Auto transmission trouble shifting
 

Hi.
My 1967 Chevy C10 has a three-speed auto transmission. It seems to work perfectly fine, but on cold mornings when I take off for school, I shift into reverse, or drive, but the transmission doesn't "click" and the car won't go anywhere. I can maybe get it to move a tiny bit if I rev the gas quite a bit, but I have to either wait a while or coast for a while until the transmission finally shifts and starts driving the car. I can't remember if it also does it on warm mornings, but there hasn't been one in a while. Is this behavior normal, due to the cold (45-50 Fahrenheit), or is something wrong? BTW I have checked the fluid level and it seems fine.

Re: Auto transmission trouble shifting
 

thats a good sign of a pump going bad. It can do this for years... or days.

Re: Auto transmission trouble shifting
 

Okay, how can I tell if it's the pump or not, and how fixable is this? Do I need a new tranny?

Re: Auto transmission trouble shifting
 

Is it full of fluid? Make sure you check the fluid when the trans is at normal operating temp, and the engine running. Longhorn is correct, and I would caution you about servicing that transmission.

Re: Auto transmission trouble shifting
 

Most likely a case of "Morning sickness". This happens when trannies get old and the lip seals begin to harden inside the drums. For a short term fix add a half pint of brake fluid to the tranny. This will soften the seals and make it work for a while longer. Add too much and the seals will get too soft and blow. It usually takes a few days of running before it helps.
This is in no way an overhaul or permanent fix, just a bandaid until you do it right.

BTW, been doing tranny work for thirty years and I know the pro's and cons of this.