Technical Sharp Shiftin' Wagon

[Ryan]

A few months ago, Joyo and I coasted into Austin on our return trip from Ohio with a tranny making funny noises. It still shifted fine, but the sound resonating from under '60 Chevrolet wagon sure did sound fatal. The high dollar 700R4 from Art Carr ...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[Zombie Hot Rod]

Any info on how you guys adjusted the TV cable?

[SinisterCustom]

You sound like a checkbook rodder........

I'm beginning to hate AT's.....my trans was acting up @ a month ago on the way to a small show, I didn't make it home...it ate itself on the way. But luckily, I had a supposedly "rebuilt" TH400 under my bench, so I swapped trans and held my breath....it works! Got me going for the following weekend.

Next rod will be a 4 speed......

Say, are 700R4's mounts in same location as TH350's?

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Zombie Hot Rod

Any info on how you guys adjusted the TV cable?

That was all Bob Bleed man... I know he hates doing it, but he is damn good at it. Maybe he will speak up.

You sound like a checkbook rodder........

I'm beginning to hate AT's.....my trans was acting up @ a month ago on the way to a small show, I didn't make it home...it ate itself on the way. But luckily, I had a supposedly "rebuilt" TH400 under my bench, so I swapped trans and held my breath....it works! Got me going for the following weekend.

Next rod will be a 4 speed......

Say, are 700R4's mounts in same location as TH350's?

I'm not an auto guy either (hot rods have 3 pedals)... I'm too stupid to work on them and frankly, they aren't nearly as fun to drive. But this is my wife's car... and she needs an auto.

And no, mounts are different...

[Bullington]

Rule of thumb from my past experiences is to keep your spare parts. No matter how big or small. Trust is a bitch when it comes to mechanical services. Can you get your old transmission back?

[Aaron51chevy]

Good to see you got the troubles fixed. As a wagon owner I've read all your issues with great interest. I'm planning on getting the bearings and ujoints serviced on mine soon. After I re-do the front suspension that is.

[4t64rd]

$4K is a lot of money, and they were given the opportunity to make it right...

[Engine Pro 5X]

I have 2 cars that are identical. 1 with auto and 1 with top-loader. The one with tha auto is the family car-LOL and the 1 with the 4 gear we call the intimidator. They drive like 2 different cars even though they're alike >>>>.

[Ryan]

I should say, I didn't pay that for the Art Carr... The previous owner did.

[49ratfink]

so what happened to the first tranny?

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by 49ratfink

so what happened to the first tranny?

It's still at a local tranny shop... I've had a rough couple of months and just haven't been able to mentally deal with the possibility. Sometimes it's better for your health to ignore.

On top of that, I'm beginning to think that it might have been hurt. I'm getting around 22mpg now when I was getting about 14mpg. Granted, the first tranny didn't have a lock-up converter (just silly) but I can't imagine the difference of 400rpm at 70mph having that great of an effect on gas mileage.

But, who knows... I'm happy with my new tranny and glad I have it over the Art Carr.

[Shifty Shifterton]

With any old car the deeper you look the more you can find to blame. Sounds like you looked deep in the wrong spot and found unrelated badness. Happens all the time, don't beat yourself up over it.

A dragging carrier bearing could've been partially to blame for the mpg deal.
Happy motoring

[hotrodladycrusr]

Funny, I just had the carrier bearing replaced in Big Olds.

[theHIGHLANDER]

Originally Posted by Ryan

It's still at a local tranny shop... I've had a rough couple of months and just haven't been able to mentally deal with the possibility. Sometimes it's better for your health to ignore.

On top of that, I'm beginning to think that it might have been hurt. I'm getting around 22mpg now when I was getting about 14mpg. Granted, the first tranny didn't have a lock-up converter (just silly) but I can't imagine the difference of 400rpm at 70mph having that great of an effect on gas mileage.

But, who knows... I'm happy with my new tranny and glad I have it over the Art Carr.

While the reply above said don't sweat it or second guess, I'd get the old trans back. Somebody near you needs one and can freshen it up themselves. My spin is how much I hate the "good money after bad" thing that can affect all of us at one time or another. Stress? Getting it back is a major stress reliever if I got everything I read from the topic/blog post.

It still drove you home. It's probably re-buildable. It therefore has a value to a fellow enthusiast.

And yes, a non lock-up convertor, and a bad mid bearing can wreak havoc on mileage, especially in a car like that where every lil bit helps. Glad to see you got some resolve and peace of mind for your "family car".

[gotwood]

When it comes to tranny's insist on being there for the tear down. They have so many parts laying around it is just too easy to say the f'd up parts were yours. Plus the guy tearing it down figures you have to replace a ton of stuff with just the tear down so why not do everything while you are in there. Just doesn't make sense to change one part.

As far as the converter, heck yeah that lock up will make all the difference in the world. Otherwise you are just generating heat. Also they probably spec'd your converter to your car rather than a generic one. I bought a $900 Performance Industries converter for a 700r4 car and it was day and night compared to the off the shelf unit. Doesn't Gearstar use Yank converters?? On the same level if not better depending on who you talk to.

Hope you flushed or changed the cooler while you were at it??


Good luck

[Doc.]

Sucks about the tranny, but I'm glad you're back on the road again.

Doc.

[autobilly]

Originally Posted by Shifty Shifterton

With any old car the deeper you look the more you can find to blame. Sounds like you looked deep in the wrong spot and found unrelated badness...

Just what I was thinking. You should get the Art Carr back though, what's done is done. Who can afford to leave good or rebuild-able parts behind? If you don't want it, you could sell it or give it away.

[J Man]

Any chance of gearstar becoming a alliance vendor?

[BIGREDTODD]

Originally Posted by hotrodladycrusr

Funny, I just had the carrier bearing replaced in Big Olds.

Driveline noises transmit throughout the whole car sometimes...we chased quite a few before replacing the carrier in our '60 El Camino...

You're not the only one who has chased the noises around Ryan...

Glad it worked out, sorry it was so costly...20+ MPG is great in a big wagon though. Makes the trips a lot cheaper.

Todd

[Scrap Iron]

Originally Posted by autobilly

you could sell it or give it away.

HAMB auction for Andy, every little bit counts