Help! No power to the wheels!

[piecesparts]

You guys have covered a lot here. I have not heard the obvious part, though. Is the tranny having issues with the bands inside it? You changed out the engine and connected it to the old tranny that was still in the truck. Did you pull the torque converter out of the tranny and if so, why? You could have disconnect it from the engine and lifted the engine without pulling the torque converter and it could have set int he frame waiting on the return of the engine.

If the engine is reving more than you think it should be for the transmission to work properly, then there is slippage in the tranny or there is slippage in the rear end. There was 4 quarts of fluid added to the tranny, so after warm up, what does the dipstick show for oil level? I believe to fill a tranny from a dry condition, it takes more tranny fluid, than just 4 quarts. The oil pan removed and nothing else will take 4 quarts, but there is oil in the torque converter and the valve body, also. My guess would be a total of about 10 quarts could be expected to fill everything to a point that the dipstick shows oil with the tranny warm and the engine running while oyu check it. Do not check it with the engine shut off.

[IntegratedTJ]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

You guys have covered a lot here. I have not heard the obvious part, though. Is the tranny having issues with the bands inside it? You changed out the engine and connected it to the old tranny that was still in the truck. Did you pull the torque converter out of the tranny and if so, why? You could have disconnect it from the engine and lifted the engine without pulling the torque converter and it could have set int he frame waiting on the return of the engine.

If the engine is reving more than you think it should be for the transmission to work properly, then there is slippage in the tranny or there is slippage in the rear end. There was 4 quarts of fluid added to the tranny, so after warm up, what does the dipstick show for oil level? I believe to fill a tranny from a dry condition, it takes more tranny fluid, than just 4 quarts. The oil pan removed and nothing else will take 4 quarts, but there is oil in the torque converter and the valve body, also. My guess would be a total of about 10 quarts could be expected to fill everything to a point that the dipstick shows oil with the tranny warm and the engine running while oyu check it. Do not check it with the engine shut off.

The torque converter was not left alone, I believe. I'm not sure who'd done it, the sort of point the finger at the other person thing, but I am quite sure it wasn't seated properly, as it moved forward and backwards on the transmission, no clunks or clicks. Also, the transmission was not COMPLETELY drained, it had just puked some on the driveway, not sure how much.

Also, what I meant is it runs and drives, checks out fine. It makes power. But the power isn't being properly sent to the wheels. It is much weaker than it should be.

The transmission and rear end were fine before, the rear end isn't making any clunking noise or anything like that.. Should I look at the internals of the transmission first? Even though I'm sure the torque converter isn't seated correctly. But it wouldn't move the truck at all if it wasn't seated on the gear would it?

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by IntegratedTJ

The torque converter was not left alone, I believe. I'm not sure who'd done it, the sort of point the finger at the other person thing, but I am quite sure it wasn't seated properly, as it moved forward and backwards on the transmission, no clunks or clicks. Also, the transmission was not COMPLETELY drained, it had just puked some on the driveway, not sure how much.

Also, what I meant is it runs and drives, checks out fine. It makes power. But the power isn't being properly sent to the wheels. It is much weaker than it should be.

The transmission and rear end were fine before, the rear end isn't making any clunking noise or anything like that.. Should I look at the internals of the transmission first? Even though I'm sure the torque converter isn't seated correctly. But it wouldn't move the truck at all if it wasn't seated on the gear would it?

This could still mean that there is trouble in the bands in the tranny. They could be slipping.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

If it were my truck, I'd do this:

Stage 1 Fix:
1) Put the truck on jack stands
2) Put some extra blocks under the truck so I don't have to call 911
3) Make sure truck is in neutral
4) Climb under truck
5) Take a light, tools, and rag
6) Remove the inspection cover below the torque converter (if there is one)
7) Check the bolts from the TQ to the flex plate (If there are any )

8) Proceed with the reverse of steps 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. You can forget #6
9) Put in the proper amount of trans fluid (my $02: You don't have enough in
there).
10) Drive it.

Stage II Fix:
1) Perform tasks 1-5 from Stage 1 Fix. Add Step 4b: Take a chunk of strong
gauge wire with you.
2) Unbolt driveshaft at the back u-joint (that is, for a one piece driveshaft)
3) Strap up the driveshaft so it does not fall on your head or personal parts
3b) Slide up front and unbolt the TQ from the flex plate
4) Unbolt Trans from motor block
5) Drag your floor jack under the truck...It'll be just out of reach
6) Make a decision: Can I unbolt the trans cross member easily?
Or: I think I'll unbolt the trans at the cross member..
Either one, have the trans supported...
Usually having two guys helps this task
7) Slide the TQ, trans, and driveshaft far enough back to get a "feel" of the
TQ's seating (per the YouTubes, etc.)
8) Put it Back together
9) Drive it

I don't know too much about life...

But this would be my fix-it.
Some would drain the trans and unbolt the drive line at the front joint.
That tranny fluid is na$ty and $$$. And it *will* get on your driveway.
But, that's my deal.

I stand to be corrected in so many ways.

[piecesparts]

Let's look at this from a different angle. Just to make sure that all is in synch. What do you have the timing set at? If it is set too low, then your performance will be off. Check the timing, the vacuum response on the carburetor, and what you have the tranny kick down set at. Any of these items will make the truck run sluggish, if not just right.

[BluTrukker]

Cheap easy check is to replace the fluid and filter. I recently experienced the same sort of thing on a 4L80. It seemed to be slipping, and within a day or 2 it wouldn't move at all. fluid was full, but filter was completly plugged. Changed filter works like a champ.

[litew8]

It's been a few days. Any update?

[IntegratedTJ]

Haven't had much time to get out there and look at it but I do think that I'll start with replacing the filter. There's a large chance the filter is clogged, so I don't see why not. And it hasn't been changed in ages. Literally. After that, if that doesn't fix it, I'll set my timing up. It's on 10 BTDC right now as was suggested when I looked up the crate engine information. I'll mess with it and see what works best, because the throttle response was a bit delayed. Also, I thought the transmission kickdown was only for passing gear? I don't have it hooked up at the moment. That'd do it? I'll take the steps that magwakeenercew2jh suggested if those things don't fix it..