87 GN trans help needed

mikeg

mikeg

Club Member
Took off from a stop and the trans acted like it just went into neutral. Seems like it lost internal pressure, but I'm not for sure. If I let it sit for a minute, then start it, it will go into gear until I try to go into another gear, then back to no gears. Fluid is nice and fresh pink/red, doesn't smell burnt, trans didn't slip, just won't go into gear. When it went, there was no smoke, shudder, fluid leak, nothing. Just quit working.

I am digging into it tomorrow, thinking that maybe the filter came off or the valve body is loose. The trans was supposedly rebuilt with a new converter.

If anyone has any other Ideas, let me know. I have only owned this car for 2 days, put about 100 miles on it and I would like to be able to at least get a few more days in this year before I have to put it away (aside from feeling like I got took on this deal).
 
Sorry, I don't know anything about the trans issue, but if you traded your charger for a GN, I think you did well! The charger was cool, but not as cool as a Grand National. I have a buddy that had a fresh th200 sitting around, I'll find out if it's still available.
 
Yeah, traded the Charger for it. And I expected things to break on it, it was used as a drag car (but not gutted), came with 3 different chips and has some work done to it. I'll do a full post in the members rides when I get it back on the road.

But, if you would find out what your buddy needs for the trans, if he still has it, just in case mine is smoked, I would greatly appreciate it.
 
filters don't fall off in that model, unless it had a deep pan and someone fuked up.
filter could be cracked....
several options. does it move at all? if not, you can check pressure, 1/8 pipe plug just above shifter bracket on drivers side. 80lbs @ idle approx.-rev 120-150 manual 2-1 120+ . need a guage that goes to 300

check fluid level before starting, then after starting. did it drop? if not, its probably not pumping fluid. broke pump-plugged filter.

if its filter or pick up related, overfilling it 2 quarts or so will make it move.
if it has pressure, and no movement-pull it out.
 
Checked the linkage, going into all gears properly. Pulled the pan, had a little bit of sludge on the bottom and some shavings on the magnet, nothing that you wouldn't expect from a rebuilt trans that hasn't had the fluid changed. Filter was plugged pretty good so tomorrow I am going to put a new filter on it and hope for the best. I checked the valvebody, it is tight and all the moving parts move freely. I hope it is something stupid.

I'm thinking that the filter didn't have a o ring gasket on it where it plugs into the transmission. Every picture shows a gasket on it so hopefully it was just sucking air from around the tube because the filter is clogged.
 
mikeg said:
Checked the linkage, going into all gears properly. Pulled the pan, had a little bit of sludge on the bottom and some shavings on the magnet, nothing that you wouldn't expect from a rebuilt trans that hasn't had the fluid changed. Filter was plugged pretty good so tomorrow I am going to put a new filter on it and hope for the best. I checked the valvebody, it is tight and all the moving parts move freely. I hope it is something stupid.

I'm thinking that the filter didn't have a o ring gasket on it where it plugs into the transmission. Every picture shows a gasket on it so hopefully it was just sucking air from around the tube because the filter is clogged.
Click to expand...

make sure that o-ring isnt stuck up inside the hole, they have tendency to do that when you pull off the filter, itll be bright orange
 
Yup, the o-ring was stuck in there. With fresh fluid and a new filter, it shifts nice and hard now. I never thought it would just quit like that because the filter got clogged. Guess it was kind of a good thing it broke, it gave me time to look over the whole car. I found a bunch of rigged wiring and broken and brittle vacuum hoses to fix. It runs a LOT better now.

Thanks to everyone who offered help :)
 
If the filter was clogged, something clogged it. If something is failing or coming apart, it will plug it again in a short period of time.
It also may be possible that a inferior filter was used. not all filters are alike. Use sealed power filters whenever possible. Look for the sp symbol stamped on the metal portion of the filter.
 
It was just gone through and I think they didn't change it since it was rebuilt, and I'm sure the last owner didn't break it in nicely. But, it shifts nice so I'll finish the driving season and change the filter again and see what I got.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top