Morning guys, My 77 has been sitting for three years and I can't get it into gear. Before I get too worried, any suggestions to try? The fluid seemed to be in the normal operating range and looked to be of good color. I let the engine idle for ~10 minutes, but I am not sure the block got hot enough. My plan was to add some Lucas Transmission Oil maybe a half bottle, then try to get the engine up to ~190 degrees and see what happens. Should I be worried? Thanks, Dan

 

Dan, is the lever in the cockpit moving normally through its full range of motion?

If it is, you may want to get it up in the air and have someone watch the linkage on the side of the transmission while you (or someone else) moves the gear lever to see if the motion is transferring to the transmission. If all that checks good, you may need to drop the pan to see if the linkage internally is responding to input from the gear lever.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

Oh, and welcome to the Corvette Forum, I think you soon find it the most useful tool in your tool box.

GUSTO

 

Automatic or four speed?

 

Excellent Question?

 

Thanks Gusto! I'll inspect the linkage next!

 

Linkage looks good. It's like its trying build up pressure then sputters out after putting the car in reverse and only going a couple feet. Thinking about flushing the transmission fluid and put some good Lucas oil in there. I guess that is a good winter project

 

Dan, at this point I would avoid any "flushing", and just do an old fashion drain-and-replace the fluid. It's a bit messier and takes a little longer, but in the end I believe it is much more effective method and less detrimental to the life of a transmission.

Drop the pan and replace the filter. Carefully examine the fluid and the filter, it can tell you a lot. It's possible the filter is clogged enough that it is not allowing the pump to pick up fluid from the pan. I would also check the torque converter. Many torque converters incorporated a plug in them (especially in the past). This allows you to drain the converter where most of the fluid is contained. With the inspection plate at the lower front of the bell housing removed, look carefully at the flex plate for a hole with a plug showing through. You may need to turn the converter a few times to examine the entire front of it to look for the plug. If you find one, bring it to the bottom and remove the plug. This will allow you to remove much more of the old fluid from the transmission. Refill the transmission and see how it performs.

Others may have a few more tips, but I would (and always do) avoid flushing an older transmission. In my view the whole flushing technique was developed to reduce the time it takes to remove a given quantity of fluid from a transmission and replace it. Notice I said a given quantity and not old dirty fluid. It does this by supposedly using, new clean fluid to push old dirty fluid out of the transmission. Exactly how you can use one fluid to push another (inside of a transmission) without somehow keeping them from intermingling is beyond me. I have heard more than one individual remark that their transmission was being replaced/rebuilt shortly after having a transmission flush performed. I can certainly see how this machine can become a profit center for a service department, but I will not contribute to it.

Good luck... GUSTO