hi im new to this forum. i have a 1977 f150 2x4 and im having some tranny problems. i recently changed the trans fluid and filter because it was shifting a little rough, and it solved the problem, this mornin i go and start my truck, let it warm up, and it wont go foward. i also looked at the trany fluid and it smelled burned..... its an auto trans, c-6 and its got a 351 m. the thing is it will go into reverse fine, i need some help soon cuz im a student and its the only mode of transportation i have....i dont really have much money so i dont know about a new tranny, plus the truck isnt worth puttin a new one in....i need to know if there is something i can do or should i just work my a$$ off and try to find another junker or somthing. i need somekind of transportation but im also going to be starting boot camp in march (MARINES) so i dont need to find something fancy. IF ANYONE HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT I CAN DO PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

 

Check fluid level when it is warm and in neutral with engine running for starters.

 

Also, make sure you put it in 1st and 2nd gear with the engine running and the brake on, and let the fluid pump through there for about 10 seconds or so, in each gear. Make sure the fluid is hot when you check it too.

When you check it, put the e-brake on, shift the tranny through all the gears then put it in park, and with the engine idling check the tranny fluid. Make sure your brake is on

 

In extremely cold weather, my '76 F150 wouldn't readily go into gear until the trans was warm. You could rev the engine dramatically and that would raise the transmission pressure, but it was a painful way to get the trans to engage.

C6s will typically go into Reverse sooner than Drive when they suffer from old age. So whatever else you do, make sure it's full of fluid and warmed up before you declare the transmission dead.

Steve

 

I don't know this model and I am not a tranny expert, but one idea to think of...

Sometimes, especially if you haven't done a lot of mechanical work, when you replace the filter, you didn't put it back properly. If the filter isn't properly installed, it can either work loose or already is loose, and then it will suck up air along with fluid. This will cause the tranny to overheat and cause acclerated wear.

When your replace the filter, it depends on what style is in there, but in general it either has a tube which goes up into the valvebody and seals with an O ring and is held in place by 2 or more bolts. The error with this kind of filter is that some people leave out the O ring, or ding up the new one, or they often don't torque the bolts to the proper Inch Pound rating.

Other filters just mount flat to the valve body and have several screws holding it in place. Once again proper torque is important.

If you don't have a manual that tells you what torque to use, I usually go by feel, but this is dangerous since most people have a tendency to Baby Godzilla it into place and strip the soft aluminum that is often in the valve body. I think most bolts for the filter require something like 20 to 30 INCH pounds. I have never seen one that needed Foot Pounds, but then I am no expert.

Like I said I don't know this model but I would suspect that the filter is loose and sucking air. The alternative is that your tranny was old and the sludge was what kept things running and clean ATF removed the sludge and caused the tranny to fail. I have never had this happen but I hear it can happen with old dirty trannys.

Burned smelling fluid usually means it has overheated and you need to change anyway. When you drop the pan be sure to inspect for lots of particles or worse, metal shavings. If the pan is relatively clean, check the filter and make sure it is properly installed.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

ive checked the fluid with it warm, and its still a no go, it starts to engage like with steves, but it just creeps. thats it. so idk