The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Just started driving my 72. Car shifts from 1st to 2nd, but I can't seem to get it into third gear. Tach was around 2,500 or so, but no shift. It is a 727.

Checked fluid level in neutral, while running on a level surface, seems full up. New everything, took about 10 - 11 quarts. Does this seem right?

Had the trans rebuilt from a reputable guy, so it is all new, and I trust he did it right.

Any thoughts or things to look at would be most appreciated.

Just thinking out loud, I had issues with the shift linkage, but park, reverse, neutral, drive all seem right. If I was in 2nd gear, would it truly never up shift? I'm okay on engines and other stuff, not great with transmissions

Yes. If it was in 2nd gear it will never shift up.

Check your linkage again.

Also check that the kickdown linkage is installed and set up correctly.

Move the kickdown linkage back. If it is adjusted too far forward, it will not shift third until a higher RPM. I adjusted mine wrong and it would not shift third until 3000 RPM. Just fixed it a few days ago, in fact!

Just loosen the bolt on the kickdown linkage and move the sliding assembly back a half inch or so, and see how it works then. You'll have to take a couple trips up and down the road to get it adjusted right.

Awesome. Thanks to you both, and I still have daylight too. I will keep you posted. This website is the greatest thing, couldn't have built this car without it.

Multiple trips are not a problem, just looking for reasons to drive it. Thanks again.

- rich

Okay. I think that there is an issue with the slap stick linkage aligning with the transmission gear shift lever. I have a gear between neutral and drive, but it just won't "click" in.

Any tricks to getting this to align? I was thinking of putting the slap stick in drive, then finding drive on the gear shift lever, and then locking down the lower shift rod set bolt. Does that sound like it would work?

Ever seen a newly rebuilt trans only go from 1 to 2, and not into 3rd? Just wanting to see if the rebuild may still be the issue.

Finally, if I simply disconnect the kickdown, the car will still up shift, right?

Thanks again.

Do not run the car without the kickdown linkage hooked up and adjusted properly. The transmission relies on the linkage to receive mechanical feedback. Transmission damage could likely happen.
Bob

jh27n0b wrote:Do not run the car without the kickdown linkage hooked up and adjusted properly. The transmission relies on the linkage to receive mechanical feedback. Transmission damage could likely happen.
Bob

How is that possible? Other than the car possibly not shifting up because the mechanism is not spring loaded or anything at the transmission and it falls to the highest setting? Not allowing it to shift up? As long as the linkage on my car was loose and not adjusted too far forward as to hold the tranny in a lower gear, it didnt matter until I wanted it hooked back up again. I dont know much about transmissions, either, so maybe I dodged a bullet.

MLMFLCN wrote:Ever seen a newly rebuilt trans only go from 1 to 2, and not into 3rd? Just wanting to see if the rebuild may still be the issue.

My old trans acted that way after I had rebuilt it myself. I never managed to figure out what was wrong. I swapped the trans for a professionally rebuilt unit instead.

Yes you can damage a trans by running it without a kickdown. Something to do with the line pressures being controled by throttle position.

Thanks all. Any thoughts on aligning the linkage (SlapStick to gear indicator on the trans)?

Put transmission Indicator (shift lever) in park position.
Loosen swivel block on transmission so it is free to turn on shift rod.
Move shift lever on transmission all the way to the rear detent(park) position.
Tighten adjustment swivel lock bolt to 90 in. pounds.
Check adjustment as follows.
a: dentent position for newutral and drive should be within the limits of had lever stop gates.
b: key start must occur only when shift lever is in park or neutral positions.

Hope this helps.

transman

Thanks Transman. I had to take the lower linkage rod, and "flip" it over, as my TTI headers (440 motor) were interfering. So the adjustable swivel is actually on top of, rather than below the connector on the torque shaft. Where the lower rod connects to the gear shift lever, it still connects from the bottom. Wonder if this is causing some mis-alignment.

All feels good in every gear but 3, so I am wondering if it is in the tranmission. Car only will start in Park and neutral too.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Your linkage setup may be causing the problem. It's difficult to accurately diagnos from this distance. Your car should only start in Park and Neutral.
There are other situations that may be causing the no 3rd gear, but again you're a long way away.
You may also have some internal problems that can only be found out by taking the transmission apart. You might have a hard or torn lip seal on one of the drum pistons. This will cause oil to bypass and create problems. How is the oil? Is it nice and pink with no smell, or is a dark (blackish) color and smells awful?

transman

Diving yesterday, the thing finally shifted into third!!! Got it up around 3,000 rpm for a short run, and it shifted. Trans had been sitting for nearly 2 years while I build the rest of the car, so my sense is that something was just hung up, and needed to be limbered up.

Fluid is full up (in netural, hot on level ground), and looks very pink.

Consistently shifts at 2,700 rpm now, very predictable. Thanks to all for their help.