2004r Sluggish in Second

[jcd9730]

Well, I just put a BTO 2004r in my truck, and I'm having a couple problems. I'm going to call BTO sometime this afternoon, but since I dont know much about auto transmissions I thought I'd ask here first.

1st gear is perfectly fine, however steady driving in second really lugs then engine. Say I'm driving at 25mph or so, in second and throttle feels normal, if I let off the gas for just a second and accelerate again its all the sudden really sluggish. Similiar to when you are in too high a gear in a manual trans, and its so bogged down even half throttle barely accelerates. If I floor it it comes back to life, but its not downshifting. Its almost like the TC is locking up? Im not real sure. If I lightly brake and accelerate at the same time I get normal second gear throttle response but when I let the brake off its right back to being sluggish.

I tried in 3rd gear, and the same thing happens. I got a 2200 stall in, and its a basically stock 350. I had a th350 in before, and it did not act like this in second.

I dont have any idea what cam is in it, but its pretty mild. I think some kind of Edelbrock. Could it be overstalled?

[jcd9730]

Note, it only acts really sluggish if I drive in second, and let off the gas briefly. Like when letting off the gas to take a turn in second, when I give it gas again its somehow super sluggish and feels in too high a gear, despite having no real speed change, I only let off the gas.

If that all makes sense...

And the TV cable is set up right. Its pretty hard to mess up their kit, and I already called in the pressures, etc. like they ask you too before driving.

[jjzepplin]

It Does sound like your converter is locking prematurely. Is there a way to temporarily disable the lock-up? The kit on my 700r4 had a switch for towing to disable the lock-up. Might be something wrong with your brake switch (it disengages your lock-up). It WILL destroy your tranny if this IS the case. I had a cheap TCI converter ($450 junk) and the lock-up trashed at about 2500 miles. Had it cut open at a converter shop and they said it was the lock-up that went. They also said it was a stock converter. It took out the pump and the tranny had to be completely torn down and reassembled.

[jcd9730]

Well, I drove it around in 3rd gear, which would keep the converter from locking I think. But I was going to try unplugging the lockup and trying that

The brake switch is working though. Works just fine in 3rd-4th gear like its supposed to. But its not supposed to be locking up at all in second, right?

[jjzepplin]

No. Supposed to just be 4th really. Some kits have overrides but I don't see using them. That would wear on the lock-up as it really is like a manual clutch disc inside your converter. Once it goes so does your converter.

[JOJABOY]

Curious to how it drives with lock up disconnected. Are you running a vacuum switch to cause the lock up to engage?

[jcd9730]

What I understood from BTO was that they set up the 2004r internally to only lockup once in 3rd gear. But mine was definitely locking up in 2nd, which at low speeds is annoying, and no vacuum switch either.

When I unplugged the lockup it drove and shifted like it should, so I just put a switch between the brake switch and the trans, so it only locks up when I flip it and braking still unlocks it as well. Seemed the best and easiest solution, and it only really needs to lockup when I'm on the freeway anyways

[jjzepplin]

I have the vacuum switch with override. So I can shut it off when towing. Seems you have fixed the issue. Good work man and enjoy your new overdrive!

[67WrenchHead]

I've got 2 of these transmissions, 1 in a 67 Chevelle, the other in a 67 El Camino. It is odd that the TC would lock up in 2nd. I never saw the benefit of locking it up before 4th? These will lock up in forth (or 3rd if built that way)with light throttle, prematurely by my thoughts, 4th gear at 30 MPH, too soon to lock up. I'm thinking about uying a couple of B&M's units, they connect in linewith the speedo cable and you set the MPH you don't want the converter to lock up under. $165 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-70244

BTO is really great to deal with, they know what they are doing.

[JOJABOY]

From LA area....was wondering what trans shop you used. I'm looking for a shop to do a swap for me.
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[jcd9730]

Yeah I looked into those B&M kits too. Just seems too pricey compared to the three dollar switch I did, and that works just fine