Thanks for the help. Intermittent automatic transmission sometimes it wont move in any gear.

[jallen4]

I just got my car back from making an engine swap. They pulled the tired 360 and installed a completely rebuilt 340.
Since then you never know when the gears will work. Mechanically they seem fine. If you hold the brake and rev it a few times it lurches forward, and works fine for a while.
The shop adjusted the linkage and it seemed go away, then it came back after sitting for a few days. I backed it out of the garage and let it run for about 15 minutes but it wouldnt go into any gear until i reved it a few times.
The 727 transmission is believed to have come out of a 1986 doge truck. I did not swap the converter. They did however knock the weight off.
When you drive the car it runs good. However it was shifting late into drive and again they made the adjustment and seemed better.
jim

 

[Ottmundr]

Welcome form Northern California!

 

[RustyRatRod]

Have you checked that the transmission is full of fluid?

 

[jallen4]

Has plenty of fluid

 

[RustyRatRod]

Has plenty of fluid

That's clear as mud like saying "the timing is good". Ok. I have more important things to do like take a dump.

 

[413]

What shifter do you have?

 

[jallen4]

Its a modified B&M shifter to appear like to be manual. Was working good prior to the swap. The tech went under the car and said it was going into each gear. The transmission stayed in the car when they made the swap. Thanks

 

[fishmens67]

Did the shop check or adjust the line pressure.
It could be not enough line pressure.

 

[jallen4]

They adjusted the cable that runs up beside the throttle linkage. Thank you

 

[AMC Diplomat]

 

[fishmens67]

They adjusted the cable that runs up beside the throttle linkage. Thank you

There is an internal adjustment.

 

[CFD244]

That's clear as mud like saying "the timing is good". Ok. I have more important things to do like take a dump.

LOL.......I read his answer as being "Yes it is full of fluid"

 

[jallen4]

There is an internal adjustment.

does the transmission have to come out or is there something to adjust on the side of the transmission?

 

[Bewy]

If the history of the trans is unknown [ read: it is old ], you need to replace the filter [ could be clogged ] & the fluid.

 

[jallen4]

I should have included that, the transmission ran fine before the engine swap. It had new filter and fluid about a year ago.
The way that I look at it is the engine came out so the linkage was unhooked and the engine separated from the torque converter / trans. Could the torque converter itself be causing this.

 

[Ricks70Duster340]

I should have included that, the transmission ran fine before the engine swap. It had new filter and fluid about a year ago.
The way that I look at it is the engine came out so the linkage was unhooked and the engine separated from the torque converter / trans. Could the torque converter itself be causing this.

Sounds like either the converter took a dive or the pump did. I would pull the trans out, tear it down and inspect everything. Rebuild with quality parts with new quality converter and reinstall. You will be glad you did.

 

[RustyRatRod]

LOL.......I read his answer as being "Yes it is full of fluid"

Well, people have made vague statements here like that in the past, only for it to come back and bite them. HARD. Checking fluid on a dipstick ain't the hardest thing to do. And checking it correctly, warmed up and in neutral. That's a LOT of information left out by just saying "It has plenty of fluid".

 

[CFD244]

I should have included that, the transmission ran fine before the engine swap. It had new filter and fluid about a year ago.
The way that I look at it is the engine came out so the linkage was unhooked and the engine separated from the torque converter / trans. Could the torque converter itself be causing this.

The converter needs to be seated in the trans when the engine and trans go back together. Perhaps it was not, and damage has ensued.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

Does this occur after sitting for a couple of days ?
Mopar transmissions don’t pump fluid in Park .
Sometimes the converters will leak fluid back down after sitting a few days and they are dead when you put them into gear .
When you start it,,,,immediately put it into neutral for about 5 seconds .
Then switch to drive or reverse,,,you should have gears if that’s the cause ?

Tommy

 

[RustyRatRod]

The converter needs to be seated in the trans when the engine and trans go back together. Perhaps it was not, and damage has ensued.

That crossed my mind, too. "Usually" though that's a go or no go situation. The reason I asked about fluid level is because sometimes if they are low, the little bit the converter drains back into the transmission is enough to make the transmission act up when cold.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Does this occur after sitting for a couple of days ?
Mopar transmissions don’t pump fluid in Park .
Sometimes the converters will leak fluid back down after sitting a few days and they are dead when you put them into gear .
When you start it,,,,immediately put it into neutral for about 5 seconds .
Then switch to drive or reverse,,,you should have gears if that’s the cause ?

Tommy

Bingo. And it's exasperated if the fluid level is a little low.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

Bingo. And it's exasperated if the fluid level is a little low.

Absolutely,,,,low fluid will make a Mopar act crazy !

You were right earlier about your post,,,but most people ignore the simple checks .
Unless you know Mopar,,,you assume you can check the fluid in park .

Tommy

 

[jallen4]

Does this occur after sitting for a couple of days ?
Mopar transmissions don’t pump fluid in Park .
Sometimes the converters will leak fluid back down after sitting a few days and they are dead when you put them into gear .
When you start it,,,,immediately put it into neutral for about 5 seconds .
Then switch to drive or reverse,,,you should have gears if that’s the cause ?

Tommy

The first time I had just test drove it and when I restarted the car I had nothing. The 2nd time I started it up after 3 days and backed it out of the garage to let it run for a while. When I went to put it away it did it. Thanks. I will recheck the fluid absolutely correctly on level ground when I return home. The shop owner checked it the first time while I was in the car. It was not in neutral and the ground was not perfectly level. I figured he knew what he was doing.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

I understand,,,,it’s easy to trip up on if Mopars are new to you .
Even most off brand mechanics don’t fully understand that part .

I’m assuming you already were running the transmission ?
Why did they change the converter ?
Or was it just because it was a 360 converter and they removed the balance weight ?

Either way it needs to have the fluid changed and filter swapped .
There could have been contamination when the trans lines were removed .

After that I suspect an issue with the valve body .
Trash in a valve or just a sticking valve .

Tommy

 

[Desoto291hemi]

If this is only doing it at startup , or intermittent, I would suspect fluid or valve body .
These things are very dependable usually .
If they are acting quirky,,,,it’s usually something minor .

Yes,,,there are several things that it could be,,,,but even then,,,those things dont just fix themselves .
If it’s really something bad,,,like a servo blown out or a bad band,,or bad clutch pack .
It doesn’t just get better,,,it will stay bad .
Good luck .

Tommy