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camaro transmission not shifting

3K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  EdgeZ28 
#1 ·
Hey all... i have an 87 camaro z 28, 5.7 350, tune port injection, i had to take the intake manifold off and change the intake temp sensor and before it was shifting, a little late out of first but it was shifting, now i put it back together and it wont shift out of first at all,all fluids are checked and good and had added lucas transmission fluid before and not sure what the problem is.

Also there are three lines on the manifold opposite side of the accelerator controls , and the middle one of the three is a vacuum line and i cant seem to find out where the he** that thing goes...well if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated!
Also this is an automatic 700r4 trans.
 
#2 ·
Ok i think i know whats wrong. That vacuum line goes to your tranny, i THINK on the 700r4 , if you lay down (looking at the tailshaft, there is a place for it on the passenger side, right above the oil pan. Its called a vacuum modulator. If its hook up there check up top, on my 84 Z28 (swapped motors and put a th350 in her muhahaha) there is a Tshape connector right near the fire wall on the drivers side that the other end of the line goes to. If you can find 1 end of it, get under the car and check to see if its hooked on the tranny, then follow it, or just run a new line, I hope this helps, good luck. let me know if you need more help.
 
#3 ·
The 700R4 never had a vacuum modulator on it.

I would suggest a look at the TV cable adjustment. The minimum setting is important. If the minimum is not set correctly the tranny could be in the fail safe mode. This means the tranny thinks you have the throttle wide open and it will shift late


Also Check for full pull of the TV cable at WOT.

It the cable seems close , mayb the TV in the valve body stuck?


Tony
 
#4 ·
The tranny wont shift at all....and does the cable with the larger ring(oblong ) or the small circular ring go on the outside? and i still havent figured out the vacuum line where it goes. and the haynes says that on my model it should ratchet adjust itself, is there any other way to adjust it?
 
#5 ·
ratchet adjusting as the book is telling you can result in some bent linkage parts inside the trans.....

I suggest adjusting the Tv cable by releasing the spring loaded lock mechanism on the cable end at the throtle body, move the throttle to WOT and relase the lock on the cable to maintain adjustment.
 
#6 · (Edited)
more help on this z28 tranny

Hey, I tried the throttle adjustment, dident help with the shifting , i still havent found a place where that other hose goes, the middle hose, i got under and looked all over to find out if i could see anything loose or disconnected, nothing, i did find one plug in wire that was unplugged and it was right above the oil filter , about maybe 1/2 inch in front of where the transmission bolts are by the flywheel but i plugged it back in and still nothing , im not sure what else to check out , well any one with an idea left??? Helppppp! thanks
 
#7 ·
IMO

Well i had the same problem in my Camaro w/ a th350 , take out the governer and make sure it is not locked and make sure the gear is still in one piece and not stripped, the gear is only about 5 bucks at a trans shop and fairly easy to replace. Also make sure when u put the governer back in you DO NOT introduce ANY foriegn particles into it like dirt or anything.
 
#8 ·
I pulled the governer and checked it out it actually looked like it had been replaced recently it looked good and not stripped or dirty, the car actually is shifting now getting a little better but when its supposed to shift around about 53-60 mph it kicks out of gear and the rpms shoot up like its in neutral, and thats if your just giving the gas normal, or gettin on it .....we got ahold of a vacuum diagram and got all the hoses lined up , the throttle is properly adjusted now. A mechanic here suggested that he thought it would be the sprag inside the transmission, what do you think, or anyone else think? Like i said before when its going to shift around 55 mph it slips out of gear and seems like it went into neutral, you let off the gas for a sec and get back on and your back in gear but get up to 55 or so and the same thing happens.
 
#9 ·
the roller clutch or the sprag are not the problem if the tranny acts like neutral when the 2-3 shift should be happening.


IF the forward sprag or the roller clutch in the center support was a problem the car would not move forward when the shifter was in the "OD" position.

I am fairly certain that you will find the 3-4 clutch pack is worn out.
 
#10 ·
Its since also sort of gotten to where when you put it in any gear it doesent move you have to give it a good bit of gas to get it to *kick into gear* , thats what it feels like its doing. When you said the 3/4 clutch pack i mean it sounds more logical to me than the sprag , im not sure if i exactly understand what all is going on, but it seemed to me like if it was the sprag it would effect all of the gears and if it was the 3/4 clutch like you said it would be effecting just that one gear wich it is doing besides for the hesitation going into gear ...like i said it just seems like when you put it from P to reverse or drive or overdrive or 1 or 2 it just doesent go into gear right away , you give it a little gas and it kicks into gear and goes... Crosley thanks for all the advice and im going to let you all know what it was wrong , after what the car is acting and what you are saying im thinking that it would be the 3/4 cp too ... well thanks alot guys !
 
#11 ·
I have a 1991 Z-28, i also had a similar problem, the car had over heated a couple weeks before. and one day when i was driving it started doing weird ****, like when i put it in neutral it would back up, and only had first and second,<barely> but anyways i tore the trans apart and found the 3-4 clutch pack heated up so much that several of the clutches and steels had welded together.
 
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