TH350 trans help...

rockcity

rockcity

everyday is a chance to get better
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Location
Greenville, NC
I'm new to autos, so I'm a little lost on troubleshooting the TH350..

The TH350 is freshly built by a guy in Granite Falls. Can't remember the name. Same guy some of the BDB guys use for their transmissions... I'm also using the exact same torque converter Brandon (Rides) is using. Can't remember the stall right off hand...

While in 1st gear, 4wd high (or even 2wd) the trans feel very sloppy and doesn't seem to want to put any power out to the D300. If anyone can remember at The Flats race, the very first small rock hill after the start line, the buggy wouldn't even go up that. It wasn't a matter of ability, the trans wouldn't put the power to the ground. It acted like it was bogged down really bad.

I've checked fluid, its OK. Not really sure what to think is the problem. The engine (LQ4) has plenty of power and seems to be running great. The axles have 5.38 gears and I'm running 47" LTBs. The low gearing in the axles should be plenty for that engine with those tires.

I've pretty much kept it in 4wdL as it tends to have plenty of pickup there. But, the 4:1 in the D300 takes care of that.


I feel there should be plenty of power to at least make it up a small hill...

I can't even spin the back tires on the road and rarely can do it in the grass. It almost feels like the torque converter isn't locking up all the way or something.


Thoughts???

I really don't want to pull the trans out to trouble shoot until I have a good idea of what is the issue...
 
I haver nothing to add other than the whole thing is junk, and you need to move it out of your way to keep the neighbors happy. Since you are a friend I will move it at no cost, and pay you scrap price.

OK thought of something

Call Brandon, get the guys nameand call him , get his opinion about what's wrong. From what I have heard, he good and stands behind his stuff
 
Call Freddy and talk to him 828-396-1433 (Sigmons). I'd say that is who build the trans.
 
i am no tranny expert. but sounds like loss of fluid pressure on clutch pack or band.

i bet you got a bad gasket / seal / bleading off fluid in the tranny someplace. its gona need to come out and get full check over.

someone missed somthing on assembly or tore a seal or gasket.
 
When I was picking it up the torque converter wouldn't go on the splines for some reason. They tried and tried. Ended up swapping out the pump right then and there from another transmission. They did it real quick! Quicker (and maybe a little more careless than I would have too) than I would have done it even if I knew what I was doing. However, they are pros and I am not, but that was just an observation...

maybe I'll check a few other things and see if I get any changes...

I hate having to pull it out and drive it over 4 hours to have it checked out.

These guys (Sigmons I think) come very highly recommended. I'm sure I'll get it taken care of if it is a trans issue.
 
I'd leave it in the buggy and let them take it out. They should do it if the trans is under warranty
 
last guy who did a tranny for me and said he was the best and said he would dyno run it was a big steeming pile of :poop:

found out on a sat afternoon it wasnt dydno run and the convortor was not fitting in the whole.

when i confronted him on a vary mad lunch break :flipoff: he acused me of trying to hammer it in and i mushroomed the input shaft splines. :smokin:

he fixed it and i reinstalled it and still havent fired it yet. ( long story )

but just casue thay are in biss for long time or well liked in the area dont mean crap. now i take my stuff 1hr each way ver 10 min each way.
 
i have been builing transmissions for 20 years and been in buisiness for myself for 7 years, i have never heard of some of these excuses(mushrooming shafts). i do not own a trans dyno and don't know of many shops that do.

as far as your trans rock city, you need to call the builder, he can't fix anything if he doesn't know.
i have customers say things like" it's been doing this for 6 months" , well how are we supposed to know,if you don't tell me.
i am sure if he is any kind reputable builder he stands behind his work. just call him and explain what's going on and he can tell you what you need to do.
 
Rob,
Ok Ive only driven it ?twice? for maybe 5 miles total.
But i thought you had a reverse valve body in it? you are not trying to start in 3rd are you?:flipoff2:
 
nope, standard VB in there.

If its trans related, I'm more than happy talking to the builder. Just figured I'd at least get an idea of what the issue is before I call...

I hate asking a question that I don't already have a good idea of what the answer is (especially to mechanics)...
 
Back
Top