1989 Transmission slipping?
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From: Marietta GA
1989 Transmission slipping?
I was driving on the interstate a couple of weeks ago at about 55 (ice on the road) and the engine started revving up, like I had put it in neutral. 
I made it back home by manually downshifting to 2nd. I changed the fluid and filter (hoping that maybe it was clogged). No change. When I test drove it, sometimes it would act like normal, other times it would start to go, but then just start revving up. Does this sound like slipping? It kind of feels like there is a shift from 1st to 2nd but then 2nd to 3rd has the problem. I've never had one that slipped like this. Thanks for advice!
I made it back home by manually downshifting to 2nd. I changed the fluid and filter (hoping that maybe it was clogged). No change. When I test drove it, sometimes it would act like normal, other times it would start to go, but then just start revving up. Does this sound like slipping? It kind of feels like there is a shift from 1st to 2nd but then 2nd to 3rd has the problem. I've never had one that slipped like this. Thanks for advice!
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From: Los Angeles CA
I was driving on the interstate a couple of weeks ago at about 55 (ice on the road) and the engine started revving up, like I had put it in neutral. I made it back home by manually downshifting to 2nd. I changed the fluid and filter (hoping that maybe it was clogged). No change. When I test drove it, sometimes it would act like normal, other times it would start to go, but then just start revving up. Does this sound like slipping? It kind of feels like there is a shift from 1st to 2nd but then 2nd to 3rd has the problem. I've never had one that slipped like this. Thanks for advice!
I made it back home by manually downshifting to 2nd. I changed the fluid and filter (hoping that maybe it was clogged). No change. When I test drove it, sometimes it would act like normal, other times it would start to go, but then just start revving up. Does this sound like slipping? It kind of feels like there is a shift from 1st to 2nd but then 2nd to 3rd has the problem. I've never had one that slipped like this. Thanks for advice!tell him Mason sent you
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I was driving on the interstate a couple of weeks ago at about 55 (ice on the road) and the engine started revving up, like I had put it in neutral. I made it back home by manually downshifting to 2nd. I changed the fluid and filter (hoping that maybe it was clogged). No change. When I test drove it, sometimes it would act like normal, other times it would start to go, but then just start revving up. Does this sound like slipping? It kind of feels like there is a shift from 1st to 2nd but then 2nd to 3rd has the problem. I've never had one that slipped like this. Thanks for advice!
I made it back home by manually downshifting to 2nd. I changed the fluid and filter (hoping that maybe it was clogged). No change. When I test drove it, sometimes it would act like normal, other times it would start to go, but then just start revving up. Does this sound like slipping? It kind of feels like there is a shift from 1st to 2nd but then 2nd to 3rd has the problem. I've never had one that slipped like this. Thanks for advice!Overhaul time.
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From: Marietta GA
Thank you for your responses!
Thank you Pete for that information. I kind of thought that was the problem but I wasn't sure. Almost all of my vehicles in 35 years have been manuals. I've seen your posts and how much everyone respects your opinion. I'm going to rebuild it myself. The car is a daily driver and I don't push it hard, so the overhaul will not be for high performance, just dependability.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Fl
kinda how mine did when it died. Lost 2nd and 4th. I would just drive along giving like 1/8th-1/4th throttle and when it would try to shift to 2nd it would just rev upand go back down to 1st. I had to manually put it in 1st and get going pretty good (didnt like this because it had the engine turning pretty good) and manually put it in 3rd. Although I think mine was more to do with the transmission being stock with a 383 in front of it than old age 
Edit: I see where you say you will rebuilt it yourself, sweet, I have always wanted to try this, it just seems daunting I guess. I trust myself with a wrench around most things, but I have always been scared of trying the transmission for some reason.
Good luck!
Edit: I see where you say you will rebuilt it yourself, sweet, I have always wanted to try this, it just seems daunting I guess. I trust myself with a wrench around most things, but I have always been scared of trying the transmission for some reason.
Good luck!
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From: Marietta GA
I'm still kind of hesitant. My wife thinks I can do it. I've done a lot of other things. Usually, if you buy the right parts and read (and follow) instructions... I think the worst part will be getting it in and out of the car. 
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Fl
. You are right, removing it from the car will probably be the "fun" part . When/if my built 700r4 kicks the can I am going to try to find a 4l80e in a junkyard and build it myself.I say do it, shouldnt be too bad as long as you use quality parts and get a good shop manual.
Good luck
Burning Brakes
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From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
I dunno if it's verboten or not but corvette-guru has a sticky thread in the C4 tech section that does into detail what's required for a tranny rebuild.
I performed the valvebody part of the build-up on the Sled's 700r4 and watched the guy rebuild the hard parts. It was incredibly informative. A lot of the special tools can be made, and some of the special tools don't make it possible to rebuild, they make it _quicker_ to rebuild.
If you see the transmission apart, you'll see there's _no_ friction material on the clutches. It takes no slipping at all to use up a clutchpack.
I performed the valvebody part of the build-up on the Sled's 700r4 and watched the guy rebuild the hard parts. It was incredibly informative. A lot of the special tools can be made, and some of the special tools don't make it possible to rebuild, they make it _quicker_ to rebuild.
If you see the transmission apart, you'll see there's _no_ friction material on the clutches. It takes no slipping at all to use up a clutchpack.
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Don't underestimate the difficulty of a proper overhaul.
I can assure you that getting it in and out of the car is the easy part.
The above is not meant to discourage in any way.
I would encourage doing it yourself, and offer anything I could to assist.
But to think it is no big deal, is selling the process short.
I spend 20 hours doing one, once it is on the bench.
This is after doing many hundreds of them.
I can assure you that getting it in and out of the car is the easy part.
The above is not meant to discourage in any way.
I would encourage doing it yourself, and offer anything I could to assist.
But to think it is no big deal, is selling the process short.
I spend 20 hours doing one, once it is on the bench.
This is after doing many hundreds of them.
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I dunno if it's verboten or not but corvette-guru has a sticky thread in the C4 tech section that does into detail what's required for a tranny rebuild.
I performed the valvebody part of the build-up on the Sled's 700r4 and watched the guy rebuild the hard parts. It was incredibly informative. A lot of the special tools can be made, and some of the special tools don't make it possible to rebuild, they make it _quicker_ to rebuild.
If you see the transmission apart, you'll see there's _no_ friction material on the clutches. It takes no slipping at all to use up a clutchpack.
I performed the valvebody part of the build-up on the Sled's 700r4 and watched the guy rebuild the hard parts. It was incredibly informative. A lot of the special tools can be made, and some of the special tools don't make it possible to rebuild, they make it _quicker_ to rebuild.
If you see the transmission apart, you'll see there's _no_ friction material on the clutches. It takes no slipping at all to use up a clutchpack.
Cleaning, painting, clearance checking etc.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
Well, I was keeping things neutral. I figured if he looked at your thread and wasn't scared off... he might have a new career in transmission rebuilding. They've gotta come from somewhere.
I've gotta say, carb rebuilding is a walk in the park compared to 700r4's.
I've gotta say, carb rebuilding is a walk in the park compared to 700r4's.
..WW
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From: Marietta GA
I should have clarified a bit. The worst part for me in anything is getting started. So getting it out is usually the first major mental obstacle. I usually spend a lot of time gathering information, reading and getting in the right frame of mind. That said, I don't necessarily think it's going to be a cake walk. I'm pretty detail oriented and when it comes to things like this, I don't do shortcuts. Time is not really an issue, I'm back to driving my old Ranger. Thanks for the advice and reality checks. If I have any questions that I can't find answers to in the forum, I'll post'em.
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From: Marietta GA
update on rebuild
I happened to find a 700r4 for 50 dollars. I figured that would be a good one to learn on. When I picked it up, Peter said that he and his dad used to buy them up when they could find them cause auxillary's were hard to come by. They use to use them for dragsters and they didn't need it anymore. He wasn't sure if this was one of the 2 that had come out of a running car. They never used it. Anyway, I'll tear it apart and see what I got. Numbers on it were 2BBM193C
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
Vette 700r4's had a couple of differences, Off the top of my head, the tailshaft was different (no big deal if you already have one), and it wouldn't kickdown into 3rd at WOT...although I've jettisoned most of my tranny knowhow by now. 
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I happened to find a 700r4 for 50 dollars. I figured that would be a good one to learn on. When I picked it up, Peter said that he and his dad used to buy them up when they could find them cause auxillary's were hard to come by. They use to use them for dragsters and they didn't need it anymore. He wasn't sure if this was one of the 2 that had come out of a running car. They never used it. Anyway, I'll tear it apart and see what I got. Numbers on it were 2BBM193C
1992 Model Year
Caprice
5.0 Liter
Built on the 193rd day of the year
3rd shift
