Well, it sounds like the tranny is coming out and you need to look for things like leaking center support O-rings and things like that. But, just for laughs, I think I'd put another governor in and try it first just to be sure.
I picked up a 400 from someone on the a-body site. In a couple of weeks I'll do the swap. I can't wait to rip my tranny apart to see what's going on. Before I do anything, I think I'm going to swap the governor just to see what happens (as collector suggested).
I know this has been touched on before, but do you have a strong vacuum signal at the modulator, (check with gauge) and is it still feelingl like it is in second when you down shift it to first after reving it up ikn first gear? Have you switched the govenor like John suggested? I feel this trans may be fixed in the car. I have bought many of these transmission that people thought were bad and replaced to find it was something simple like a weak vacuum signal or stuck govenor. Good luck with it. Jim N.
Jim, thanks for checking in. I checked, with a gauge at the modulator, and got 18 inch lbs. It is definitely in second when I down shift. I can tell by the jolt I feel and by seeing the tach jump up. I haven't put the other governor in yet but am going to do that soon. The governor that I pulled out looked to be just fine. I moved the springs back and forth to make sure they moved freely as well. I want to have two good running trannys so if the governor fixes the one I have in the car, then I'll start rebuilding the one I just bought or visa versa.
If you still need a short shaft TH400 I have one Iam selling $300. I will be in Columbus over the 4th of July, I could bring it with me.
I can understand you wanting a spare. I just feel that your transmission can be fixed in the car. I have had some funny things happen with 400's and shifting. I had one in a 1 ton dually that I rebuilt and came back in a month or so not shifting right and wanting to start off in 2nd. I had put a new modulator on it and changed the governor. After two new modulators and another governor, I went to an old 67 switch/pitch 400 that I knew worked and took the governor out of it and the modulator and the modulator valve out of the case and put it all in the dually. It fixed it and never had another problem. I even switched in the orignial governor and it still worked, so it was in the modulator or valve. Good luck. JIM P.S. If you turn your governor with the gear up and move the weights in and out, you shouold see the valve in the center of the governor move up and down. If it is free and moving the correct amount(about 1/4")it whould be ok but not always 100% deal.
Trust me, I really want to make the one in the car work. The next free day I have is July 4th. That's when I'm going to swap around some more parts. I'll check the governor again. The last time I pulled it out I just basically visually inspected it. I didn't know what "to look for" though.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaa! I swapped the governors and was up and running before 9:30am. The one thing I noticed with the old governor was that the weights were stuck in the "in position". I could pull them apart and then they would move easily. There must be a burr or something on the valve. Thank you for everyone's help!:TU: MARK
Not really a hard job. The top two bolts were a little hard to get to but it was well worth the effort.
