I've got a Powerglide problem...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 48
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C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
I've got a Powerglide problem...
it won't shift out of low. I've got a 61 base engine 283/powerglide car. I bought the car April 2012 out of SoCal. It was restored in the Spring of 1992 with a rebuild of the powerglide. It has about 6000 miles since 92. Since I've had the car it shifted sort of hard so I replaced the fluid last fall and it really made a difference in how it shifted, much smoother. I had this no shift problem after changing the fluid briefly but discovered the vacuum line had been disconnected from the modulator. It's worked great all summer until my wife drove it to a local show about 10 days ago. Of course this would be her first drive outside the neighborhood and about halfway there it quit shifting. Since then I've blown out the vacuum line, changed the rubber hose connected to the modulator, put a new modulator in today and checked my fluid level, but still no shift. I've tried to manually shift it but it won't come out of low. I really don't think I need a rebuild, it just seems like something might be stuck from lack of use. Any ideas??
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 514
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From: Rowlett Texas
When my 1960 PG would not shift out of low, the nylon gear on the governor had worn off and no longer engaged the governor. Did the rebuilder replace the governor? It can be done through an access plate on the side of the PG.
That solved the problem I was having.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Indiana
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I had a similar problem with my 60. It did not want to shift until I drove it a couple of miles and then it would shift ok. I changed the fluid 3 or 4 times but it didn't seem to help much. I tried one type of slip additive but it didn't help. I changed the fluid one more time an added Lucas slip additive and that solved my problem. It shifts fine ever since.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 17
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
It looks like to check the governor gear it's just a matter of removing the side cover?? If so is there enough room for me to remove it while it's still in the car? The gear looks pretty simple to replace, I hope so if that's my problem.
