So i had the original trans finally die, and i got a used transmission out of a foxbody mustang that was a jasper reman with 2000 miles on it and a 2100 stall converter with it. The guy was selling it to get rid of it because he was upgrading the motor and was afraid the motor would make too much power for this transmission so he got a new one for it. Problem is on the ground i only have 1st gear and reverse. But as soon as i lift the back wheels off the ground and give it some throttle it shifts through all 4 gears. I have a leak on the front pump somewhere that is pouring trans fluid out of the bellhousing when its running. I also cleaned both governors and inspected them. they were not sticking or have scoring anywhere in them. and ive tried both units. this transmission has also set for about a year before i got it with fluid in it. And fluid that came out looked brand new. I also went ahead and changed filter and pan gasket. I have a pump gasket kit on the way is there anything else i should look at?

 

The leak out the front is probably the front seal/transmission pump seal. It is common problem on the originals (e4od and aod) but i think the reman should have used the upgraded viton seal, so thats kind of strange. I had mine go on my e4od recently. The rest of it sorry i can't help you one bit.

 

Sounds like the cable that goes from the trans to the throttle body is out of adjustment

 

I have tried adjusting the TV cable with no luck. I have the factory manual that shows how to adjust it. But it didn't make a difference with the wheels on the ground

 

Does it stay in first gear and never shift or does it act like it hits neutral after first gear?

 

It never comes out of first gear sometimes is tries to shift to second but reverts back to first gear

 

OK, pop the cable off the trans, then with your hand, work the linkage that the cable connects too. It should be springy. If it feels like nothings there, then you popped the linkage off the valve inside and you'll have to drop the pan.

 

Its still springy

 

Hmm ok well with the cable hooked to the trans and disconnected from the throttle body, if you pull on the cable does it spring back easily? Maybe its binding in the sheath.

 

Springs back and forth fine, disconnected from both ends i don't feel any binding its smooth

 

the only thing me and my friends can think of is weak line pressure caused by a bad seal somewhere maybe? We were thinking maybe a bad seal around the pump because it only seems to leak when the engine is running so maybe its losing pressure and throwing fluid out instead?

 

Well... if you have the leak fixed you could read this and try what this guy did. Also if the guy was racing it I'm wondering if he changed the governor calibration to shift later. May have to go romp on it...

https://forums.vintage-mustang.com/v...rst.html?amp=1

 

I've tried both the new and my original after cleaning both and checking for scoring or hanging pistons as well as cleaned the filters in them then i marked each so i could tell which is which. The one from the new transmission wouldn't try for second on the ground, and my old one just barley tries to shift on the ground. But both shifted through all gears in the air. And i've tried romping on it "which then it attempted second" and everything else on our back road with a long straightaway.
1st gear holds strong it doesn't slip.

 

You can put the govenor on backwards and think that it is right, but it wouldnt shift out of first gear. i would check that. its an easy mistake. when you take it off, the holes in the gov need to be closest to the case and not the end of the tail shaft. also while you have it off clean it really good so you can eliminate it as a problem or keep from having to take it off again because the transmission is shifting late

or the trans is nuked and the guy pawned it off on you

 

Just had the pump out and checked the gears and bushings in side and replaced all the rubber gaskets and seals The first set of clutches behind the pump looked new still with little to no wear and it was clean inside as well. With all of it back together and filled with Valvoline Dex/Merc fluid, And the TV cable attached and in a neutral position took it for a test drive down the road (about 1 mile) It finally shifted out of 1st and went into second at 3000 RPMs after i removed my foot from the throttle and it went into 3rd around the same place if i let off the throttle, no overdrive tho. Came back to the shop and thought maybe the TV is out of adjustment but went to mess with it and it had way too much tension on it and wouldn't give any slack. I tried to adjust it and even took the cable completely out and the cable has no slack to the steel wire acts like its too short and the most i can get is having to pull the TV lever about 1/8" foward to attach it and thats as far as i can loosen it. the Throttle does move it still. But I lost 3rd, and it sticking in 2nd unless i go to 1 low, then it downshifts. And the last development before we gave up on it for the weekend was it acting like it was low on fluid there is a huge delay between when you shift into gear and it engaging in both forward and reverse
The governor is on correctly i referenced an ATSG Manual for a picture. Am i looking at Line pressure/governor issues or am i looking at valve body issues?
I dont have the money to replace a TV cable so if i have to im just going to replace the steel cable inside it and use the old ends