Should a 904 freewheel in drive?

[65TerrorCuda]

Taking off in drive but before it shifts into 2nd, if I let off the throttle the engine will drop to idle with no engine braking at all. Is this normal? It also makes a noticeable whirring noise.

Trans is apart now, and I found something off with the sprag, wondering if it's related? Valve body is a 76 with potential mods, haven't torn into it yet.

 

[1WildRT]

Without low band applied (only occurs in manual 1st gear) there is no engine braking, the sprag overruns...

 

[RedFish]

I / we are forever amazed at how far a 73 model 904 continued to drive on with that whirling noise. We got accustom to it with the radio volume a little higher.. The seller described it as "like sound effect of flying saucer heard in old movies" before we test drove her. Great car.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

I personally never had a 904 that did what you are describing. They all decelerated leaving off in gear. unless it was a reverse manual low gear non band apply

 

[65TerrorCuda]

Without low band applied (only occurs in manual 1st gear) there is no engine braking, the sprag overruns...

The spring finger plate had wear marks in it that I'm guessing made it act up. A few rollers were falling over sideways and snapping back into position.

I / we are forever amazed at how far a 73 model 904 continued to drive on with that whirling noise. We got accustom to it with the radio volume a little higher.. The seller described it as "like sound effect of flying saucer heard in old movies" before we test drove her. Great car.

This is also a 73 trans. Wonder if it's a one-year feature lol.

I personally never had a 904 that did what you are describing. They all decelerated leaving off in gear. unless it was a reverse manual low gear non band apply

My 64 904 doesn't act like this. Is there a way to figure out if it's a non-low gear band apply? If I take off in manual low it engine brakes. In drive it coasts.

Thanks guys! Feel like I need X-ray vision to figure out things sometimes. Still not sure wth is going on.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

The spring finger plate had wear marks in it that I'm guessing made it act up. A few rollers were falling over sideways and snapping back into position.


This is also a 73 trans. Wonder if it's a one-year feature lol.


My 64 904 doesn't act like this. Is there a way to figure out if it's a non-low gear band apply? If I take off in manual low it engine brakes. In drive it coasts.

Thanks guys! Feel like I need X-ray vision to figure out things sometimes. Still not sure wth is going on.

64 on back the transmissions had a rear pump. You can push start them. I would park my 62 on a hill when my battery was weak . When it hit 25 mph push the 1st/low gear button and it would compression start.

I would drive my old 60's cars like they were manual shift. when down shifting to low it wouldn't go in until you hit 25 again but if you stabbed the throttle it would go in sooner. They always would hold back in any gear. second would go in at any speed. all mine were 727's behind 318 poly's 350's or 361's. Yes 350, It was the first B engine then 361 and then 383. My 350 came with 2 four barrel carburetors .

 

[65TerrorCuda]

64 on back the transmissions had a rear pump. You can push start them. I would park my 62 on a hill when my battery was weak . When it hit 25 mph push the 1st/low gear button and it would compression start.

I would drive my old 60's cars like they were manual shift. when down shifting to low it wouldn't go in until you hit 25 again but if you stabbed the throttle it would go in sooner. They always would hold back in any gear. second would go in at any speed. all mine were 727's behind 318 poly's 350's or 361's. Yes 350, It was the first B engine then 361 and then 383. My 350 came with 2 four barrel carburetors .

I only tried push starting the 64 once but didn't get up enough speed. Nope, that won't work! Has always shifted with a huge bang into reverse. It often barks 2nd getting on it with those skinny 13's.

2 four barrels, afb's? Sounds like a killer setup!

 

[Killer6]

64 on back the transmissions had a rear pump. You can push start them. I would park my 62 on a hill when my battery was weak . When it hit 25 mph push the 1st/low gear button and it would compression start.

I would drive my old 60's cars like they were manual shift. when down shifting to low it wouldn't go in until you hit 25 again but if you stabbed the throttle it would go in sooner. They always would hold back in any gear. second would go in at any speed. all mine were 727's behind 318 poly's 350's or 361's. Yes 350, It was the first B engine then 361 and then 383. My 350 came with 2 four barrel carburetors .

I was puzzled when I saw Christine in the theater, kinda pissed like,...."wtf, GM mill in it?!?!"....then a better look when it came out on video, & yeah.......wait, that's a B-engine. So I went to the auto encyclopedias, 1st-year, one-year only Premium Dual Fury option, 350cu.in. 2×4bbl......non-premium Dual Fury was a Poly 318 2×4bbl......I have the Poly intake & carbs, pretty rough, but there.

 

[Killer6]

Taking off in drive but before it shifts into 2nd, if I let off the throttle the engine will drop to idle with no engine braking at all. Is this normal? It also makes a noticeable whirring noise.

Trans is apart now, and I found something off with the sprag, wondering if it's related? Valve body is a 76 with potential mods, haven't torn into it yet.

Sounds like it's hesitating to upshift to 2nd, the sprag is the only thing holding in Drive-Low, it will not drag or engine brake at all. If You do what I did, & MIG-fill the apply hole in the transfer plate & toss the low/reverse check ball, it will free-coast in Manual-Low as well. As OMM stated, manual valve bodies can do this as well.
Only in Manual-Low w/the Low/Reverse band applied will it engine brake.

 

[65TerrorCuda]

Sounds like it's hesitating to upshift to 2nd, the sprag is the only thing holding in Drive-Low, it will not drag or engine brake at all. If You do what I did, & MIG-fill the apply hole in the transfer plate & toss the low/reverse check ball, it will free-coast in Manual-Low as well. As OMM stated, manual valve bodies can do this as well.
Only in Manual-Low w/the Low/Reverse band applied will it engine brake.

Is there a reason you don't want low band apply in manual?

 

[Killer6]

Is there a reason you don't want low band apply in manual?

Yes, there is always overlap on a 1-2 shift, between the L/R band releasing & the 2nd gear/kickdown band applying. Since the L/R band is already holding, the 2nd gear band gets eaten-up because it cannot stop it's drum until the L/R releases it's completely. Continually manually shifting 1st to 2nd will wear out & eventually kill the 2nd band, after it runs out of adjustment & friction material, then the trans will start to slide right from 1st to 3rd. I've killed enough to know....lol...

 

[65TerrorCuda]

Yes, there is always overlap on a 1-2 shift, between the L/R band releasing & the 2nd gear/kickdown band applying. Since the L/R band is already holding, the 2nd gear band gets eaten-up because it cannot stop it's drum until the L/R releases it's completely. Continually manually shifting 1st to 2nd will wear out & eventually kill the 2nd band, after it runs out of adjustment & friction material, then the trans will start to slide right from 1st to 3rd. I've killed enough to know....lol...

Aha, thanks for explaining that!! Makes sense then that my low band was worn almost to the metal in one spot and the 2nd/kickdown looked almost new because I almost never use manual. I learn something every day, thanks my friend!