Kevin,
I installed the switch pitch earlier this year per my emails to the
list. The car ran fine...Before I made
it to the top of the hill, the transmission starts slipping terribly. I
do not have anything more than first gear, it seems. It slips all
through the gear, but I eventually limp it up to about 40 miles per hour
with the Gear Vendors 1st overdrive engaged.
I only have about 5000 miles on this Switch Pitch tranny. That is over
perhaps a 5 year period of time.
No change in the status of the transmission.
I was wrong though... First gear works fine, second gear starts to work,
but slips considerably. No sign of third gear at all...Reverse
works fine. When I shift the tranny into gear in forward or reverse,
switch pitch off, I get a very firm gear engagement just like I always
have. I'm stumped.
I'll bet you dollars to donuts I know what's wrong with her. It sounds
***exactly*** like what happened to Thunder's B&M unblown competition manual
only TH400 after also 5000 miles.
When her TH400 was assembled, an assembler at B&M installed the brass thrust
washer between the 2 clutch drums backwards. Over time, the thrust washer
wore down, permitting front to rear movement. That caused fluid and pressure
loss to the front drum and subsequent loss of 2nd and 3rd gear. If that is
the problem, your SPTH400 will have to be torn down and rebuilt. B&M fixed
mine under warranty and upgraded that thrust washer to a Torrington needle
bearing assembly, which she should have had to begin with for that build
option. I had quite a nice large pyramid pile of brass powder right under
the drainback port to the oil pan.
In looking at the shop manual, the following is stated:
1) Intermediate clutch plug leaking or blown out.
2) Porosity between channels in the case blocked.
3) Governor feed channel blocked.
4) Case center support - oil rings missing, broken, defective.
5) Clutch piston seals - missing, improperly assembled, cut.
6) valve body gaskets - leaking, damaged.
7) 1-2 shift valve train stuck closed.
8) Governor valve sticking.
9) Bad governor driven gear and/or drive gear.
I'll bet you'll find a combination of the thrust washer and 4 and 5.
Milton Schick
1964 442 Cutlass
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
