The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Took the chally out the other day now with the original383 and standard torque converter,was race 440 and 3800 converter,and noticed that 3rd gear does not come in until 60mph is on the clock(must add that the box was modified to reverse pattern manual shift when used for racing)1st and 2nd change ok. Trouble is now im in canada 60mph is the speed limit out here.Have been told that the valve body has been modified and would need a standard one .Any help would be great.

First of all adjust the kickdown lever to the standard setting. If that does not work you had better look for a valve body from a salvage yard.

Thanks Dave will have a look,hope your feeling better and getting ready for summer.

I am feeling loads better thank you. Still got a fair way to go before I can work on cars though. I walked around the block today (about 10 mins) and was very tired when I got back. My legs were shaking like I had just been "doing it" standing up with a fat woman!

Anyway. If the kickdown lever is way out it might not shift up correctly.

What happens if you put your gear selecter in drive? Does the car shift 1-2 and 2-3 or does it just start off in 3rd gear? \

transman

Hi transman if i select drive (has B@M shifter in ) as in 3rd it will pull away in 3rd ,which makes a manual auto ie 1st 2nd 3rd apart from dropping in 3rd when 60mph is on the speedo it can!t change down without locking the rear axle up at speed.

challysteve wrote:Hi transman if i select drive (has B@M shifter in ) as in 3rd it will pull away in 3rd ,which makes a manual auto

In that case it will not have a kickdown lever at all.

Why does everything have to be so complicated??

Thanks for your help guys,havent been out to check gearbox yet as -19 outside tooooooo daaamm c c cold.

I'll poke around Steve and see what I can find out from a trans builder (mopar guy 67 GTX HEMI), and see if there is a cheap way out for you to go.
Sometimes it depends on what was done to the valve body. If it had a shift kit put in it, some kits allow you to change back to normal operation without excessive problems. If possible, could you find out if it is a manual valve body somebody purchased, or was it the stock valve body that had a shift kit put in it. If it had a shift kit (transgo I hope ), maybe something can be done. I would have to know what brand of shift kit was put in it. Also, you're going to have to have kickdown linkage for sure.
By the way, you may be able to change the shift points on that combination you have. I know fellows out here in B.C. that have manual valve bodies that have no problems on the street or highway with them. I had one in a 71 340 Duster years ago (ya I know, should have kept it), with a TF-3 Transgo (manual shift) kit in it, and I don't recall any problems with it on the highway. I know my wife hated it though, shifted to damn hard!!
Anyhow, let me know any and all information you can get, and let's see what we can do.

transman