Thread: 65 mustang won't shift out of 2nd

Tweet

I have a 64.5 mustang convertible 260v8 w/ auto transmission. It's a great little car, very clean. Problem is it does not get much use, just sets in the garage most of the time. The last time I got it out it would not shift into drive. Just stays in 2nd. I drove it around for a little while thinking maybe once it warmed up it would help, but no luck. Any suggestions, outside of taking it to the fix-it shop. I've always done my own mechanical work, but have no experience with auto transmissions insides. any help would be great....

Originally Posted by rjensen43

I have a 64.5 mustang convertible 260v8 w/ auto transmission. It's a great little car, very clean. Problem is it does not get much use, just sets in the garage most of the time. The last time I got it out it would not shift into drive. Just stays in 2nd. I drove it around for a little while thinking maybe once it warmed up it would help, but no luck. Any suggestions, outside of taking it to the fix-it shop. I've always done my own mechanical work, but have no experience with auto transmissions insides. any help would be great....

sounds like a valve in the valve body is stuck. have you tried stoping and starting and shiften it by hand? try some "hi tech" might help.

ya, I sure did, but didn't seem to help. I'm thinkin' I need to keep taking it for a short drive and it will magically get better.....

Originally Posted by rjensen43

ya, I sure did, but didn't seem to help. I'm thinkin' I need to keep taking it for a short drive and it will magically get better.....

gov. will do that 2. thats the reason i got out of the trans rebuild. c4 valve bodies!!!

Have you checked the fluid level and make sure the kick down isn't bound up?

yes that was one of the first things I did was to check the fluid level. Have not checked the linkage thought. Thanks for the advice.

Take it on the highway and wind it up a bit in 2nd, don't get crazy, but rev it to 4000 or so. A stuck valve might pop loose at higher rpm and pressures. Changing the fluid might help, too, if it sat for a long time. Those old C4's were a temperamental beastie at best.

sprag"?????? mine blew up and sounded like a 4 speed missing a gear

Check to see if the modulator valve is getting vacumn. Jeff

Thanks guy’s for all the suggestions. I finally found time to crawl under the old ‘stang yesterday and discovered the vacuum line had a slight increase in diameter and was no longer attached to the transmission. Clipped of a couple of inches and re-attached for now. I will pick up some new line asap.
Works fine now.... and idles a lot better too.