1982 auto transmission won't shift
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
The owner is 75 years old woman. Husband died. Sound like typical story...
the shop told the lady the car have electrical problem
which only was ECM and try to get 3k extra to change to carbs. At this point she gave up and towed the car home and done with it.
Worse case I'll buy new transmission and solve this problem
the shop told the lady the car have electrical problem
which only was ECM and try to get 3k extra to change to carbs. At this point she gave up and towed the car home and done with it.
Worse case I'll buy new transmission and solve this problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
This situation smells pretty bad....and the stink is coming from the seller AND repair shop. What was the reason that the PO didn't get the problem repaired by the shop? Hmmmm....
Does your state have a "Lemon Law" where a vehicle buyer has 30 days to return a defective product?
Does your state have a "Lemon Law" where a vehicle buyer has 30 days to return a defective product?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I've been following all of this. all I can say is this about that.
I'll never buy an Automatic transmission car again as long as I live!
Manuals I can rebuild. Manuals I understand. Manuals are FUN to drive. Manuals have decel braking.
You DRIVE a manual. You ride in a Auto.
I'll never buy an Automatic transmission car again as long as I live!
Manuals I can rebuild. Manuals I understand. Manuals are FUN to drive. Manuals have decel braking.
You DRIVE a manual. You ride in a Auto.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
I've been following all of this. all I can say is this about that.
I'll never buy an Automatic transmission car again as long as I live!
Manuals I can rebuild. Manuals I understand. Manuals are FUN to drive. Manuals have decel braking.
You DRIVE a manual. You ride in a Auto.
I'll never buy an Automatic transmission car again as long as I live!
Manuals I can rebuild. Manuals I understand. Manuals are FUN to drive. Manuals have decel braking.
You DRIVE a manual. You ride in a Auto.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
Very interesting info:
https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/7...solved.481633/
"Ok so im new to hotrod building and have so far scrounged up some miscellaneous stuff including a 400 small block and a 700R4 transmission to put in the Chevy luv project that Ive desired sense I was 15. Anyway The engine I completely rebuilt with fresh bearings and head work and I also completely rebuilt the 700r4 transmission with all new clutches band and all that also the pump. Now heres what happened to me though. Ive got the engine together and turned the key and my face about ripped completely off with a huge ear to ear smile as the sound of crisp fresh rebuilt engine noise came roaring throughout my car port. Basically Ive never smiled so hard in my life. However I then went to shift the transmission into gear and nothing happened. I checked the line pressure and it seemed to have pressure. All I could do is itch my head and think WFT?
After a while I eventualy went on a mass internet search for term "700r4 not shifting" and found from all results only one that solved my problem. And heres what my problem was: My torque converter had the wrong drive shaft spline. See there's a 27 spline and a 30 spline. My 700r4 has the 27 spine drive and the converter that I ordered was a 30 spline. However 700r4's use both spines. In 1985 all the 700r4's switched to the 30 spline. the 30 spline will fit on the 27 drive perfectly and and wont make any noise or anything. you cant even notice that its simply not engaging.
So what did I do. I pulled the torque converter and put a pair of calipers on my drive spline. I then matched up the diameter to one of my craftsman sockets and came out to roughly the size of a 17mm socket. I then took the 17mm socket and slid it down into the torque converter and boom! What do you know, theres about .050 clearance all around the socket which meens ive got the 30 spline on a 27 drive. I was pissed. Turnes out when ordering a new torque converter that you need to keep this in mind.
heres how to tell what year your 700r4 is. 1985 and earlier are 27 spline. Latter are 30."
https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/7...solved.481633/
"Ok so im new to hotrod building and have so far scrounged up some miscellaneous stuff including a 400 small block and a 700R4 transmission to put in the Chevy luv project that Ive desired sense I was 15. Anyway The engine I completely rebuilt with fresh bearings and head work and I also completely rebuilt the 700r4 transmission with all new clutches band and all that also the pump. Now heres what happened to me though. Ive got the engine together and turned the key and my face about ripped completely off with a huge ear to ear smile as the sound of crisp fresh rebuilt engine noise came roaring throughout my car port. Basically Ive never smiled so hard in my life. However I then went to shift the transmission into gear and nothing happened. I checked the line pressure and it seemed to have pressure. All I could do is itch my head and think WFT?
After a while I eventualy went on a mass internet search for term "700r4 not shifting" and found from all results only one that solved my problem. And heres what my problem was: My torque converter had the wrong drive shaft spline. See there's a 27 spline and a 30 spline. My 700r4 has the 27 spine drive and the converter that I ordered was a 30 spline. However 700r4's use both spines. In 1985 all the 700r4's switched to the 30 spline. the 30 spline will fit on the 27 drive perfectly and and wont make any noise or anything. you cant even notice that its simply not engaging.
So what did I do. I pulled the torque converter and put a pair of calipers on my drive spline. I then matched up the diameter to one of my craftsman sockets and came out to roughly the size of a 17mm socket. I then took the 17mm socket and slid it down into the torque converter and boom! What do you know, theres about .050 clearance all around the socket which meens ive got the 30 spline on a 27 drive. I was pissed. Turnes out when ordering a new torque converter that you need to keep this in mind.
heres how to tell what year your 700r4 is. 1985 and earlier are 27 spline. Latter are 30."
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
OP A 30 spline is an upgrade for the early 700r4. When I went through my 700, I upgraded the shaft to a 30 spline which is a bit beefier. Also another thing to keep in mind is installing a wide band for the drum for 4th. There are plenty of upgrades for the 700 if you want to spend the cash depending on what you plan on doing with the car. GL and nice find. It's always the small details that WILL bite you in the backside.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
STOCK was NOT what I was referring or alluding to when I made that comment. However, with that said, you still won't out shift a new STOCK C7 or C8 paddle shift.
OP A 30 spline is an upgrade for the early 700r4. When I went through my 700, I upgraded the shaft to a 30 spline which is a bit beefier. Also another thing to keep in mind is installing a wide band for the drum for 4th. There are plenty of upgrades for the 700 if you want to spend the cash depending on what you plan on doing with the car. GL and nice find. It's always the small details that WILL bite you in the backside.
OP A 30 spline is an upgrade for the early 700r4. When I went through my 700, I upgraded the shaft to a 30 spline which is a bit beefier. Also another thing to keep in mind is installing a wide band for the drum for 4th. There are plenty of upgrades for the 700 if you want to spend the cash depending on what you plan on doing with the car. GL and nice find. It's always the small details that WILL bite you in the backside.
What sucks is no matter what, I still have to drop the transmission down
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
Final update:
First I want to thank all for the advises.
After all the research and testing I have done, I decided to take the car to the recommended shop by a friend in south Florida: AAction Transmissions in Coral Spring FL.
Family owned, 34 years same location, great services and reputation include pricing. Josh the owner and Jeff are big classic cars fans (I didn't know...)
I have to be honest that my previous experiences with auto shops always finish with bad taste. BUT I was totally surprised for the good this time!
And this is what we had found out:
-Torque convertor installed was 30 spline vs 27 needed.
-Bad solenoid replaced
-New banner kit, previous kit was assembled wrong
-New snap rings, again wrong...
-New SCT
-New steels
and few other things.
Basically almost full rebuild, I should have tested the transmission before I bought the car and I guess it was my fault. Now the budget for my sidepipes are gone
,but at least I can drive the car lol 
First I want to thank all for the advises.
After all the research and testing I have done, I decided to take the car to the recommended shop by a friend in south Florida: AAction Transmissions in Coral Spring FL.
Family owned, 34 years same location, great services and reputation include pricing. Josh the owner and Jeff are big classic cars fans (I didn't know...)
I have to be honest that my previous experiences with auto shops always finish with bad taste. BUT I was totally surprised for the good this time!
And this is what we had found out:
-Torque convertor installed was 30 spline vs 27 needed.
-Bad solenoid replaced
-New banner kit, previous kit was assembled wrong
-New snap rings, again wrong...
-New SCT
-New steels
and few other things.
Basically almost full rebuild, I should have tested the transmission before I bought the car and I guess it was my fault. Now the budget for my sidepipes are gone
,but at least I can drive the car lol Last edited by Idan55; Dec 15, 2020 at 10:06 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
Likes: 24
From: Indiana
Congrats on getting to the root of it! And, thanks for posting. I hate being left in suspense. Also, I'm sure I am not alone in reading these random posts and constantly learning. Those side pipes will always be out there waiting for you!
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Good for the honest shop that helped you out. In the long run you'll be glad you found the wrong stuff. Keep looking, sometimes you can find a good deal on mildly used sidepipes.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,381
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
Final update:
First I want to thank all for the advises.
After all the research and testing I have done, I decided to take the car to the recommended shop by a friend in south Florida: AAction Transmissions in Coral Spring FL.
Family owned, 34 years same location, great services and reputation include pricing. Josh the owner and Jeff are big classic cars fans (I didn't know...)
I have to be honest that my previous experiences with auto shops always finish with bad taste. BUT I was totally surprised for the good this time!
And this is what we had found out:
-Torque convertor installed was 30 spline vs 27 needed.
-Bad solenoid replaced
-New banner kit, previous kit was assembled wrong
-New snap rings, again wrong...
-New SCT
-New steels
and few other things.
Basically almost full rebuild, I should have tested the transmission before I bought the car and I guess it was my fault. Now the budget for my sidepipes are gone,but at least I can drive the car lol
First I want to thank all for the advises.
After all the research and testing I have done, I decided to take the car to the recommended shop by a friend in south Florida: AAction Transmissions in Coral Spring FL.
Family owned, 34 years same location, great services and reputation include pricing. Josh the owner and Jeff are big classic cars fans (I didn't know...)
I have to be honest that my previous experiences with auto shops always finish with bad taste. BUT I was totally surprised for the good this time!
And this is what we had found out:
-Torque convertor installed was 30 spline vs 27 needed.
-Bad solenoid replaced
-New banner kit, previous kit was assembled wrong
-New snap rings, again wrong...
-New SCT
-New steels
and few other things.
Basically almost full rebuild, I should have tested the transmission before I bought the car and I guess it was my fault. Now the budget for my sidepipes are gone
,but at least I can drive the car lol 
Now you know where to go if you have any other issues with the trans and finding a good shop can sometimes be hard, but when you do...hang on to them. Enjoy!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
I agree. I am someone who have to see to believe. I was happy and sad at the same time lol
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 136
Likes: 28
From: Liberty Island
Makes you wonder if the old shop could not get it to work and shorted the ECM to cover it up.
atleast you can drive it. I was going to guess missing converter bolts or something else.
side pipes are pricey but not needed to enjoy the car.
atleast you can drive it. I was going to guess missing converter bolts or something else.
side pipes are pricey but not needed to enjoy the car.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 18
From: FL
I'm sure they burned the ECM. previous owner had the car for 26 years. Never had an issue. I believe they tried to jump start the car, and shortage 1 wire