Transmission has me pulling my hair out !!!

[englands 71]

TH350 was not pulling in any gear. I took it out and replaced it with a th350 out of a corvette that is supposed to be fairly new. The guy did an LS swap so I bought his th350.
I put the trans in my truck .
Checked it cold and it didn't show any fluid on the stick.
I put a quart in it because I figured it needed at least that to fill all the lines ect.
I cranked it and it let it get warm. Nothing showed on the stick.
I put another quart in and checked it . It was to the add a Pt mark.
I put a pint in and put it in reverse. It pulled great.
Put it in "D" and it would not pull.
Put it in 2nd and would not pull.
Put it in 1st and it pulls great.
I'm a body and paint man of 26 years and when it comes to mechanicing I know enough to know when to call someone else. But I know nothing about a transmission except how to take one out and put one in. Whats the problem ? Is it trash ? Do I need to have a come to Jesus with the guy ?

[74baggedbug]

Check the vacuum advance hose that goes to the distributor

[sduckworth13]

Just curious did you put fluid in the torque converter? Thats my first thought, not a transmission guy either though.

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Just curious did you put fluid in the torque converter? Thats my first thought, not a transmission guy either though.

I took the trans off the engine. Loaded it up , took it home and put it in. Never took the converter off. I didn't want to have to replace the seal.

[cdowns]

add a few more quarts of fluid as these things take a lot of fluid to work like 8-12 quarts from empty

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by 74baggedbug

Check the vacuum advance hose that goes to the distributor

doesn't the vacuum advance only work when the truck is driving ? It wouldn't have any affect just sitting still in 3rd or 2nd would it ?

[Stocker]

All I can add is that if my TH350 is 1/2 quart low, it doesn't want to engage either forward or reverse, especially if it's been sitting awhile.

Whether you have the selector in D, 2, or 1, it should try to start in 1st gear.

Not sure how much you need to add, but I bet it's just low on fluid. Hope so, anyway...

[englands 71]

I checked the vacuum advance , its hooked up and pulling good vacuum.
I put another quart in and its in the "ok" area on the stick but still wouldn't pull in Drive or 2nd. It tries to pull in "D" and 2nd but just cant hardly do it and you can hear a slight whistle/humming sound or turning sound when its in "D" and 2nd.

[Mmorgan32]

Check the vacuum hose on the transmission that goes to your intake. Mine came off once and it wouldn't shift. Also if it was sitting awhile the fluid in the torque converter might of drained back into the tranny case. Keep the truck running, put it in neutral, and keep checking it. I'm not a transmission mechanic but I've had 5 vehicles with th350s and I've had to do this with all of them at some point. If it goes into any gear them you are pumping fluid. Check the vacuum first tho. It's on the passenger side of the tail shaft, should be a short hose connected to a long piece of metal tubing going up to your intake behind the carb

[Bigdav160]

Put it in "D" and it would not pull.
Put it in 2nd and would not pull.
Put it in 1st and it pulls great.

Classic symptoms of a broken low roller clutch.

But check your fluid first.

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

Classic symptoms of a broken low roller clutch.

But check your fluid first.

My guess is that's internal ?

[68C15]

Came from a Corvette?
Symptoms sound like it has a "manual valve body". Common drag race item. It is in whatever gear you select no matter what.

Congratulations, you get to buy a regular valve body and install it

[cdowns]

keep adding fluid cause if your lookin at the dipstick it wont tell you anything till you get it to move around the block

don't b cheap put the darn fluid in it

[bMr]

What does it do in reverse?

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by cdowns

keep adding fluid cause if your lookin at the dipstick it wont tell you anything till you get it to move around the block

don't b cheap put the darn fluid in it

Lol... I've put 5 quarts in it already.

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by bMr

What does it do in reverse?

It pulls good in reverse and first

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by 68C15

Came from a Corvette?
Symptoms sound like it has a "manual valve body". Common drag race item. It is in whatever gear you select no matter what.

Congratulations, you get to buy a regular valve body and install it

It is in whatever hear you select ? Can you be a little more specific ? You can select them all. It only pulls is 1st and reverse. 3rd and 2nd tries to pull but no luck.

[bigmac73]

I say drop it on the ground , go to your local tranny supply shop (like a place called Trans star) or summit and get a full rebuild kit for around 200 bones (give or Take) and a frosty beverage and do a complete overhaul, once you see how the thing works inside they are not too complicated, at all...

you can find all the how to instructions on line

you do need a couple special tools, like a spring compressor for the pistons assemblies,
but most tranny shops might let use theirs or help you with what you need.

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by englands 71

Lol... I've put 5 quarts in it already.

put in about another 3quarts and that will b the right amount for it to work

[Bigdav160]

Originally Posted by englands 71

My guess is that's internal ?

Yes, and when abused, can strip out the lugs inside the case. It's junk at that point.

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

Yes, and when abused, can strip out the lugs inside the case. It's junk at that point.

Fairly new trans . I don't think it was abused , at least no more than I would abuse mine . An occasional tire burn.

[RichardJ]

>>Lol... I've put 5 quarts in it already.<<

What does that matter?

You check the oil level hot, and RUNNING. When it's close, run it though all gears (engine still running) and recheck for full.

I see guys that are used to driving jap crap, buy these old '60s vehicles and think they should check trans oil with the engine off.

[FirstOwner69]

Everything I've read on the TH350 says they take up to 10 quarts (from a bone dry condition). The amount varies depending on the torque convertor, cooler, etc. But, as noted above, keep adding a quart at a time. Start the engine after each addition and run it through the gears (pausing about 5 seconds in each gear) with the brakes on while parked. Then, check the cold level on the dipstick with the engine running and trans in park. You have to do this to properly fill the torque convertor. If things aren't engaging after 8 to 9 quarts, you may have a more serious problem.

If this is successful, drive it until the trans fluid is hot and adjust the level.

[bigmac73]

did you at least drop the pan and change the filter before you installed it? residue and/ or other things in the pan will tell you the condition of the tranny

[englands 71]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

>>Lol... I've put 5 quarts in it already.<<

What does that matter?

You check the oil level hot, and RUNNING. When it's close, run it though all gears (engine still running) and recheck for full.

I see guys that are used to driving jap crap, buy these old '60s vehicles and think they should check trans oil with the engine off.

I Always check with the engine running. Just for the record I own a 70 SS Nova Muncie 4speed all original paint and carpet.
A 69 Nova 454 with. TH400
64 corvette 4 speed 477
And this 71 c10 . A 2014 Impala and a 2014 Malibu.
No Jap crap here my friend other than the cowl hood on the 69. But thanks for the advice anyway Richard.