help...

[ikeyballz]

hey, ive come to the muscle car forum hoping that there might be more gearheads here then at the normal firebird forum.. ive posted a question a couple days ago, and havent got a answer on it.. so..
here goes:

my transmission on my 88 firebird, (its a 5.7 v8) slips (700r4 automatic). it does it soo horribly i cant move more then 10 mph full throttle;
its not stuck in 1st gear however, because ive jacked up the car and brought the speedometer to 130+
i can also manually shift it from 1st gear, etc.

anyone got any ideas? i really need help on this one, i have to shell out 1K+ if i want it fixed, and i dont have any money since im a student..at the local university..

i know this isnt much of a muscle car; but i hope to get it over 300 hp one day;

planning total overhaul of engine, maybe turbo or NOS..etc

ive overhauled a engine (with my dad) but ive never overhauled a tranny and i could use any help..
even a diagram of it would help.

thanks!

[Mines69Olds]

Have you checked the fluid? Is it burnt all to hell? Low? anything?

[MagicRat]

Lets assume the trans fluid level is correct.

Auto transmissions cannot tolerate slipping for very long before all the friction material on the clutch packs gets burned away.
Therefore, even if you fix the cause for the slipping, it may continue to slip until it is rebuilt.

However, try a fluid and filter change before condemning the trans. Drop the trans pan and clean it out. Change the trans filter. If you find the filter is packed solid with debris, this is a good sign because it means the slippage was likely due to low fluid pressure.
There should be a small magnetic disc, about 1 to 2 inches in diameter, stuck to the bottom of the pan, inside the trans. If this is missing, put one in.

Reassemble, with a new filter and fill it with clean fluid. Do not start it yet. Remove the transmission coller RETURN line, where it attaches to the transmission. If you do not know which one this is, remove both the out flow and inflow lines, and crank the engine over for 1 sec. Fluid should come out the outflow hole. Reattach the cooler line here only, then start the car. Dirty fluid should run out the return line. Add trans fluid to the pan until the fluid coming out the line runs clean, then reattach the line.

In my experience you have about a 50% chance this will fix your problem. If not, you need a rebuild.

[Mines69Olds]

That is way more than I had to offer but I always like learning new info. Thank for the input magicrat i'll remember that in the future.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by Mines69Olds

That is way more than I had to offer but I always like learning new info. Thank for the input magicrat i'll remember that in the future.

I'm glad someone can use the info.

ikeyballz double posted this question:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...24#post3380124

And unfortunately his OTHER thread had much more info, including the fact that he already changed the trans fluid and filter, which makes the 15 min I spent writing my big post there mostly useless.

[Mines69Olds]

Well at least you did you best to help out. Even though this one didn't help him it helped me. So thanks anyways.

[ikeyballz]

LOL sorry aout that, i was pretty desperate.. :/
yeah, i did double post..

mm i dont know what the problem actually was, since the fluid was clean, it didnt smell burnt, the magnet was there, the filter was clean..etc. but..

it used to click? when i would shift it?

well i gave up and took it to a shop..so yeah..
thanks for the help guys :]

[ikeyballz]

ohh, btw, in case you guys ever need a diagram online..
(of a 700r4) i found one..so pm me if ya need it