Ok so I finally got the auto in my 88 and hooked up the trans cooler and everything. I filled it with fluid, fired her up and let it run for a minute. I put it in gear and nothing, no shift into reverse, no neutral, no drive. I checked the linkage and it is moving on the side of the tranny and you can hear it shift but it won't go into gear and won't move when i push on the gas.. help!!

 

ANY ideas??

 

I know this is super basic but did you fill the fluid with the vehicle running and take it through all the gears and check it again while running?

 

Ya I did that and the fluid is good while running... ?

 

So I talked to a friend who is a tranny tech at a chevy dealer, he though it sounds like maybe the torque converter came loose up the pump... I am not very knowledgeable about auto trannys so does this sound like a possibility??

 

do you remember puting the bolts on the torque converter?

 

Yeah it was a major pita but they all went in fine..

 

Is this a rebuilt or new trans?

 

Its used out of my parts jeep.. it worked great before I swapped it

 

It must be fluid related. How much fluid did you add when you swapped it in?

 

About 3.5 quarts.. could there be air in the system? Maybe its not circulating..

 

Did you drain it when it was out, did you drain the converter. I think you are about 3 quarts shy.

 

holds 8 1/2 to 9 quarts when it is dry, and if you do a trans service it will take 4 to 4 1/2, but if that converter was empty when you put it in then you are low on fluid.

 

No I didn't drain the t q.. and its actually reading a little over full on the dipstick.. seems weird.. all I did was drain it, didn't even drop the pan

 

?
wish I was closer I'd come over and try to help