chevyluvn

I have an 89 2wd with a 727 and a 92 2wd with a 518 and both of them have gradually gotten worse about when they sit over night crank them up put it in drive and nothing until it builds up pressure and then they work fine
What do I need to do to fix this Thanks

Angry Johnny

Put it in neutral after you start it so the converter will fill. It's not a loss of pressure, it's the fluid draining from the converter. TorqueFlites do not fill the converter in park, this is why you check the fluid level in neutral.

If the drainback is getting worse it could be due to wear in the pump gears, housing and converter drive hub and bushing. You can't stop it but you can buy a manual valve for the valvebody from Sonnax that allows the converter to fill in park.

NJTman

Years ago, When I first bought my doodges, I had no idea that this would happen. I think David mentioned something, or I read it in the sticky. Ever since then, the first thing I do is parking brake on, truck in neutral, wait till the "wait to start light" goes out, then turn the key. 30-45 seconds later, one click down into drive, and all is good.

Never had any issue since this became my standard starting process in the morning (or after a long sitting period).

chevyluvn

so would a new torque converter fix it? or new automatic valve body? I really don't want a manual valve body I know that lots of people live with the problem but I am tired of it and really want to fix it even if it means a full rebuild or replacement

Angry Johnny

No, no, not a manual valve body. The manual valve is the one that gear selector is moving in the valve body. You need only replace the valve and everything else remains the same. A new converter will not fix it, it's built into it.

Manual Valve - 22771-09 - Sonnax

j_martin

I think there's a check valve in the valve body that's supposed to hold the oil in the TC. Every dodge torqueflite or variant I've owned has drained the TC overnight. As was said before, the stock valve body doesn't fill the TC in park, only in the other gears, including neutral. Many a transmission has fried due to lack of oil because the owner didn't follow the instructions on the stick and check the fluid level in neutral.

That said, it's completely harmless. Even if you start up and it slips like crazy, it isn't hurting anything because it's just a hydraulic slip. Developing the habit of putting it in neutral after a start, waiting a few seconds, then proceeding totally circumvents the "problem."

It certainly isn't worth spending a lot of money. If you're having transmission work done, put in the valve body mod while yer at it, but it isn't worth dropping the pan just for this mod.

Angry Johnny

Totally subjective. I like to start my truck and let it warm up while I'm doing other things. I feel much better having the truck in park. The valve is cheap and it's just some fluid and a gasket. If you need to service it anyway why not just put it in?

NJTman

I gather you're saying this can be done without removing the trans ?

That's cool

Angry Johnny

Yes, just pull the valve body.

samiam4

I believe Sonnax makes a spool valve which fills in park.

But you can do what dodge did later, and that was to add a check valve in the system (starting in 94'). But check valves do fail.

Michael