P-Town wrapup

[greatbearmd]

Jeff and I (and Kodi) are finally back home from our first real vacation in years. It was fantastic in every sense of the word, with only a couple rocky spots. Since it's late and I am still in the process of getting ready for the return to drudgery this week, I will make do with highlights for now, with multimedia to come later

Comments

[sparkygearhead]

So the tranny gave up the ghost, huh? If it was an auto, how did it behave when second gear went south? Did it just skip it altogether and go straight to third, or just not want to come out of first? And what did you do to it to make it back home?

I'm glad you're not helpless.

[greatbearmd]

It's a 727 Torqueflite, 3-speed. I rebuilt it in '03, adding some heavy duty internals and a hugeass finned aluminum pan with an extra gallon of capacity, seeing that I turned up the engine power as well. The second gear band shed it's lining the first time. It seems the same thing happened again. Either the thing was slipping and I didnt notice, or it was partially applying when in third and at full throttle under heavy load. Anyway, when it wants to go into second at light load, it does, but any throttle makes it slip. Trying to accelerate briskly makes it feel stuck in first and losing speed. To make it back home without much trouble I left the trailer in PA (though I really could have made it home with it, it was a simple case for leaving it there) and I adjusted the kickdown to be way early. That was I could leave in 1st to it's whopping 2900 redline, ease off the gas, then shift into 3rd. After that, it stayed in third unless I stopped. The Cummins has no problem dragging the truck around at low speeds in third

[sparkygearhead]

I've never done any but the most minor of tranny repairs. I think the valve body is about the most I've screwed with. When I replace the 700R4 in the Z, I might just take apart the old one to see what makes it tick.

[greatbearmd]

Auto trannies are not rocket science, most people get put off by the brain-like appearance of traditional valve bodies. With newer transmissions, most of the favling, shuttles, plugs and pistons have been replaced with computer controlled solenoids, and the transmission interiors are mostly filled with gearsets and clutches.

[greatbearmd]

Thanks! It was a great time, and there is still so much to do. Makes going back an easy decision.

[biggaloot]

Hey, sorry I didn't make it down there for your Tuesday thing. I didn't get down there at all, actually. Work issues happened earlier in the week, and though it looked like I might get there later in the week, that didn't happen either.

Glad you had a great time! :)

[greatbearmd]

Not a problem. We polished off most of the food during the week, and you were the only one who had made a 'positive' confirmation, so we did not have too much extra. In hindsight, trying to do this at the campground was not the best idea, it was kinda out-of-the-way and not easy to find.

Sorry you could not make it, the week was fantastic in so many ways!

[greatbearmd]

Wish ya coulda been there!

[greatbearmd]

Well, hopefully you can soon bring your 'thang' to P-Town. ;)

[fingertrouble]

ooh sounds like you had a good time. :-D

[greatbearmd]

We definitely did!