For the 6 years that I've owned my 82 E350 I've kept the transmission. serviced regularly and never had a problem with it until last week. I drove it one day and everything was fine. The next day I started it up and went to leave and noticed a shudder problem in Drive and Reverse gears. In drive the problem went away around 18 - 20 MPH. I checked the U joints and they weren't in the best of shape so I replaced both of them. I also changed the trans and torque converter fluid and the filter in the trans. I added new fluid, got it up to the proper level and went for a test drive later in the day. It seemed that the problem had gone away. I could takeoff fine with no shudder at all. Then after about 12 minutes of driving the problem reappeared just as bad as it was before I served the trans / converter and changed the U joints. I let the van sit overnight to cool and took it for another drive today. The same thing happened today it was great until everything warmed up and then major shudder getting going in drive. I tried shifting to 1st gear and starting out and there wasn't a bit of shudder at all, only went starting out in drive. I'm not sure which way to go with this at this point, any ideas? I've got some SeaFoam trans conditioner here but I'm not sure if it will work well in this trans or do anything to fix the problem. I also haven't tried adjusting the band adjustment on it yet, I need to give that a try as well.
Thanks, John

 

Try switching to other tank, might be a weak low pressure fuel pump.

 

The problem definetly seems to be transmission related. As I said before when it's cool or you take off in first gear there is no shudder / slip at all. It's only after 10 or 12 minutes of driving that the problem occurs when in Drive. After checking it further the problem seems to be more slip initially then it is shudder. I haven't had time to do anything to it yet but in the next couple of days I'll check the band adjustment and add some Lubegard (read bottle). Any other ideas on what I might try to fix this problem?
John

 

The problem you discribe is a common one. The shudder is the transmission slipping. Changing the fluid may help temporarily. A bottle of lubgard may also, temporarily.

Ultimately, you will need an overhaul. Fortunately, C6's are not exspensive to rebuild.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT