Rebuilt engine, PG and Diff installed

[coppertop666]

So as the title says I just finished installing a rebuilt 110 (Rafee), rebuilt PG with high stall rebuilt converter (Clarks), and rebuild diff (Corvair Ranch).

Everything went together as planned, the car is running well and I am happy (minus leak from converter seal ). I do have a slight concern and I haven't been able to find anything similar to what I have been experiencing so figured I'd post my symptoms to see if anyone has heard of anything similar:

Both issues I am "assuming" are PG/Converter related.

First is that when the car is shifted to reverse, it goes right into gear but once I begin to accelerate, it takes a few seconds for it to catch (stall converter assuming) but once it does it begins to chatter and the entire car feels like its falling apart. If I let go of the throttle it stops and if I goose it good in reverse instead of going slowly, it doesn't seem to happen. It's only when you would be driving cautiously in reverse like backing out of a parking spot etc that it chatters. I can manipulate it if I play with the throttle but no matter what it is still there, especially when hot. Thoughts???

Second is that in general (and yes i've driven this car with original and other PG cars before) since the new PG/Converter, the car itself just doesn't seem to accelerate like it should from a stop. I know that again there is bit of a delay with a stall converter but I feel as though its just not "connecting" the way it should until the car begins to build momentum. Sometimes when driving locally and going from light to light it will resemble "slipping" but there is no engine surging, it just seems to hold an rpm until everything gets going and then it catches and begins to build power (very tough to explain). When I say slipping it's not like a typical slip where engine speed would flare and the power is lost, this is more of a delay of full power getting to the rear wheels similar to a centrifugal clutch which makes me suspect the converter. Again I understand how a higher stall converter works but this "delay in power" seems excessive. Sometimes from a dead stop it will take a full 5-7 seconds before the power from the engine will begin to make the car move like it should. It does drive but very slowly until like I stated earlier "everything catches".

All fluids are correct, level is perfect and once it does get going it cruises no problem with plenty of power and even passing power (again no slipping). Had it up around 80mph over the weekend, car is running great otherwise!

PG shifts, downshifts perfectly too.

Has anyone ever had any similar symptoms? I'm kind of stumped but again i'm leaning towards a possible bad converter.

[64powerglide]

Are your vacuum lines all hooked up properly? No leaks??

[bbodie52]

Is there any symptom on the troubleshooting guides below that describes your experiences?



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More Corvair Powerglide technical references that may help...

CORVAIR POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE GUIDE

viewtopic.php?f=225&t=5760

[Westds]

I have a 140 in a Lakewood with a 64 Powerglide and diff. I get the same thing as you described in reverse. If I let the engine idle and put it in reverse it is OK if I give it power it has a jerky feel. I took it to a transmission specialist and he said it was not the transmission. He thought brakes, axles, he was not sure. I continue to drive it and it look as if it is improving a little.
I have a rebuilt torque converter installed and other than the shift, from first to high being at to low an rpm for a 140, all is good. I have plenty of power under almost all conditions, I just cannot get the revs up high enough to where the 140 gets full HP.

[coppertop666]

Are your vacuum lines all hooked up properly? No leaks??

Yes vacuum lines all connected correctly, only leak is from the converter seal that is dripping through the bell housing weep hole. It's not a lot and I make sure to check the fluid often

[coppertop666]

I have a 140 in a Lakewood with a 64 Powerglide and diff. I get the same thing as you described in reverse. If I let the engine idle and put it in reverse it is OK if I give it power it has a jerky feel. I took it to a transmission specialist and he said it was not the transmission. He thought brakes, axles, he was not sure. I continue to drive it and it look as if it is improving a little.
I have a rebuilt torque converter installed and other than the shift, from first to high being at to low an rpm for a 140, all is good. I have plenty of power under almost all conditions, I just cannot get the revs up high enough to where the 140 gets full HP.

Interesting... Good to know!

[coppertop666]

Is there any symptom on the troubleshooting guides below that describes your experiences?









More Corvair Powerglide technical references that may help...

CORVAIR POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE GUIDE

viewtopic.php?f=225&t=5760

The second PDF where it says "Engine speed flares at standstill starts but acceleration lags" is interesting... Kind of describes the symptom and maybe the first place I should begin to look... Thanks

[coppertop666]

So an update...

I havent started the car since last weekend but this morning I decided to take it for a drive to work and a few observations:

Started fine, was parked downhill facing forward, put in D and drove as it should. Forgot something so had to go back to my house so I stopped put in reverse to park again (same hill), went into reverse no problem but when I went to accelerate it just sat and revved until i got to about half throttle then if finally began to move. Got it into my spot and decided not to drive it to work because that just didn't seem right. I should also mention that the chatter I felt in my first post was NOT there when this happened (strange)... I also checked the fluid and the level seems fine but it does smell slightly burnt which is crazy for only having a few hundred miles on it since the rebuild.

So here is the thing, and again a little tough to explain. When this happened it did not feel like a typical "slip" which I would describe as engine revving like in neutral but then slowly going into reverse. What this was like was trying to reverse up a hill with the brakes on... It wanted to go but something was holding it back until i really gave it enough throttle to get it moving - does any of this make sense?? Its similar to what was happening in "D" the last time I drove it but nowhere near as extreme and that only really happened when hot.

After reading the replied here yesterday, my gut was leaning towards a low band adjustment possibly (easy enough to check anyway) but now i'm leaning towards bad stator in the converter... if anyone else has input please dont hesitate to post as I am at a loss with this one... It's possible I got bad unit from Clarks but I want to make sure before I go pulling everything apart again.

Thanks

[joelsplace]

I bad stator shouldn't give you any burnt smell. Check your line pressure. Sure sounds like it's low to me. Slipping clutches can chatter.
Pull and plug the vacuum modulator line. That will raise the line pressure. (depending on what is causing the low pressure)

[1949chevy]

I had a torque converter problem with my 66 after having it rebuilt by a reputable torque rebuilding company. They had fixed the torque converter in my 49 Chevy and elminated the auto electrical lock up. The 700R has 4 forward gears and NO lock-up. It has worked great behind the built 283.

When I had my 66 140/PG trans rebuilt, I let the same firm rebuild it also. One problem, the previous owner had sold the company to a low info buyer who evidently knew VERY LITTLE about torque converters. The car shuttered a little, seemed to take more gas to move.

I called my SUPER MECHANIC ARTHUR, who was for years Chevy's main trans builder. In fact for a couple of years, all TURBOGLIDES needing rebuilt were sent to the largest Chevy dealer in NC west of Charlotte. He had built more transmissions than anyone around here. When he retired right before his death, he offered me 12 Rockcrusher main shafts he just had sitting around along with some gears, I declined as I am not a trans man.

Anyway, he told me about my corvair... to go down a steep hill about half way. Stop. Put the car in Reverse and see if it will go back up the hill with no problem. If it will not go, or has a hard time going... the torque converter has problems. Arthur had never been wrong for the 40 years I knew him. I could tell you stories about him that you would find amazing. He was the only mechanic that could go to NAPA, ask for a part and say if it works, I will come back and pay you....and out the door he would go as EVERY JOBBER IN TOWN would do that for him and if they needed their cars fixed...yep, Arthur would be the chosen one everytime.

By the way, steep hills here are everywhere, if you are in flat country, maybe stop on a down ramp in a parking garage. I did have to remove the bad torque converter and put in another GOOD ONE....went back and got the rebuild refund after a little your full of it. It wobbled so bad the first time they did it and the second time...it was even worse, it wobbled and vibrated.

[66vairguy]

A fellow in our club had issues with a "rebuilt" torque converter causing vibrations. His mechanic put in a second "rebuilt" and there were still vibration issues.

Finally a generous club member supplied a good used torque converter and the mechanic installed it. All the problems were corrected when the used torque converter was installed. So much for "rebuilt".

[1949chevy]

Yeah...someone on the Corvair forum said he had 3 torque converters and if you pay shipping on one, he would send it to you to get rid of them...that was about 2-3 years ago. He said he had a really good one that he had just pulled from a nice running car that got wrecked I think he said....I sent him $50.00 and he sent it...it really works great behind my 140...I keep it in low gear cruzing downtown and get on it some.

I was lucky the 700R torque converter from my 49 Fleetline that was changed internally from lock up to straight 4 speed was done by the previous owner of the shop....I would not take ANY torque converter to the present owner and he has National ad's saying he specializes in RACING TORQUE CONVERTERS...yeah...right!!

He called my super mechanic Arthur crazy when I told him how I had checked out his ruined torque converter he charged me for. I knew right then he did not know his basics about torque converters. I might check and see if they are out of business sometime...they need to be. The guy that rebuilt my transmission used him...it was not me that picked him to re-do the TC.