Tranny not shifting after engine swap

joshtjeerdsma

I just finished putting an ej22 into my 85 westy. While i had the auto tranny out, i did torque converter seals( doubled up), tranny to diff seals, added an external cooler, modded the governor, and switched to type f fluid. Now it wont shift out of first gear. It will shift after about the 2nd or 3rd trip around the neighborhood. Is the type f fluid too heavy for my tranny? Is it something else? Oh, and the fluid level is full( maybe a touch over the full line). Thanks

joshtjeerdsma · Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:14 pm Post subject:

Update....today after the second trip out it shifted through the gears for quite awhile. But, after sitting for a bit it quit shifting completely. Now it wont shift no matter how many times I take it out. I also forgot to add that it shifted fine before the engine conversion.

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Something is way wrong with whatever you did besides the Type F.

I'd back up and check out the governor first---
_________________
T.K.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 52450

Did you carefully adjust the length of the throttle rod between the tranny and throttle body? Being a single mm off in length will totally mess up the shifting, so if you are 10mm off forget it working well at all.

joshtjeerdsma · Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:57 pm Post subject:

I have also been thinking the governor. Maybe when I did the KEP mod I got a tiny piece of metal in there and that's causing the issue. I used the smallcar throttle kit which replaces the shift rod with the Subaru throttle cable. I will try and figure out how to check the adjustment on that. The throttle works fine if that means anything. I think the governor is my first step though. Thanks

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

The throttle rod--or cable adjustment is very important, because if it isn't in the correct postion it will hold the trans wherever it's set at.

It's a downshift cable, and if it's set too short from the throttle body, the trans will not upshift.

Lengthen it up and try that out--a hair at a time.
_________________
T.K.

joshtjeerdsma · Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:04 pm Post subject:

I will try that also. I also installed a new VW throttle cable from the pedal to tranny. Would that affect shifting at all? With the smallcar/Subaru cable setup I think I can adjust the tension at the throttle body a little bit at a time. Ill try in the morning. Thanks

danfromsyr · Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:19 pm Post subject:

Xs 2 this. my brother burned out the cluthes by not hooking up properly the downshift relay in his engine swap..
didn't think it was necessary during all his brilliance.. Rolling Eyes

even gems get polished by a dirty rag.

bustamoov · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:24 am Post subject:

dobryan · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:27 am Post subject:

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

What the hell--let him look & adjust his downshift rod if he wants to---
_________________
T.K.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 52450

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Good idea--

Need a thottle kick down rod for your 4 speed?
_________________
T.K.

joshtjeerdsma · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 2:09 pm Post subject:

It was the governor. There was a tiny piece of debris blocking a tiny port. Shifts through all the gears now. I had to drive a long way home in 1st yesterday at about 4500 rpm, would that have done any permanent damage to my tranny? Also, is there any harm in my fluid level being about1/4 inch above the full line on my dipstick? Thanks for all the advice. This site is a lifesaver.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 52450

If the oil is high because you added extra then all is probably fine. Check the level when the transmission temps are normal (they may have been quite high driving it around in first) and drain out any extra if necessary.

If at normal operating temperatures the level has gotten higher on it's own you may have a seal between the final drive and automatic section that is failing, so watch your levels carefully you don't want to put many miles on it this way.

1vw4x4 · Banned Joined: June 22, 2005 Posts: 472 Location: Pgh. PA

This may be a case of not fully seating the torque converter.
I had this happen in a MB years ago. After a few short drives the
transmission was scrap.
Eric

shadetreetim · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:33 pm Post subject:

joshtjeerdsma · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:51 pm Post subject:

Well, i got the tranny shifting after I cleaned the governor. But, it only lasted a couple of short trips before it started slipping badly. The fluid does not look burnt, but it smells metallic and has a slight glitter to it in the sun. Looks like I am pulling the tranny for a rebuild. All i did during the engine conversion was tranny to diff seals, torque conv seals, drive flange seals, and external cooler. I dont know what caused the rapid deteriation, unless it was the long drive home in 1st gear. Do you think there would be any damage that a standard rebuild kit wouldnt take care of? Thanks, Josh


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