TH350 problem....

[FireKnight]

I am not to savvy when it comes to transmissions and do not have a lot of money to go to a shop.

On day, i was driving as usual, everything was fine, then at a stop light i let off the brake, and it started going forward, well when I started applying the gas the engine would rev-up but I was not gaining any speed.

I was finally given a chance to pull into a gas station and checked the ATF. It was low. I added enough ATF, and let it sit for a little bit. Well when i tried putting it into gear, it will not go into drive. I can how ever go in reverse. Reverse works fine. But it will not go into Drive, L2, or L1.
I am thinking it may be the clutch, but before i purchase anything online, i am looking for advice from people who have had the problem, or know of the problem.

Thank you for reading and taking your time to answer this.

Neal.

[GreaseDog]

your trans is done. low on fluid, no movement, you smoked it. it needs to be entirely torn down, cleaned thoroughly, worn/broken parts replaced and reassembled by someone competent in this repair.

Originally Posted by FireKnight

I am thinking it may be the clutch

this comment says you are not the guy to do the job. there is no "clutch", but clutch packs made up of many clutch discs and steel plates. take it somewhere and have it rebuilt, or buy a junkyard unit to replace it. make sure to flush the cooler lines out when you have them disconnected, or the particles from the smoked tranny will smoke the new one too.

[Old88]

Be sure you flush the tranny cooler in the radiator.

[modular93fox]

and you need a new converter too. the crap floating around in the trans is in the converter, and any good trans shop will NOT warentee the transmission unless you buy a new converter. food for thought. your looking to spend about a grand...
clint

[FireKnight]

Wow..... lol. Makes me mad cause I took care of it, and had just put ATF in it two days before, but after refilling it after it going, it was leaking bad.
I have found some used transmissions from a junkyard for 350 dollars. Other then it working what should I look for if I purchase a used transmission or what would be a better route. going to a shop and having them rebuild it would cost more then i can afford right now.

[modular93fox]

Originally Posted by FireKnight

I have found some used transmissions from a junkyard for 350 dollars. Other then it working what should I look for if I purchase a used transmission or what would be a better route. going to a shop and having them rebuild it would cost more then i can afford right now.

well you just found the gray area... you have a chance of getting a good one, a bad one and a well used but working one. like my sig. says, a poor man buys it twice... and it means just that, if you skimp here, you have a chance of buying a 2nd trans a few weeks or so down the road. its one thing to buy a (for example) 2001 transmission at a junk yard becuase its only 7 years old.. short life compared to a 20 year old trans.. are you picking up what im throwing down just look on jegs website and they have reman trans for like 700 bucks.. and a tq converter for 200 something. do it right, or get it rebuilt with a new converter.
that simple.

[FireKnight]

I totally understand what you are saying.

Now i am transmission ignorant and have been looking on the Jegs site. I have found a transmission, and am looking at torque converters, but am not sure what i am looking for when it comes to torque converters. Im sorry to bother you with this question, i just want to drive my truck, lol.

[Crummy]

You can rebuild that one. Good time to add a shift kit. Well worth the money. TH350 is a good tranny and most decent trans guys can rebuild them with no issues.

As far as converters, a stock spec one would be fine unless your motor is making better than stock hp.

[NovaMan]

I had a TH350 rebuilt a few years ago for $350 (including replacing the front cover). I bet you could get a decent torque converter for a couple bills.

[FireKnight]

Talked to my Mechanic today, he wouldnt tell me how much it would cost because he would not be the guy doing it so he did not know how much.
I then called Aamco because i knew it would be a high in my town and they wanted 850 big ones.... I then called a small shop, and the guy said 520 just for the rebuild and torque converter, or 600 for the rebuild and shift kit.

[JaxRhapsody]

Sounds like my truck. towrds the end of its life it wouldnt go out of reverse, so at my time of what I suspect is dumbness just yanked it in gear. I also never understood why going in reverse it makes that loud clank. Even my friends 91 does it. only in reverse and drive, they do it.

[FireKnight]

Im surprised the tranny has lasted the 30+ years my grandparents have had it, and the Abuse my grandfather put it through, and he never had it rebuilt once. Then i come along, and maintain all fluid levels, and it leaks, and i didnt know, and drove it gently, and it finally went... lol But then again, Such is life.

[NovaMan]

Originally Posted by FireKnight

I then called a small shop, and the guy said 520 just for the rebuild and torque converter, or 600 for the rebuild and shift kit.

That seems reasonable to me if the guy has a good reputation.

[FireKnight]

Yeah he does. My friends parents go there, and are the ones that recommended him. Hopefully by next week I will be taking it in and having it rebuilt.