Any Turbo 400 specialists out there?

[4WDVETTE]

Was returning from Kid's Ocean City estate on Saturday after working with VNV and him on his blower install and my Turbo 400 kept disengaging. Every couple of miles I would have to pull it over and 'rest' for a few minutes. Then it would run fine for a couple more miles and then disengage again. I checked fluid level - OK, except one time immediately after it disengaged, I pulled over, left the engine running and checked the level and it was way overfilled.

My thought is that somehow the torque converter is empting out. I am not a trans guy so right now I have asked a few people with no real answers. My Father-in-law is tracking down the guy that built the trans but he moved out of state. We will find him though.

Any thoughts out there?

Steve

[Kid_Again]

Bummer, Steve.

Don't know a thing about 400's but wish you well.

Good seeing you and your FIL. I left the camera in OCNJ and will send pictures to VNV so that he can work his magic and post them.

BTW...one of the head bolts pulled the threads at 35#....HeliCoil time. Remember that I said a couple of the head bolts were loose when I went to take them off? Wonder which one will go next.

[4WDVETTE]

WOW - only at 35#! HeliCoil should work OK. Give Dewey a call, he might have a suggestion - I am sure it will cost money. Took me 2 1/2 hours to get home. The trans would disengage every 2 to 3 miles. No fun. Dewey just called me - he picked up another trans so we might just build another one if we can't figure out the problem.

Any other issues with the heads going on?

Steve

[Kid_Again]

Steve...

Good luck with the tranny!

So far, so good with the heads. The driver's side went to 35#. The pass side was where I had the problem. I think I was down to the last few bolts, so we'll see. Finally got the HeliCoil kit. Of course, they didn't have the correct drill bit size so I had to shop. I HATE to shop.

2.5 hours to Waterford???? Oh dear. Save yourself some grief next time, go over the Longport Bridge, hang the first left and cross Shore Road and Route 9. Go out via Ocean Heights Avenue and that way you can just ROLLLLLLLLLLLLL into VNV's driveway.


Just park next to my roadster. Mark has reasonable charges for parking, car covers and a 'cupa in the AM.

[Subfixer]

Steve, Your trans problem almost sounds like a clogged filter. Been changed lately? Either that or an internal seal leak, probably around the high gear clutch pack actuator.

[4WDVETTE]

Paul - thanks for the opinion. Father-in-law was also thinking filter. By the way, only about 1,000 miles since the rebuild - but the rebuild was about 15 years ago. Looks like I will be dropping the pan Friday and checking that out before I pull the trans.

Thanks for the reply - hope all is well with you and retirement.

Steve

[gmjunkie]

Originally Posted by Subfixer

Either that or an internal seal leak, probably around the high gear clutch pack actuator.

That would be my guess!!! I've accidentally pinched them reassembling and they Will act that way!! If it sets around allot Change the fluid and Filter and add a Bottle of Lucas "No Slip" This may stop you from having to go into it!!! Lucas most of the time works wonders!!! I add it to every Rebuild and Fluid and Filter change!!! After 90,000 miles on my Car Hauler,I had a Disengaging 2nd gear going Down Mountains with a Load on!!!! Lucas Stopped it,and that was 75,000 miles ago!! "Lucas Products" have made me a Believer!! There Power Steering Conditioner and Stop Leak is absolutely Amazing!!!!!!!!

junk!!

[Viet Nam Vett]

Originally Posted by 4WDVETTE

Was returning from Kid's Ocean City estate on Saturday after working with VNV and him on his blower install and my Turbo 400 kept disengaging. Every couple of miles I would have to pull it over and 'rest' for a few minutes. Then it would run fine for a couple more miles and then disengage again. I checked fluid level - OK, except one time immediately after it disengaged, I pulled over, left the engine running and checked the level and it was way overfilled.

My thought is that somehow the torque converter is empting out. I am not a trans guy so right now I have asked a few people with no real answers. My Father-in-law is tracking down the guy that built the trans but he moved out of state. We will find him though.

Any thoughts out there?

Steve

Bummer Steve.. Hope it works out... But you know any time you stop at Kid's OC Mansion..you run the risk of picking up the...

[Kid_Again]

Originally Posted by Viet Nam Vett

Bummer Steve.. Hope it works out... But you know any time you stop at Kid's OC Mansion..you run the risk of picking up the...

Which is why the BAR IS ALWAYS OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4WDVETTE]

After the 2 1/2 hour trip home (that should only take 1 hour) I could have used a drink. On one of my numerous stops on the side of the road, in not the best place, a car comes up behind me with about 4 people inside. I am thinking, this is not good. Out pops my wife's sister and and family. They were on the way to Hamilton Mall and figured not too many of those 66 Nassau blue vettes around so it must be the crazy brother-in-law.

At least I wasn't mugged on the side of the road.

Going to drop the pan Friday and see what I can see.

Steve

[Kid_Again]

So, what did the pan drop show????

[Stan's Customs]

Originally Posted by gmjunkie

That would be my guess!!! I've accidentally pinched them reassembling and they Will act that way!! If it sets around allot Change the fluid and Filter and add a Bottle of Lucas "No Slip" This may stop you from having to go into it!!! Lucas most of the time works wonders!!! I add it to every Rebuild and Fluid and Filter change!!! After 90,000 miles on my Car Hauler,I had a Disengaging 2nd gear going Down Mountains with a Load on!!!! Lucas Stopped it,and that was 75,000 miles ago!! "Lucas Products" have made me a Believer!! There Power Steering Conditioner and Stop Leak is absolutely Amazing!!!!!!!!

junk!!

Lucas Oil products are truly remarkable...definitely worth trying. I'd bet it will fix the problem...and I don't subscribe to snake-oil mechanical fixes...at least didn't until Lucas oil came products came along.

After freeing up a Cadillac rack and pinion steering and driving the car 3 more years...I've tried there transmission oil additive as well ...

Made 2 transmissions that I can remember shift like new...and then there is the power steering fixes...etc., etc.


Like Junk said...and he is is dead on .....the stuff is amazing....

[4WDVETTE]

OK - here's the update. Actually didn't drop the pan until Saturday. Didn't find any overly significant debris in the trans fluid. A drain plug would be nice though. Did find that the bolt holding the filter in place had backed out and had actually dented the pan. The filter was dirty so I changed as much fluid as I could get out, put in the new filter and used a drop of locktite on the bolt. Filled her up including a bottle of the Lucas Stop Slip trans treatment and let her warm up real well.

Father-in-law and I took her out for a test drive - no disengagement. We got into it a couple of times and spun the heck out of the tires getting all three gears and no ill after affects. So, looks like all is well.

Thanks to all for your input and advise.

Maybe it is just the Kid, VNV and Ocean City, I don't know.

Steve

[Kid_Again]

Originally Posted by 4WDVETTE

OK - here's the update. Actually didn't drop the pan until Saturday. Didn't find any overly significant debris in the trans fluid. A drain plug would be nice though. Did find that the bolt holding the filter in place had backed out and had actually dented the pan. The filter was dirty so I changed as much fluid as I could get out, put in the new filter and used a drop of locktite on the bolt. Filled her up including a bottle of the Lucas Stop Slip trans treatment and let her warm up real well.

Father-in-law and I took her out for a test drive - no disengagement. We got into it a couple of times and spun the heck out of the tires getting all three gears and no ill after affects. So, looks like all is well.

Thanks to all for your input and advise.

Maybe it is just the Kid, VNV and Ocean City, I don't know.

Steve

Yup, it's my luck. You come over to my place at your peril. Ah, I forgot to tell you, parking the car nose-in is unlucky at my place. It needs to be nose-out, with the right turn signal left on.

[4WDVETTE]

Now you tell me. Next time I will leave it in the street.

Steve