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Hey, just a quick question. I have a '64 f100 that had a 351/c4 combo from a 76 cougar. I pulled the 351 and put a 302 in its place. The engine started and runs, but the shifter wouldn't shift (its an aftermarket floor shifter). It was stuck in park, so I rolled the truck back and forth and it shifts into any gear but will not go and it does not feel like any shifting is happening. Its like every gear is neutral. Any ideas why? It drove fine with the other engine. Its probably something simple... I hope... but this has me stumped.
After you put the 302 in, did you verify that everything dropped into place correctly and smoothly when putting everything back together? It sounds like you need to adjust out the linkage and double check the fluid level in the trans...
It had a 351Windsor, and the 302 bolted right in. Some fluid leaked out the back of the tailshaft area where the driveline exits so I added about the same amount to refill it. I've checked the shift linkage and it is all connected right as far as I can tell. I'm going to go tinker with it and double check linkages, possibly check torq converter.
Not that this matters that much, but it drove around fine with the 351, I pulled the 351 to put in my maverick, and had a 302 that would match up to the bellhousing and custom made motormounts. It was supposed to be an easy quick swap..... or so I thought.
Did you remove the trans when you swapped the motor? Was the floor shifter in there when the 351 was in the truck? I am a not too familiar with the C4, but does it also have a vacuum modulator on the back of the trans that requires vacuum from the intake manifold? If you haven't checked your fluid level correctly, I would start there. If you just installed the shifter with the new motor, you may need to adjust the linkage to assure poper engagement and operation through all gears.
The 351 had the same shifter, and I didn't remove the tranny, i just unbolted the 351 and bolted the 302 to it while it was still in the truck. It does have a vaccum hose that I hooked up to the intake, could that make a difference. Could the torq converter be low on fluid? I'm not sure what could cause it to all of the sudden not work. I've done half a dozen swaps with the stick shifts, but this is the first auto swap i've done and I don't know what I could have done.
The vacuum hose and vacuum modulator affect how it shifts, but it will not prevent it from shifting. The TC(torque convertor) uses the same fluid that circulates thru the trans, so if the fluid level is fine in the trans the TC is not low on fluid. Is it possible the TC slid forward from the front pump and is not properly turning the fluid pump? Is the manual linkage on the side of the trans moving thru the shift detents? While running listen at the trans dipstick tube-do you hear a sucking, gurgling type noise?
It sounds like either a fluid issue(low or not pumping) or something with the shift mechanism.