Can someone explane why my trans. will not shift into 3rd gear. It will shift into 2nd all the time. I replaced the stock 305 with a worked 350 and it will not shift into 3rd gear. It worked fine with the old motor. ??? Help ,Phil

The trans might be shifting into 3rd, but with more power, the trans is probably slipping.

Could also be some crap stuck in the governor.

How do you have your vacume to the modulator? Do you have your detent cable adjusted correctly? It sounds like it might be too tight. Pull it all the way off of the carb and go for a drive and see if it shifts. If it dosent, you have other problems. Both of these things can change when swapping engines.

Joe

I replaced my govner and it still doesnt shift into gear.

Phill, did you try any of the things I suggested?

Joe

is your shift linkage adjusted right?

it could have died. Third is often the first thing a t350 loses.

Confirm the adjustment of your shifter cable.
Get under it after you've secured it with jackstands and all. Take no chances when under your car.

Take out the cotter pin from the shifter cable after you've shifted to 1st. Does the cable slip easily out of the shifter arm and meet up precisely with it?
Shift it from underneath and see if it clicks into each gear all the way from 1st to park.
Then go back to first and put the cable back on without the cotter pin. Have someone shift it to 2nd and then 3rd and confirm that the cable is actually moving the arm to the places it needs to go.

Remember to replace your cotter pin when finished.

If it still isn't shifting to 3rd, you could have a modulator problem. If you can, hook up a pressure gauge to your trans and a vacuum gauge. This will tell you a whole lot about whats happening in there.

You could have fried 3rd gear clutches. I just went through this.
I now run the car with a trans pressure gauge, vacuum gauge and trans temp gauge installed in it. This way I have instant situational awareness if the trans ain't acting right.

I took it out and my 3rd gear clutch pack was fried... ops! New kit is on the way. Thank for the tips

When you get down to the low/reverse drum, the last thing in the case, drum and output shaft are 1-piece, take picture of, draw a picture, or something, to give instruction on the locking key at the 5 o'clock position to the case.

Don't forget this key upon assembly, the car will not move.

Also, you might consider going to a higher count sprag unit to spread the power to more sprags, with a hardened outer ring.

Hopefully, other trans people will chime in here.

Ya thanks. The anti clunk clip i was told. It shifts fine and goes threw all the gears. p.s. its in a van But has a 1968 Camaro motor thanks for your help! http://longisland.craigslist.org/car/415477754.html

If you are going to rebuild that unit don't put the factory clip in it, instead get a case saver. It is a solid version (available at transmission parts shops) of this clip and is the hot ticket to making TH350's keep from messing up the cases with clutch wear. At minimum install a shift kit (Tran-go) as they will actually increase the life of the unit as it minimizes the shift timing between gears thus reducing wear. Last but not least always put a cooler on any automatic if you want to get good life from them, it really does make a difference.