I have a '91 250 with an auto w/ OD , and I've been having problems with my truck going into gear when it's cold, it will go into gear but it takes about 1/4 throttle to get it to move. It acts as if it's low on fluid, but when I checked the fluid (warm in neutral) the fluid level is way over the normal level, but the transmission is built and on the other side of the dipstick there is a mark that doesn't look factory, does a built tranny (dual disc converter, input/output) take more fluid? Is this the mark from the tranny builders? if so the level is low to that mark, but i am cautious to mess with it at the moment. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

While I'm no transmission expert, in doing research to rebuild my own, I've never heard of anyone having to go over the factory mark. There are a number of issues that arise in doing so ~ Excessive foaming/aeration, etc.

The overfilling of the trans may very well be the root cause of your problem(s) . . .. else,


In the stock/OEM setting, it's common for the torque converter to drain during the off period. The OEM valvebody doesn't include provisions dedicated to pumping the tc back up in Park (most after market valvebody kits address this).

I would recommend you consider shifting to Neutral for about 15 to 30 seconds before starting out on a trip. This will allow the tc to pump-up.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: Just read your Sig, what trans are you running?

 

When you checked your tranny fluid did you shift it through all the gears and then back to neutral? This makes a huge difference in the fluid level. Give this a tyr cause it got me to. Go into all the gears for about 5 seconds each P R N D 2 1 2 D N Then stay in neutral and check it, this fills all the gears with fluid.

 

My '85 does the same thing. annoying, but doesn't affect it once it pumps back up. seems like the torque converter is draining back into the pan.

 

BC847- The tranny was built by the previous owner by a local shop in Somerset, Ohio. Thats why I'm so clueless when it comes to this tranny, because unlike all the other mods, I didn't do it. And no I didn't check the level after going through the gears, makes sense though I'll give it a try and see what comes up. I always try to let it sit at idle for atleast a min before I put it in gear, usually longer but I don't want to die of fumes in the garage. But this morning it did something it has never done and that was when I pulled out of the drive way it was slipping something terrible. It did sit outside because I stayed at a buddy's house and it was around 25 last night, the cold weather always seems to be worse.

 

X2, very common. Thats probably why the stick is over full, because the conv has drained back. Do like BC says, run it in neutral and then ck the level. If it`s still high (and was`nt before) you might want to double ck you coolant for signs of ATF