[JLBpontiac350]

Hello, first post. hoping to get attached to the site
So i have a 1985 pontiac Grand-Prix with a chevy 350 and TH350 tranny. it having some problems. when it shifts from first to second it slips for a second, like right before it shifts it just revs up like its a manual and i missed the gear, then slams into second. and i can drive it like a bat out of hell, or just accelerate slowly and will not shift into third even at 50-60. it will shift 1st-2nd but still wont go from 2nd-3rd when i try to shift manualy. i have read many posts on many sites and this is what i have come up with....

1. i bought a new tranny filter and gasket and plan on changin the fluid and filter and gasket on thursday 4/21/11.
2. i have read the it could be a problem or junk vacume line but the only thing i own is a sicor jack and a jack stand so i cant pull the tranny or anything major like that. if someone could tell me exactly where to look and what to look for to know if it IS the vacume line that would be awsome. like where is hooks to the trans, and where it should run from there.
3. valve body could be junk? not sure how to change that but im sure a new one would come with instructions.
4. the shifter linkage could need to be adjusted? but i dont think this is it, because i am very obviously in first and second, and it runs bolth first gears in D and i can shift past drive and into nuteral just fine.....
5. the tranny is f.u.b.a.r.

any ideas or thoughts or if anyone has had this exact problem and found the problem then it would be GREATLY appreciated. any question please feel free to ask. thanks guys and im glad to be on the forum

[JLBpontiac350]

this is a picture of the cars and motor...the car is no longer for sale, and i posted it as an 81 becuase the guy who sold it to me said it was....but i checked and it is an 85.

[URL=http://burlington.craigslist***************************** ***********[/URL]

[tnsmith10]

Originally Posted by JLBpontiac350

Hello, first post. hoping to get attached to the site
So i have a 1985 pontiac Grand-Prix with a chevy 350 and TH350 tranny. it having some problems. when it shifts from first to second it slips for a second, like right before it shifts it just revs up like its a manual and i missed the gear, then slams into second. and i can drive it like a bat out of hell, or just accelerate slowly and will not shift into third even at 50-60. it will shift 1st-2nd but still wont go from 2nd-3rd when i try to shift manualy. i have read many posts on many sites and this is what i have come up with....

1. i bought a new tranny filter and gasket and plan on changin the fluid and filter and gasket on thursday 4/21/11.
2. i have read the it could be a problem or junk vacume line but the only thing i own is a sicor jack and a jack stand so i cant pull the tranny or anything major like that. if someone could tell me exactly where to look and what to look for to know if it IS the vacume line that would be awsome. like where is hooks to the trans, and where it should run from there.
3. valve body could be junk? not sure how to change that but im sure a new one would come with instructions.
4. the shifter linkage could need to be adjusted? but i dont think this is it, because i am very obviously in first and second, and it runs bolth first gears in D and i can shift past drive and into nuteral just fine.....
5. the tranny is f.u.b.a.r.

any ideas or thoughts or if anyone has had this exact problem and found the problem then it would be GREATLY appreciated. any question please feel free to ask. thanks guys and im glad to be on the forum

well, to be short, it sounds like its time for a rebuild on the trans.
by what your explaining on the 1-2 shift, we call that a flare shift. usually caused by internal wear on the clutches. as for no 3rd gear, that too can be from worn clutches that may have too much wear to grab, or it could have a stuck shift valve in the valve body, but also, if that were the case in this trans, then internal damage is more than likely as these trans dont typically have valve body problems.
as far as the vacuum line foes for the trans, on or off the trans is going to shift if all the gears are capable of working. it will shift late and hard, but it will shift. now as far a s the governor is concerned, if the valve is stuck, or the gears breaks, or "apple cores" it wont shift at all.
you failed to mention if theres been any recent repair or service work on the car, and whether youve checked the level and condition of the fluid in the trans. that info can help a bunch on helping figure out a problem with the trans.

[JLBpontiac350]

so i went to change the fliud in the tranny today and much to my supreise (after i pulled the pan and made a HUGE mess) that the filter is not the same as the TH350 filter i bought, and the pan looks the same as a th350 but is MUCH smaller.....im not sure if this is a th250 or if im thinking of something way off....Idk if this matter or helps but when i pulled the pan there was a little bump in it. i thought it was a dent but when i pulled the pan there was a pretty strong magnet that looks like a donut that sat on the bump....idk if the tranny was serviced or not i just bought the car a month or so ago and the fluid was a little low so i added some lucas tranny oil...not sure if this help...but im so confused....lol

[JLBpontiac350]

so...i looked up tranny and the pan matchs a th200 metric? idk what that is...lol any information would be great guys..im in the dark compleatly

[el pollo]

A big pile of metal on the magnet is a good indication that the transmission may need a rebuild.

[tnsmith10]

Originally Posted by JLBpontiac350

so...i looked up tranny and the pan matchs a th200 metric? idk what that is...lol any information would be great guys..im in the dark compleatly

yea, from what you described after my reply, it does sound like it would be a metric 200. does the bottom of the pan have "METRIC" stamped on the bottom of the pan? the metric 200 was at best something that gm threw together for a smaller or light duty car as they have a common problem with reverse going out (typical seen failure).
its still just a 3 speed automatic like the 350, just a weak trans overall.

[JLBpontiac350]

I didn't find any metal around the magnet and yes matric is stamped on the pan. The magnet did have a lot of what looked like sludge and felt like clay stuck to it. But it wasn't gritty....reverse works but still have the no third and flairs goiing into second problem...can't tell if fluid flush will do it till the right filter and gasket come in about a week from now....I don't think its a light car though...85 grand prix with what I belive is a 350 bt seller lied about many many things so it could be a 305?

[JLBpontiac350]

so i went ahead and ordered the right filter and gasket for my th200c and i found a shift improver kit on e-bay that claims.....

"This valve body kit deals with these problems: 2nd gear starts Harsh reverse engagement Down shift bump Weak 2-3 shifts Slow reverse engagements No passing gear above 45-mph This Shift Correction Package does regular, heavy duty and towing applications. One kit does lock-up and non lock-up. Supplied in this valve body kit is an anti-stick lock-up spring to prevent lock-up staying on while coasting to a stop. This kit offers passing gear over 45-mph. This has always been a problem with this transmission since it was produced. The 200 kit helps to eliminate this condition."

hoping this will help me out....

[tnsmith10]

the trans needs to be rebuilt. if your going to spend money on the thing, do it right. with what you have found and explained, the only thing thats going to happen with what you have in mind is a lighter wallet.
the last thing you want to do is try to throw a fix (shift improver kit) at a trans that has internal damage.

[JLBpontiac350]

I don't have the means to pull the tranny and not even close to the money it will cost to have a mechanic pull and rebuild the tranny......imma poor hot rodder

[T-bucket23]

Originally Posted by JLBpontiac350

I don't have the means to pull the tranny and not even close to the money it will cost to have a mechanic pull and rebuild the tranny......imma poor hot rodder

Even more of a reason not to waste money on snake oil. Save up and fix it right once.

[JLBpontiac350]

I'm not gona put the kit in now. I'm just gonna put the filter and gasket back on. I'm not allowed to have a car where I live that's not operational. The managers will tow it...so imma do the filter and gasket and dump fluid in it and save up for a rebuild....just put it back together incase I have to move it....seems best to me..
fml

[80PontiacWagon]

check craigslist for a th350 trans. you should be able to pick one up for cheap...than go to a junk yard and look for another G-body and get the trans crossmember from it...

[91CamaroDude]

Originally Posted by 80PontiacWagon

check craigslist for a th350 trans. you should be able to pick one up for cheap...than go to a junk yard and look for another G-body and get the trans crossmember from it...

By far the best/economy idea for your wallet. I picked up a decent one on CL for $125 and replaced the filter and front seal, not to mention im sure you can find a mobile mechanic to hook it up cheap.