Having Highboy problems. Help!
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Having Highboy problems. Help!
I just graduated from high school and with my graduation money I bought a badass Highboy from a family friend. My first truck was a 76 chevy so I'm Fairly unfamiliar with fords. It's a 75 F-250 and the previous owner had it sit for 19 years. 19 years ago he swapped the previous motor out of it and put a decently built 460 in it and swapped the 4 speed out and put an automatic transmission in it and since I'm unfamiliar with fords I don't know what transmission it is. But he would start the truck once a year and said he'd never had transmission problems with it. After I got it running good I took it out for a spin and the tranny slips. When he put the auto tranny in he threw in one of those awful B&M ratchet shifters and it's super loose. I'm sure the linkage is sloppy. Could this be what's causing the slip? What else could it be? I changed all the fluids and I've checked that the fluid was full multiple times. Sorry if this a lengthy post, I'm new to forums
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,243
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Setting for 19 years is about the worst thing that can happen to a truck and a trans.
Look at the trans pan pattern...probably a C-6. B&M shifters are cable operated, so that is probably not your problem.
Have you checked the vacuum modulator (on the side of the trans) rubber line condition and for fluid? There should NOT be fluid in that line. Replaced the vacuum modulator itself? Then dropped the pan and replaced the filter/fluid?
Just starting a truck once a year is not a true assessment of the trans condition. Unless he says he started and drove it around.
Look at the trans pan pattern...probably a C-6. B&M shifters are cable operated, so that is probably not your problem.
Have you checked the vacuum modulator (on the side of the trans) rubber line condition and for fluid? There should NOT be fluid in that line. Replaced the vacuum modulator itself? Then dropped the pan and replaced the filter/fluid?
Just starting a truck once a year is not a true assessment of the trans condition. Unless he says he started and drove it around.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 156
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From: Florida
Drive it around the block a few times and then check the fluid, over the years i've probably bought a handfull of trucks with "bad transmissions" that ended up being a fluid problem.
Most recently a 78 Bronco that needed the "transmission rebuilt" because it wouldn't move after sitting for some time. It would only surge forward in first if you got on it. Put fluid in it, it moved, but leaked bad from the trans pan gasket. New gasket and fluid and it would drive without issue. $30 fix is easy compared to a transmission rebuild.
Most recently a 78 Bronco that needed the "transmission rebuilt" because it wouldn't move after sitting for some time. It would only surge forward in first if you got on it. Put fluid in it, it moved, but leaked bad from the trans pan gasket. New gasket and fluid and it would drive without issue. $30 fix is easy compared to a transmission rebuild.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2017
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Setting for 19 years is about the worst thing that can happen to a truck and a trans.
Look at the trans pan pattern...probably a C-6. B&M shifters are cable operated, so that is probably not your problem.
Have you checked the vacuum modulator (on the side of the trans) rubber line condition and for fluid? There should NOT be fluid in that line. Replaced the vacuum modulator itself? Then dropped the pan and replaced the filter/fluid?
Just starting a truck once a year is not a true assessment of the trans condition. Unless he says he started and drove it around.
Look at the trans pan pattern...probably a C-6. B&M shifters are cable operated, so that is probably not your problem.
Have you checked the vacuum modulator (on the side of the trans) rubber line condition and for fluid? There should NOT be fluid in that line. Replaced the vacuum modulator itself? Then dropped the pan and replaced the filter/fluid?
Just starting a truck once a year is not a true assessment of the trans condition. Unless he says he started and drove it around.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Drive it around the block a few times and then check the fluid, over the years i've probably bought a handfull of trucks with "bad transmissions" that ended up being a fluid problem.
Most recently a 78 Bronco that needed the "transmission rebuilt" because it wouldn't move after sitting for some time. It would only surge forward in first if you got on it. Put fluid in it, it moved, but leaked bad from the trans pan gasket. New gasket and fluid and it would drive without issue. $30 fix is easy compared to a transmission rebuild.
Most recently a 78 Bronco that needed the "transmission rebuilt" because it wouldn't move after sitting for some time. It would only surge forward in first if you got on it. Put fluid in it, it moved, but leaked bad from the trans pan gasket. New gasket and fluid and it would drive without issue. $30 fix is easy compared to a transmission rebuild.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,243
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Modulators are identified by the color of the stripe. Pretty much the "go to" one is the black stripe. If they don't show that one in the catalog, go with the green stripe. Avoid the pink stripe. That one is a dual diaphragm version that has two vacuum line going to it. If by chance you have one of these, replace it with one of the other two and use the vacuum line that goes to direct manifold vacuum, cap the other line. When you pull the modulator out, be careful. There is a pin that goes in the modulator. Sometimes it comes out with the modulator, sometimes it stays in the tranny. If it comes out, don't lose it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
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From: starship enterprise
Slipping? What gear? 2nd in a c6 is a band, if out of adjustment, slipping is ordinary. adjust band. assess/probably change fluid. Does it feel to be a slipping in the torque converter, or in the clutch packs? like does rpm flash the stall like a torque converter, or does it slip under load, like a clutch pack? does it lock up in any gear? or slip all the time?
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Slipping? What gear? 2nd in a c6 is a band, if out of adjustment, slipping is ordinary. adjust band. assess/probably change fluid. Does it feel to be a slipping in the torque converter, or in the clutch packs? like does rpm flash the stall like a torque converter, or does it slip under load, like a clutch pack? does it lock up in any gear? or slip all the time?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
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From: Minnesota
It sounds like you have a few problems. When you say you "lost power", what do you mean? The engine quit? Or the engine kept at rpm and the truck wouldn't move? If the engine is losing power then you have to fix that first before you can really see if there is a transmission issue! 19 years dormant is usually not very good for mechanical things! Where are you located, maybe there is an FTE member near you that can offer some assistance with tracking down your issue?
Good luck young sir!
Good luck young sir!
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It sounds like you have a few problems. When you say you "lost power", what do you mean? The engine quit? Or the engine kept at rpm and the truck wouldn't move? If the engine is losing power then you have to fix that first before you can really see if there is a transmission issue! 19 years dormant is usually not very good for mechanical things! Where are you located, maybe there is an FTE member near you that can offer some assistance with tracking down your issue?
Good luck young sir!
Good luck young sir!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,217
Likes: 154
Probably true, but the hardest part is removing and reinstalling the transmission. I hear that they're actually pretty easy to rebuild, with snap-ring pliers being about the only not-so-common tool needed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 31
From: Nevada
Tranny
Tyler, your C6 sounds like most tired C6's...... Put a new Modulator on it and see how she acts, but most likely its tired and showing its age. Ive done a lot of reading and monitoring of C6 posts and they seem to be fairly consistent with the following behaviors of which my transmission is displaying....
Cold Morning sickness - Slips, hesitates for the first few shifts after cold start
Long stretch to next gear when cold - takes more speed and gentleness on the accelerator when cold in order to shift into 2nd and 3rd when cold
Upon warm up, all is well - After shes warmed up and got some miles in, all is well as if nothing ever happened .....
Ive also gathered that unless there is a catastrophic failure of your C6, it can run under the above circumstances for a very long time without rebuild...... Now that being said, im talking myself into rebuilding mine this summer
, its less about the money and more about I dont trust anyone with my stuff anymore..........
Have you drained the fluid ? was it black and nasty ? If so, its worn and needs some luvin...
Cold Morning sickness - Slips, hesitates for the first few shifts after cold start
Long stretch to next gear when cold - takes more speed and gentleness on the accelerator when cold in order to shift into 2nd and 3rd when cold
Upon warm up, all is well - After shes warmed up and got some miles in, all is well as if nothing ever happened .....
Ive also gathered that unless there is a catastrophic failure of your C6, it can run under the above circumstances for a very long time without rebuild...... Now that being said, im talking myself into rebuilding mine this summer
, its less about the money and more about I dont trust anyone with my stuff anymore.......... Have you drained the fluid ? was it black and nasty ? If so, its worn and needs some luvin...
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2017
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Tyler, your C6 sounds like most tired C6's...... Put a new Modulator on it and see how she acts, but most likely its tired and showing its age. Ive done a lot of reading and monitoring of C6 posts and they seem to be fairly consistent with the following behaviors of which my transmission is displaying....
Cold Morning sickness - Slips, hesitates for the first few shifts after cold start
Long stretch to next gear when cold - takes more speed and gentleness on the accelerator when cold in order to shift into 2nd and 3rd when cold
Upon warm up, all is well - After shes warmed up and got some miles in, all is well as if nothing ever happened .....
Ive also gathered that unless there is a catastrophic failure of your C6, it can run under the above circumstances for a very long time without rebuild...... Now that being said, im talking myself into rebuilding mine this summer , its less about the money and more about I dont trust anyone with my stuff anymore..........
Have you drained the fluid ? was it black and nasty ? If so, its worn and needs some luvin...
Cold Morning sickness - Slips, hesitates for the first few shifts after cold start
Long stretch to next gear when cold - takes more speed and gentleness on the accelerator when cold in order to shift into 2nd and 3rd when cold
Upon warm up, all is well - After shes warmed up and got some miles in, all is well as if nothing ever happened .....
Ive also gathered that unless there is a catastrophic failure of your C6, it can run under the above circumstances for a very long time without rebuild...... Now that being said, im talking myself into rebuilding mine this summer
, its less about the money and more about I dont trust anyone with my stuff anymore..........Have you drained the fluid ? was it black and nasty ? If so, its worn and needs some luvin...
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 605
Likes: 156
From: NJ
My C6 was having the same symptoms, It was fried. I was pulling bushes and shrubs from around my property with a 230,000mi transmission. I guess that would do it. Time for a rebuild, cost me a little over $800 to get it done.
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