Kevin,
I have had great luck with the trannys. The torque converters have let go a
couple of times and I have "lunched" the tranny. The switch pitch should
have converter with a variable stadtor ( basically moving finns witin the
converter). If the converter is not of top quality, built by a specialist
that knows what he is doing, I bet that is your culprit. Check the fluid for
discoloration and burned smell.
Mike Pemberton
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin D. Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 4:42 PM
Subject: URGENT!! Switch Pitch Transmission H*LP needed.
Hello again guys. I am in a heap of confusion and trouble. If you can
offer any h*lp, please respond to me directly
as I am in digest mode and need a quick solution.
I have a 1972 Cutlass Supreme. 455 engine, SWITCH PITCH Turbo 400, Gear
Vendors, 3.42 Posi rear.
I installed the switch pitch earlier this year per my emails to the
list. The car ran fine. I was a little concerned that maybe I had too
great an angle on the driveline, so I pulled the Gear Vendors out,
modified the floor to my liking, reinstalled. I drove the car Saturday
about 15 miles. No problem. Everything worked great. I drove the car
tonight to a little town nearby, perhaps 5 or 6 miles. On the way
there, no problems. I even drove relatively nicely. I went to get the
"good gas" for my Cutlass and for my gas cans. They don't have the
reformulated crap up there. Anyway, coming back from the gas run, I
made it about 2 miles, low speed, no problems. I turned to get back on
the highway, which incidentally is up a fairly good hill. 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 came home and checked the transmission fluid. Only about a pint low.
No problem, but I top it off. I check that the vacuum pod on the
transmission is functional, and it does hold vacuum. No wires loose
anywhere. I am SURE it is not the Gear Vendors, because when I engaged
the Gear Vendors, it made a good firm shift, which I'm sure it would not
have if it was the problem.
Is there anything you guys can recommend to troubleshoot this problem?
I am dying to get to a car show this Sunday in Jefferson, WI.
Oldsmobiles are the feature car and I really need that dash plaque!
I only have about 5000 miles on this Switch Pitch tranny. That is over
perhaps a 5 year period of time. I have NO transmission cooler
attached, as there is really no place to put it. I have the 4 core
radiator, and an aftermarket air conditioning cooler (very very thick
with cooling fins)- if I try to put another cooler in the system air
will certainly not make it through.
Please respond if you are able.
I am ready to throw in a new transmission if I have to, but I am
desparate to get something done now.
Thanks,
Kevin Wood
Rubicon, WI
