So I had this tranny hooked to a 302 I pulled and installed it on my 289 and it did NOT had this issue. The shifter feels a little stiff going through the gears, when I put in in DRIVE it feels like its in NEUTRAL still. When I put it in 1st and 2nd, it drives, and if I'm in 2nd it shifts from 1st to 2nd smoothly, and when I shift it into DRIVE it stays in 2nd. I've checked the fluid when its warm, its full. I've checked the vacuum hose and module and its good. Could it be that the shift cable needs adjusted??? Thanks in advance!
Start out with your simplest fixes first. Check your fluid, check your shift linkages. If those are fine check the vaccum modulator and change the fluid and filter. I had a similar problem. It ended up being that one of the bands broke. Could also be a stuck valve in the valve body.
Second that on the broken band. Had the same thing happen to me. Did you experience a strange sound and hard shift when this started to happen? I pulled the trans and sent it to the shop. Found out later that it was something they could have done in the car. Someone invented a repair part for it. Micah
So I replaced the vacuum hose, and now once I put it in drive, it goes into gear. Now I have an other issue, the tranny is not shifting into 3rd. I realized that I accidently over filled the tranny with fluid and now there's little air bubbles. Can the bubbles cause the tranny not to shift into 3rd???
my 2nd transmission wouldn't shift into 3rd and it ended up being a bad vacuum modulator. I figured it that out by running it wide open. It eventually shifted into 3rd at 4,500 rpm. Replaced the modulator and problem solved. I would run back over your vacuum lines and check for leaks and maybe think about replacing the modulator(less than $20)
New Guy here.... Had the same problem with the vac modulator. It would not shift into 3rd 'til ,like 60+ MPH. The local tranny shop wanted to sell me a complete rebuild. My mechanic friend fixed it with a $20 modulator......A common problem. Also check the kick-down/passing gear linkage and lever. if it's engaged as in WOT, that could delay and/or prevent an upshift to 3rd....RooDog
