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If you've followed my other threads, I was having issues w/ no reverse gear after reinstalling a rebuilt 400. Forward gears moved OK.
I drained the fluid, removed the pan, and valve body. Added a transgo shift kit (although I suspect that a previous owner already "kitted" it) and got a new pan w/ a drain.
New pan is deeper than prior one by a bit, making the rear bolt a pain to get to b/c of the cross member.
Anyway, I saved most of the fluid I drained and re-used it (after filtering it through a cheese cloth in the funnel).
Now, I seem to have ONLY reverse gears when I go through the entire progression on the tree. PRND12. I hear RPMs drop once I'm in reverse, but won't seem to go up again when shifter says I'm in N or any other gear. Will continue in reverse even when gear selector is in 1 or 2.
I read that it might be due to low fluid, so I've been adding more, esp since the new pain has a bit more capacity than stock pan. It's hard to tell true fluid level after you just added fluid b/c the entire dipstick looks wet.
I'm going to let it sit overnight and do some more research including this forum.
Engine is level. I drained the TC but did refill it with fresh fluid prior to reinstall but using the same one.
I should note that I drained it when doing an engine swap but didn’t do anything with it when I recently dropped the pan to “kit” the valve body.
It usually takes a minute or so for all the fluid to drain out of the tube into the transmission. When I'm checking fluid level for auto trans I'll use a long neck funnel, pour some fluid in. Then wait 30 seconds to a minute before I put the dip stick back in and check it. Always with the engine running when you check an auto trans, ideally warmed up to operating temp.
Maybe that helps?
Are you sure the linkage is adjusted alright and where your shift indicator shows is accurate?
Update: able to get forward gears back. Kick down lever was engaged. Once I released this, I was able to get forward gears back. Now a new issue: it’ll go into reverse, but won’t go back into neutral unless I shift all the way to 1st gear, and then back into drive once I up shift to 2 or D. And once in forward gear, I have to shift back to park and back to R before it’ll get back to reverse again. And also not consistently. Fluid is full (might be a bit too full) with engine on and warm.
I think I would check all the shift linkage and make it is adjusted correctly. I grabbed some screen shots out of the '79 Ford Service manual. If it is not the linkage. It might be something inside related to the valve body and/or the kit you installed.
Put the rear axle up on stands, chock the front wheels, and for good measure have a friend hold the brake pedal down. Transfer case in neutral obviously if it’s 4WD…. Disconnect the linkage from the column to the trans. Manually move it through the progression as your friend releases the brake for the motive gears. See what happens. That will tell you if you have a relatively simple linkage problem or a more difficult internal trans problem.
Put the rear axle up on stands, chock the front wheels, and for good measure have a friend hold the brake pedal down. Transfer case in neutral obviously if it’s 4WD…. Disconnect the linkage from the column to the trans. Manually move it through the progression as your friend releases the brake for the motive gears. See what happens. That will tell you if you have a relatively simple linkage problem or a more difficult internal trans problem.
thanks. good idea.
with the transfer case in neutral, am I just listening for the sound of the gears in the trans, or should I have it in 2WD and watch for the rear tires to move?
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