Just installed a T-400 transmission that I bought from a guy I know and it shifts from 1st to third. It skips 2nd gear completly. When I shift manually it will go from 1st to 2nd but the shift slips really bad. Once it does go into 2nd gear it seems to hold ok. 3rd gear has a nice crisp shift. This tranny came out of a big block 70 chevelle and I installed it into a 70 big block. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks for the help in advance.

Time to rebuild the trans. Mine did the same thing a few years back. Thomas

Thanks. That is what I was afraid of. It was supposed to be a good transmission. I know the guy, so I believed him. What did they say was causing this problem when you had yours rebuilt?

You have a blown intermediate sprag or toasted 2nd clutches.

Where in TX are you?

Thanks Jake. I am in Arlington. You bought a 12 bolt housing from me a couple of years ago. How hard would it be to fix the problem I have?

Its not hard, bring it up.

Jake

Thanks Jake. If I am going to have to have it fixed I might be better off getting the TCI-400 rebuilt that came out of the car. The TCI was working but real tired. I have to say all in all it worked better than the one I replaced it with. The sad part is I put a new converter in with this tranny. Now it is probably full of junk. Let me know what you think.

It depends.
If you have a rolled sprag, they don't really put a bunch of trash in the trans. It just rolls and doesn't hold. Not much material.

If it has a blown roller clutch style element it can be a MESS or not bad.

If the clutches are gone, it will have material in the converter.

Best way to know is get it apart.

TCI isn't anything special IMO. Either way a rebuild would cost the same unless one has a good drum.

Bring them both up. I'll give you credit for a core if you don't need it and it'll save money on a rebuild. We can rip them both apart and survey the damage.

If the one with a hurt sprag just needs a sprag and drum, and not a full rebuild, we can do a sprag/drum, inspect clutches, air check it, and slide it together for about half what a rebuild costs.

Can't beat an offer like that..... :thumbsup:

Ok, I'll give you a call to set up a time. I'll have to get the tranny back out of the car.

I'm thinking it's probably not the clutches since it holds in 2nd good after it finally makes the shift when you do it manual. Just slips really bad as the shift is occuring. Of course I'm just guessing. If I knew what I was talking about I would be fixing it and not typing (lol).

I did speak to the guy I bought the tranny from and he said it was working in his car when he took it out. He said he would gladly refund my money if I wanted him too, so I'm thinking he is probably telling me the truth. He said the tranny was rebuilt about 6 months ago and the only reason he took it out was to upgrade to a overdrive tranny. When I drained the fluid to put a new pan gasket on it the fluid look like it was brand new out of the bottle with no trash or debris of any kind. I also know this guy never never ever abuses his car. So maybe the damage is not too bad.