rather than needing to drop the trans and rebuild it.
Now that I think about it, I don't remember replacing that smaller odd shaped gasket around where the shifter linkage is in the case. I hope that's the case rather than needing to drop the trans and rebuild it.
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02-16-2010, 10:14 AM
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For some reason I'm thinking I didn't install the gasket under this part I circled in red. The pic is just a TCI shiftkit to show the part I'm talking about. Could that be the cause of my crossleak?
02-17-2010, 10:43 AM
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The stock part that was there had a gasket on it, but I managed to ruin it and couldn't find one in the ATI box...maybe there wasn't supposed to be one like you said. I'll check with ATI in a bit. Thanks.
02-19-2010, 10:30 AM
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From all the instructions I've been reading, I don't think there is supposed to be a gasket under the spacer support plate(that's what it's called in the instructions). So I'm back to square one with this. I guess the only thing I can do is drop the trans and take it to an transmission shop.
Edit: Is the oil transfer plate the same as the support plate? These two pics came off the same page. I know for a fact I installed the ATI support plate, but was I supposed to keep the stock oil transfer plate too?
Edit: Is the oil transfer plate the same as the support plate? These two pics came off the same page. I know for a fact I installed the ATI support plate, but was I supposed to keep the stock oil transfer plate too?
Last edited by team39763; 02-19-2010 at 10:38 AM.
02-19-2010, 11:23 AM
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Ok, I think I see where I messed up. I did some more reading and I think I discarded the oil transfer plate thinking the support plate was replacing it. I went digging through my parts box and I think my stock oil transfer plate is welded to another plate. I'll post pics in a bit to see what ya'll think.
Last edited by team39763; 02-19-2010 at 11:30 AM.
02-19-2010, 05:02 PM
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Ok so I am back to square one. It looks like I did everything correctly according to the directions. A local trans shop offered to trade me a working Th350 from a camaro but I don't think that's a fair trade since my trans has the ultra-bell and ATI valvebody. And last time I talked to them, they didn't know what a shiftkit was...so i don't think I trust their trans knowledge. I probably did some internal damage when I cracked the case during the driveshaft incident.
02-25-2010, 05:19 PM
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I was about to drop the trans today and went to put it in neutral and I started playing with the shifter and noticed it won't engage 3rd completely. I disconnected the linkage from the trans and went to go through the gears again on the shifter....same thing, gets stuck between 2nd and 3rd. I've looked all over the shifter and I can't find any way to adjust the shifter itself...all parts are riveted or bolted together. I don't even have 50 miles on this shifter(eventhough I've had it about 3 years), so it shouldn't be worn out. I'm gonna call hurst and see what advice they have for me. The only way I can get it to fully engage 3rd is to wiggle the shifter several times after the shift and that ain't gonna work when I'm racing.
