92 tbird 5.0HO engine - RPMS won't go above 2300

Ok, so I bought a thunderbird, 1992 v8 5.0ho engine automatic in very nice condition, had to put new tires and get the rear brakes and brake cylinders done. But I still have one lingering "problem?"

You can be at a dead stop, then put the peddle to the floor in D or OD gears and it will start off nicely seems a little weak for the engine but does ok, but as soon as it hits 2300RPM or so it down shifts.. this car doesn't redline till 5k and can do 6k. Is there a govener that is preventing it from going higher? A hose problem? what?

Basicaly is it DESIGNED to shift that early or is there somthing wrong?

The shifting is smooth, and if I stick it in first It hits the higher RPMs no problem, although it does seem a bit slow for its 200horse and 275torque engine... As far as mods on it the previous owner put on flowmaster exhausts thats all thats different from stock as far as the engine is concerned. He took excellent care of it.


The next question while not dire is important. I have an aftermarket Blaupunkt radio. I'm not sure if the radio is dead from age or my speakers. Pretty much while hooked up properly *i think at least* I do get sorta clear audio from ONE speaker, the driver front. Its low volume but its ok. The others will either make no noise, or will make static noise.

Now I know the speaker wiring int he back of the radio is hooked up properly I took it out and went over it. Reversing the speaker plugs killed any audio coming out and gave mixed problems. Would eitehr get No sound period or mixed static. Also the driver side speaker its audio SLOWLY comes on when you turn the radio on. its not "THERE" like it should it will slowly come to life. Also while I had the radio out at one point THAT speaker stopped all audio, was getting frustrated and when I was "shoving" the cables back into the dash tugging on the radio poof it came back. It seems to me to be the radio, its cd player no longer works but it will tune to stations and auto seek fine I just don't know, and my budget is limited big time currently. Only things I could think of is the radio itself which is what I think it is, or the speakers/wiring, or from what someone said the amp.. if its the amp where is it located? Is that the small box on the back of the radio? or is it hidden under fabric in the trunk?

You can be at a dead stop, then put the peddle to the floor in D or OD gears and it will start off nicely seems a little weak for the engine but does ok, but as soon as it hits 2300RPM or so it down shifts.. this car doesn't redline till 5k and can do 6k. Is there a govener that is preventing it from going higher? A hose problem? what?

im not sure if you mean upshifts to next gear or downshifts? if it downshifts your rpm would jump hi-----if upshifting at low rpm iwould check tv cable/linkage to be stuck in non wot position which would make it shift early or a stuck governer inside trans---i would be betting on tv cable prob

You can be at a dead stop, then put the peddle to the floor in D or OD gears and it will start off nicely seems a little weak for the engine but does ok, but as soon as it hits 2300RPM or so it down shifts.. this car doesn't redline till 5k and can do 6k. Is there a govener that is preventing it from going higher? A hose problem? what?

im not sure if you mean upshifts to next gear or downshifts? if it downshifts your rpm would jump hi-----if upshifting at low rpm iwould check tv cable/linkage to be stuck in non wot position which would make it shift early or a stuck governer inside trans---i would be betting on tv cable prob

was the cable, the grommit securing it had broke, replaced it works great. Now to find a way to get some power :)

i would strongly recommend getting your transmission serviced now, especially if you drove it for any length of time without the tv grommet

that is the number one way to burn out an AOD transmission