turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Drove the truck today in the neighberhood, and went into 3rd gear and the transmission locked the rear wheels.. Good thing i was only going about 20 mph or so... What would cause this? It has a wilson's turbo 400 with a transbrake. I ran it alittle low on fluid when i took the driveshaft out. So i added a qt and it's still locking up in 3rd.. As if i'm pushing the brake button.. Could it be the converter, shifting linkage, or brake? I didn't feel like working on it today, so mabey i'll crawl underneath it tomorrow..

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Call Larry.....

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Does the brake work in 1st?
Sounds to me like a screwed up brake install.

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Yes, the brake works in first...Everything has been working great until now...

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Check the wiring from the button, to the solinoid, and the grounds. Isolate the buttom and the solinoid, test each, and the wiring, independantly.

I chafed a wire coming out of my delay box once and it acted just like your symptoms. Mine locked up going into the trailer, scared the crap outta me. Paul

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

I disconnected the transbrake from the button, so it has no power and the thing still acts like it engages in 3rd. Or something else is wrong..

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Yeah if it 'was' working correctly, and it's not activating the solenoid, you have internal damage. Knocked a tooth off a sun gear or something. Jakeshoe is a member here and a trans genius. He could probably tell you exactly 'what' item is most suspect. But in the end, it needs 'fixin'.
I'd pull the pan to make sure all of the valves are captured as they should be (have seen one of the retaining pins break and the valve get out of place,, really made a mess out of the fluid flowing where it should) But in the end,, if you don't see any obvious problem in the pan,, the trans needs to come out and on a bench.

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

thanks marv. I talked to wilson and he said that this transmission is not designed for street use? Wish he told me that before i bought it.. Anyway, i asked him why a built turbo 400 wouldn't last as long as a stock 400 on the street and he said it had to do alot with the clearances and i forgot what all. I thought mabey he didn't know what he was talking about so i called a performance transmission shop in arizona that was in one of my car craft magazines and he said the same thing. So i guess i'll take it out and have larry make it a little bit more streetable, but still strong enough for occasional track use...

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

"Built" Turbo 400 is a play on words.....Yes, the parts are stronger. But the tolerances in a "Race" transmission don't allow for street use. Never, ever doubt Larry Wilson. He's been building transmission for my family since the 70's.......He'll take care of you.

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Took transmission to wilson yesterday and where th big snap ring snaps into the case, all the little retaining teats were broke off except for about 4 of them...So he had to find me a new 400 housing...He said in the 30 years of building transmissions he's only seen this about 4 times. He's not sure what causes this...

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Are you using solid motor mounts? What about the trans mount? Didn't you recently change your crossmember?

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

I'm using poly mounts and a chain. The tranny mount is also rubber.

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

Just checking....You should be alright then.

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

I saw pictures of your truck on larry's wall of hauln...:metal:

Re: turbo 400 w/brake locking up in 3rd
 

I think that pic is from 1992.....