powerglide trans wont shift to drive
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
powerglide trans wont shift to drive
Sorry this is not a corvette question but it is related. I have a 57 chevy convertible that has been sitting for 3 years. Got it running over the weekend but it will not shift into drive just wants to stay in low gear going down the road. It is the cast iron trans with reverse at the bottom of the shifter.There is nothing wrong with the linkage, drained the fluid ( no burnt smell) etc. Must be internal on the Transmission. Any suggestions other than I should have been driving it a little more but would rather drive my 67 427 corvette convertible in the summer.
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If this thread is in the wrong place let me know and I will remove it.
#2
Instructor
Sorry this is not a corvette question but it is related. I have a 57 chevy convertible that has been sitting for 3 years. Got it running over the weekend but it will not shift into drive just wants to stay in low gear going down the road. It is the cast iron trans with reverse at the bottom of the shifter.There is nothing wrong with the linkage, drained the fluid ( no burnt smell) etc. Must be internal on the Transmission. Any suggestions other than I should have been driving it a little more but would rather drive my 67 427 corvette convertible in the summer.
If this thread is in the wrong place let me know and I will remove it.
If this thread is in the wrong place let me know and I will remove it.
Maybe it's something as simple as that...
Frank
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carl3989 (07-10-2022)
#3
Safety Car
Did you start off in low then go to drive, if so it's the governor gear stripped not the modulator gear , easy to check pull L/S round tin cover off and pull Governor out and check gear and see if the weights move freely.
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carl3989 (07-10-2022)
The following users liked this post:
carl3989 (07-10-2022)
#5
Instructor
Yes, it was a stripped plastic gear -- probably the governor. A simple fix, as you described. My $2.00 fix occurred in 1965, hence I may have mis-remembered the terminology...
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carl3989 (07-10-2022)
#9
Safety Car
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3745169-58-5...-/310893335171
According to the below reference, 55-57 Corvette PG's had no modulator:
Identifying Cast Iron Powerglides, 1950-1962
1950-54 Closed driveline, flat modulator
1955-57 Open driveline, no modulator
1958-62 Open driveline, screwed in modulator
http://www.autotran.us/identifying_1...7_corvett.html
Last edited by stingrayl76; 07-21-2014 at 09:25 AM. Reason: Added reference
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
Not sure about usage on Vettes prior to 58.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3745169-58-5...-/310893335171
According to the below reference, 55-57 Corvette PG's had no modulator:
Identifying Cast Iron Powerglides, 1950-1962
1950-54 Closed driveline, flat modulator
1955-57 Open driveline, no modulator
1958-62 Open driveline, screwed in modulator
http://www.autotran.us/identifying_1...7_corvett.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3745169-58-5...-/310893335171
According to the below reference, 55-57 Corvette PG's had no modulator:
Identifying Cast Iron Powerglides, 1950-1962
1950-54 Closed driveline, flat modulator
1955-57 Open driveline, no modulator
1958-62 Open driveline, screwed in modulator
http://www.autotran.us/identifying_1...7_corvett.html
#11
Instructor
Just sit down to my computer. Read the replies. The cast Iron transmission don't have a vacuum modulator. So going to pull the governor out tonight and see if it is gummed up or broken if so it will just have to go back to the corner of the shop and wait its turn to be fixed. Have 2 other projects disassembled right now. Thanks for the responses though.
If you have the governor assembly in your hand and the gear is stripped just drive out the roll pin, insert new gear (I assume you can still buy the gear?) re-install roll pin, and put it back together. Not much more time involved than just putting it "back to the corner"...
You might have to drill a hole for the roll pin in the new gear -- I REALLY don't remember that much detail
Last edited by decarmine; 07-21-2014 at 12:59 PM. Reason: Added "...drill..."
#12
Instructor
Thread Starter
Replacing a stripped governor was a 5-minute repair, as I recall (but it was 49 years ago!)
If you have the governor assembly in your hand and the gear is stripped just drive out the roll pin, insert new gear (I assume you can still buy the gear?) re-install roll pin, and put it back together. Not much more time involved than just putting it "back to the corner"...
You might have to drill a hole for the roll pin in the new gear -- I REALLY don't remember that much detail
If you have the governor assembly in your hand and the gear is stripped just drive out the roll pin, insert new gear (I assume you can still buy the gear?) re-install roll pin, and put it back together. Not much more time involved than just putting it "back to the corner"...
You might have to drill a hole for the roll pin in the new gear -- I REALLY don't remember that much detail
#13
Instructor
Over the years I have collected stuff assuming that someday I might just need that part someday. well today might be that day. I just happen to have a couple cast Iron transmissions sitting in my storage shed from 57 chevys. Checked at auto parts store for governor and all I got was a Duhhhhhhh look. You never want to throw or sell anything you have collected because someday you may need that part. It will be an easy fix if that is all that is wrong.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Governor-Gear-Pin-Cast-Iron-Powerglide-Transmission-1955-1962-/231266135093?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d8892c35&vxp=mtr
That's all it took. Of course, in 1965 the $2.00 included parts AND labor...
#14
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I had a similar problem on our '60 Corvette. I tried several things without any luck and then I tried Lucas Transmisson Slip repair in a bottle. First time out it shifted like it supposed to and it's been that way ever since. I wouldn't have believed it could be that simple.
#15
Instructor
Thread Starter
I had a similar problem on our '60 Corvette. I tried several things without any luck and then I tried Lucas Transmisson Slip repair in a bottle. First time out it shifted like it supposed to and it's been that way ever since. I wouldn't have believed it could be that simple.
Last edited by musclecarman54; 07-21-2014 at 03:39 PM.
#16
Instructor
Thread Starter
It shifts! Talked to a gentleman who use to work at a Chevrolet dealership many years ago. He said it was not the governor because if you are driving it and let off of the gas and it pulls back down the governor is good if it free wheels then the governor is bad. He then told me to pour about a pint of brake fluid in the transmission and drive it. I was at that point I had nothing to lose. I drove it about 2 miles to warm it up still no shift up. Got in it last night to try it again and presto it shifted like it should. He told me to drive it about 30 miles then drain the fluid and put in new fluid.
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I wouldn't discount the Lucas additive.. It may have helped more than you know.
#19
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