200R4 troubles

[Xelmon]

Howdy folks! I dropped by as the Vintage Van guys didn't respond to my inquires yet.

To cut to the chase, I have a '69 GMC van that I swapped a 200R4 into, which refuses to shift out of 1st.
It goes to P, R, N, and 1st just fine, I even burned out in reverse a bit when I got mildly stuck backing into the driveway.
Going in 1st, it goes until I basically rev out the engine. Then I let it drop a bit, and it catches again.

Now, I did do the forum search, and I did go out to get a new governor. No cigar, still same issue.
I tried to pull on the TV cable while moving. The more I pulled it out, the less power transfer I was getting.
I checked the pan, and apparently there was white sludge in the bottom. Looking at the filter though, none of it seemed to have been pulled up, filter was changed anyways.

The transmission is supposed to be a 0 mile rebuild, nice and clean, and it did have a cork in the filler hole.

Suggestions?

 

[seeya v6]

2nd gear band apply failure..or issue with servo? I have seen this before with new builds.....

 

[Douglee]

I'm no expert, having recently done a rebuild on a salvage yard unit 2004r that now works fairly well. White sludge sounds like contamination of sorts, did you flush out the lines and cooler? Start with a new torque converter? The issue you have sounds like a valve body problem; a valve hanging up and not allowing a shift. You may have to drop the valve body and check each valve/spring combo for free movement, maybe polish one or two in the process. Throughly clean out all passageways and install new gaskets too. That's my take and 0.02cents.

 

[Xelmon]

Alright, replies! Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Hm... I'll do a bit of reading to see If I can tackle those myself.

 

[Xelmon]

Aaaaaannnddd old guy to the rescue!

Called up one of the local shops - Transmission Exchange Co, located in Portland, OR - and talked to one of the tranny techs.

He suggested adjusting the TV cable out another 1/4" inch... Worked like a freaking charm!

I'll put this down in writing just so that someone may find this one day - I am sick, so I'm trying to remember what the guy said;
What happened was that the TV was all the way in when the engine/transmission started up. Since that is in, pressure locks in a small bearing at the end of the TV.
Thus, bam, no shifting. Once the TV was brought out and the ball could fall out, at start up, pressure was lowered and shifting commenced.

 

[stovebolt 34]

I think the old guy is referring to the "fail safe " system check ball . Some builders leave this check ball out at rebuild . do a search on it and you will find out why they do it and why it's come back to bite some of them in the butt . If someone other than the builder installs the trans and does not get the TV cable right the failure is blamed on the builder . Some of the members/builders can explain it better than me . In your case it was a good thing the check ball was left in .

 

[jpwalt1987]

I always adjust the TV linkage and cable with the pan off. That way I can see the relationship between the linkage and valve. That's how Extreme Automatics suggests in his install papers.


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[Xelmon]

@ Stovebolt: If it's such an integral part, I'm not surprised. The fellow who sold the tranny has a 56 or so Chevrolet wagon with a 235, and he was disappointed that the 200 didn't fit to it.
I'll check the function of the check ball, sounds interesting - plus as I have a 200R4, I should know how it works.

@ JP: That's the joke, we did! Buddy was under the van, checking for 1:1 motion and all that. I think this was something we just simply missed in the details, as we were trashing to get it done for last weekend - alas, we didn't. :|

 

[stovebolt 34]

type before installing in the search box at the top of the page . scroll down the page to TV exaust valve and spring .
There is a link but I can't get it to work .

 

[SSedan64]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/before-installing.381923/
Some Pics on Pg. 3

 

[stovebolt 34]

SS is definetly the go to guy on links !

 

[Xelmon]

Ahha...
*Reads and looks*

Ahhhaaaaa... Makes so much more sense!