BRL's Chevy Towing Inc.

[BRL]

My friend stopped by tonight and told me that his ('78?) Chevy 4X4 is broke down sitting on the side of the road.

Said he went up a small hill on his way to work this morning and he felt the transmission slip a little, then shortly thereafter the trans. quit pulling altogether.

Locked in the front hubs which didn't help.

Knowing how good my friend (we'll call him Mr. Maintenance) is at keeping up on fluid levels, I assumed the trans. fluid was low without first checking the stick and added about 1 1/4 quarts of fluid.

Now the fluid is about 1 1/4 quarts too full and still no response.

After I towed him home in my cool '69 C10 Stepside, I crawled underneath and saw that the drive shafts and U-joints are still intact, so I'm assuming that the transmission (possibly the transfer case?) is the problem.

Of course the pan doesn't have a drain plug, so I get to remove some pan bolts to drain off some excess fluid too.

He said it never slipped before today and I know he does drive it like a little old lady.

What should I be checking next?

[Ol Blue K20]

Smell the fluid..does it smell or look burnt?

[Andy4639]

Filter inside the trans stopped up. Pump quit pumping.

[BRL]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Filter inside the trans stopped up. Pump quit pumping.

I'm thinking that may be a strong possibility.

Friend says he doesn't have reverse either, and it seems strange to me that clutch or band damage would eliminate all gears at once without any grinding noise or any other obvious signs of internal damage.

Checked the trans fluid this morning like Ol Blue K20 suggested, by dripping a little from the stick onto a white piece of plastic, and while it is dark and in need of a complete flush, it did not smell burned.

Obviously I'm going to have to drop the pan and see what's going on in there.



He just bought the truck from a co-worker fairly recently, and the engine runs and idles pretty good...I epically like how the air filter lid is reversed because the snorkel is positioned to suck hot air directly from the radiator.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[MARKDTN]

Front pump broke in the TH350. It happens.

[piecesparts]

Agree on the front pump breakage issue.

[BRL]

Could I just disconnect one of the cooler lines to see if the pump is working?

How difficult is it to replace if that does turn out to be the problem?

Any special tools required?

ETA: Of course rather than ask you for the answer to those questions I suppose I could just re-read this book.

But if I recall correctly, the last time I looked over the contents of this book I realized that I would probably be better off just getting a rebuilt transmission.

[BRL]

Interesting development:

When I towed my friends tuck home the other night, we had left it out in front of his house.

This morning we were all set to push it down the driveway, and he decided to start the engine so he could make use of the power steering.

He put the trans. directly into neutral, and just for the heck of it I said "put it into reverse"...and reverse did engage, so I'm thinking the forward pump may be alright after all...?

Still no forward gears though.

Told him he could drive it to work backwards in a pinch.

...well at least I got a laugh out of it...

Dropped the pan and there wasn't too much of the typical clutch and band debris sitting in there, but the filter itself looks pretty nasty.

Every turbo 350 filter I've ever inspected was either a fine nylon or brass screen, but this one seems to be made up of some kind of fibrous cloth material.

Anyway tonight he should come home from work with a filter kit and some fluid and I'm keeping my fingers crossed but...

[BRL]

Originally Posted by BRL

Anyway tonight he should come home from work with a filter kit and some fluid and I'm keeping my fingers crossed but...

Sad to report that the filter change didn't cure the problem.

Still has reverse but no forward gears.

Time to consider the possibility of costly repair at a shop.