turbo 350 problems

[comtac]

Hello, new to the forum wondering if someone could help me troubleshoot a problem with a Turbo 350. Chev 1/2 ton sat for about 2 years, I started up the ol' girl no problems and drove it out of my shop. Then it stopped on me, not the engine but the drive. Everything looks OK as far as the tranny fluid. I changed it and tried to drive the truck again with no luck. It is a 4X4 and if I have it on jack stands it will turn all the wheels no problem 2 wheel or 4 wheel. As soon as I put the wheels to the ground, there's no power to the drive.

Don't know what's up. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[dieselfumez]

You mentioned changing the fluid, did you also change the filter as well at the time? Kinda sounds like a restriction somewhere in the bottom end of the trans. After sitting all that while it might have pulled all the junk in the fluid into it.

[broughy84]

what year is this truck? are you positive it is a 350 turbo and not a 700r4?

[comtac]

I didn't change the filter.......don't know why I didn't I'll give it a try and see. It is an 81 with a turbo 350. The 700R4 has the overdrive doesn't it ?

[comtac]

Is there a simple way to "blow out" or flush the lines to check for blockages???

[broughy84]

yes, 700r4 is overdrive. I have heard someone take the bottom one loose at the trans and put a hose on it and run the hose to a bucket. Start the truck, flush about a quart out, and at a quart and do it again.

[comtac]

No ill effects to the tranny by doing this???

[broughy84]

i don't know i have never done this.

[SpitAndDirt]

Ive done the flushing of the tranny by removing the cooling lines before, it really gets quite a lot of fluid out really quickly. Just remove the lines, put some hoses over the ends and route into a bucket or pan of some sort, start the engine until you don't get a steady stream of fluid any more. Turn the engine off, connect the lines back up, and refill the tranny. Easy! Depending on the year, past abuse, and tranny model (4L60, 4L60-E, or 700-R4) you may have some solenoids that may need replacing. I can't tell you for sure, but I do know that once you know for certain your transmission, you can visit www.atsg.biz or your local transmission parts supplier and pick up a manual specific to that tranny for about $15 to $25. It will help you to diagnose the problem with a whole lot more accuracy. Hope this helps -Chris

[Yo Dog]

If the filter doesnt solve the problem its probably burnt up clutches or bad converter. If it looks that way pour you a can a B-12 in it. It sounds crazy but ive seen it work before. The B-12 swells the cluthes which will maybe make it work again for a while. Just a cheap fix. Or just pull it and get it rebuilt turbo 350's are inexpensive to rebuild or get rebuilt, theres not much to them. But yea give the B-12 a try for shits and grins you cant hurt anything.

[comtac]

What's the cost difference between rebuilding and buying a rebuilt. I have priced out a rebuilt. It's only $420.00 but I don't know what the cost is of rebuilding................

[trannyman52]

does this thing have reverse,,good????? or doesn't it move at all?????

[madcatter]

Don't laugh, but this happened to a friend (no, not me) about a month ago pulling into his driveway. He had the truck in the shop ready to pull the tranny when he realized the transfer case shifter was in neutral! Just a thought.

[comtac]

All the gears work when it is up on blocks. The wheels turn in 4 or 2 wheel drive. Checked the transfer case out, but like I say, in 4X4 all wheels turn. It's just when I try to move the truck in any direction it won't push itself.........

[ttwwpp]

If you have a good reverse on the ground and no forward (or vice versa), you have a trans that need overhauling.. sorry...
Tim
Trans tech 25 years..