Allright guys any ideas welcome here, (although some are better than others). I have a 78' with a 351M, C6, NP2045. Well I just rebuilt the C6 dumped it back in and now when I turn the key absolutely nothing happens, no clicks no sounds nothing, only the radio comes on. Well the battery and starter are fine and if I jump it at the solenoid I can get it to run. Now that its running I can't get it to shift ., My gear shifter is working properely and I can see it shift on the tranny but I aqm going nowhere. So just for a recap I have to hotwire my truck and then it still won't shift.
Any suggesttions welcome

 

The actuator that connects the key (lock cylinder) to the ignition switch is broken. You have a tilt column, right?

 

I'm not sure if I have a tilt column anymore but my ignition is on my dash and it worked just fine before the C6 swap.

 

I would say your looking at a netural safety switch for the reason it won't start check all the wires around the trans.As for shifting and not going anywhere I would ask if something didn't get messed up when you rebuilt the trans. But sounds as its low on fluid. Did you make sure to add enough fluid for the torque converter also.

 

is there a way to check/change the fluid for the tourqe converter with out a rebuild?

 

I think there is a drain plug in the torque converter to drain it.
To fill it, fill the trans run it for a bit fill the trans again.

 

Would not having enough fluid cause it not to run. I found out the clutch band was on too tight so now the tranny is stuck in neutral. Normally I would think the trans is messed up but while I was sitting in the driveway revving the hell out of it in anger it jumped forward a few feet so at least there is hope.
Thanks
Greg

 

Not to run as in not to go into gear? Yes.

 

The engine should start regardless of the fluid level. I agree with a previous poster regarding the neutral safety switch. I'm not sure if it's in the column or on the tranny in this application.

If there is hope that the tranny is ok, revving the engine while in gear will certainly kill all hopes in a hurry. You will burn the clutches and/or the bands real quick doing that. Patience while rebuilding and troubleshooting any problems is the way to go.

Whenever you drain the fluid out of the tranny and drain the torque converter, you MUST never put it in gear until the fluid level is stable above the minimum mark on the dipstick. Start the vehicle in neutral and let it run for a while. Check the tranny fluid level while the engine is running and bring it up to the minimum level on the dipstick. Let it idle in neutral for a while longer to be sure the torque converter has been filled back up check the fluid again. Then slowly run the tranny through all the gears once or twice and check the level again while in neutral. Add fluid slowly to prevent overfilling. Repeat this process until you don't have to add anymore fluid. Take it for a drive to bring the engine and tranny up to normal temperature and check the fluid level again and add if necessary. Remember the fluid expands as it heats up so don't overfill it!!!!

 

Turns out the linkage was and still is a little messed up. I have to reach down and actually shift it into park, the column shifter says park but it doesn't move it far enough to engage the parking paw, which I do now by hand and it starts and drives great. I've adjusted the linkage but can't seem to get it to move far enough to engage the paw, also it tends to slip out of park if jarred. Anyone heard of a 79' C6 with parking paw problems or a way to fix mine.

Thanks for the replys,
Greg

 

Slide the ignition switch on the column. The mounting holes are slotted for it.