Ot: Quick Car Mechanical Advice Needed Please

[nothingness]

I own a '71 Camaro that is an automatic. I don't know alot about cars, but for about 2 days now the car seems to be staying in first or second gear - it doesn't shift into the higher gears so just revs high. I can't take it to a mechanic until Thursday so my questions are 1)is it OK to drive it like this for a few more days or will I really damage the car by doing so and 2)is this likely to be an expensive repair? (I don't have alot of $ today).

mods- please don't delete just for today

[GLW]

First - check the transmission fluid. If it is low - or nn-existent, you may be able to get by with putting fluid in - until you can find out WHY it is all gone.

Do NOT overfill the transmission fluid - this can cause pressure related problems.

If the fluid is OK, it could be any number of transmission problems...and just about all of them mean that driving the car with the problem will only make it worse.

Being a 71 means you will have a fun time finding replacement parts.

[Becca]

While you shouldn't have troubles finding parts, it could cost you a bundle.:( Definantly check the fluid level, but if that isn't the problem, don't drive it. Right now it could be something small, a week pump or the like. Driving it will likely take out the whole tranny.

[nothingness]

I checked the transmission fluid and it was OK. The oil was low yesterday, I filled it, but nothing changed.

[Becca]

Was the tranny fluid red like cool-aid, or darker? Did it have a kind of burnt erassor smell?

[ewallace]

It sounds like the timing chain to me. That happened in my 87, but it was about 8 years ago. It's pretty unsafe to drive it like that.

[Becca]

The timing belt on my mom's old Escort broke on her while driving it. She ended up getting rid of it because it never ran right again. I guess it messes the motor up when the timming chain/belt brakes while the car is running.

Any who, the reason I asked about the fluid, is because it could only need a change. You'd be suprized at the number of people who forget to change the fluids and lubricants of their vehicles. If the fluid is old, it'll start to break down and gum things up.

My last project truck was a '68 Chevy 1/2 ton. The guy sold it to me for dirt cheep, 'cause he though it needed a total overhaul and the breaks were bad. The first thing I did was change the tranny fluid, oil, and break fluid. The oil was Ok, but the tranny fluid was the consistancy of molasis and the break fluid was so bad, I had to replace the master cylinder and two break lines. There was literally an inch of muck in bucket when I was done!

Was kind'a cool, though. I bought it for $500 and sold it two years latter for $2500. The truck was well cared for, he had been the only owner, and it only had 60,000 miles on it (strait six 250). The body was clean. He had just never done all the maintenance to it.

[Laughing Cow]

Have to agree with Becca most people don't pay attention to the fluids and liquid.

Transmissions tend to be pricey to fix, plenty of labour involved.

Either way I would park the car till you can get a professional opinion on it.

1971, your trans bearing might be going, gears worn smooth combine that with old trans fluid and your troubles get tripled.

Luckily we don't have those probs on most Bikes as engine and transmission use the same oil.

Here is a suggestion train an replace the transmission fluid, check the colour with workshop manual and also check for small metal shavings in the fluid.

Cheers.

[Royal Dragon]

71 Chevy?? 305,327,or 350 engine? Turbo 350 trans?? Check the Trans modulator vacume tube, it may have fallen off. If not, you need a trans filter. If that and a fluid change does not do it, get a rebuilt trans. Put the car on stands, Drain the fluid by unbolting the trans fluid pan, leaving only one bolt partially in so it hangs down on an angle till it's drained into an oil drain pan on the ground, bolt the pan back up and place a good floor jack under the trans (I always added a peice of plywood the size of the pan to keep from crushing it during removal and install), diconnnect the linkages, trans kick down cable, filler tube, and trans modulator vacume tube, drop the shaft, unbolt the bell housing bolts, and remove the crossmember. The trans will now slide out by pulling it back, and lowering the jack. drag it out, put the new trans on the jack, and reverse the procedure. Once all the bolts are back in correctly, fill with fluid about half way, start the car, and add a 1/2 quart at a time till trans fluid is in the filled area on the dipstick .

Now, get in the car, place it in first gear for about 30 seconds, then second, then third (30 seconds each), neutral, stop the wheels from spinning with the brakes, and finnaly put t in reverse for 30 seconds and check the fluid levels again. Repeat this process, untill the fluid levels no longer drop after each procedure.

Clean up, and put your tools away. This process should take no longer than 4 hours, but a first timmer should take all weekend.

Watch for fluid leaks over the next few day, to make sure everything is good.

[Becca]

;) Done that a few times, have you?

[Royal Dragon]

He he he he, Yup. Mine was a 73 though. :D

[Laughing Cow]

For older Cars and Bikes I found owning the Workshop Manual invaluable.

Happened to me once took a Bike to the Shop and the mechanic looked at it and was puzzled.

I loaned him the Workshop Manual so he could fix it as he was totally unfamiliar with that type of bike.

Never mind that with my Wife's Mini I needed it to figure out how bleed the brakes as they got 4 different brake system that can be fitted.

Cheers.

[Becca]

See, now that's why I stick to Chevys and Fords. They are easy, parts are plentiful, and if I get myself stuck, I can go down to my favorite garage and cry to Alonzo. He's in his 60s and has already mastered them. Becca has learned much from Alonzo...:D

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by Becca
See, now that's why I stick to Chevys and Fords. They are easy, parts are plentiful, and if I get myself stuck, I can go down to my favorite garage and cry to Alonzo. He's in his 60s and has already mastered them. Becca has learned much from Alonzo...:D

Normally I do my own maintenance, tuning, customising and spray-painting but sometimes I better let the pro's have some fun too.

Cheers.

[Serpent]

Is anyone else turned on because Becca knows so much about cars?

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by Serpent
Is anyone else turned on because Becca knows so much about cars?

Hmmm.

Lets see last GF I ahd went into a 2nd hand Bike shop asked for a crank for her Bike.
When it was put in front of her she opened her bag and took out the gauge and measured it very careful before buying it.

And that was at luchtime before she had to go to a client.

Cheers.

[Becca]

????:confused:

All I know about cars is what I've had to learn.

1. It's cheaper to buy a used POS than to make huge payments
2. If you buy used cars, be prepared to work on them
3. It's usually cheeper to do the work yourself
4. If your going to invest all that money and effort, buy a clasic so you won't be throwing it away when you have to sell the car/truck. And you WILL have to sell it. Usually when you can least afford to.

I'm not a mechanic, just poor.:D

[Serpent]

You just listed four points that I would guess only about 0.01% of the female population would know.

Poor or not, that's good! ;)

[Becca]

And I'm likely related to most of them. My whole family is that way. :D

Well excpt for one of my sisters. She actually burned up the tranny in a perfectly good car because she didn't want to check the fluid level, even though she knew it leaked.

And my kid brother, who once told me, fully believing it, that you needed to air up a spare tire after you put it on, because it dropped air pressure when you put the full weight of a vehicle on it.

[Laughing Cow]

Becca.

My wife is not very mecahnically minded.

When I met her her Mini as in a bad way, which got fixed up over a few weekends with the help of some friends.

One day we are going for a drive, when we stop at the intersection and she tries to start her car, while the ennine is running, big NO-NO.

So I asked her why she did that and she pointed to the oil-light and mentioned that it is lit and this indicates that her engine is OFF.

I told her to pull into the petrolstation across the intersection and started pouring tins of oil into the poor little engine.
:D

Cheers.

[Serpent]

You should have slapped her and driven her directly to the divorce courts.

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by Serpent
You should have slapped her and driven her directly to the divorce courts.

That was b4 we were married, she has other qualities that make up for her lack on the technology side.

;)

[Serpent]

She must give great head.

[Becca]

That used to be me!!! I wonce had to ask help from a passing stranger because my car stopped and would't re-start. It was out of gas. Worse yet, I didn't know where the gas tank was. :eek:

My ex always took care of "that stuff". When he finally stopped laphing at me, I got him to show me the basics of car maintenance, and have continued with it. Now I can do most anything short of engin rebuilds.

[Serpent]

I thought you meant that you used to give great head!

;)

I think all girls should be forced to learn basic maintenance. After all, all girls want to drive around and be independant (and rightly so), but leaving all the car stuff to the guys is plain stupid. What if they get a flat or a breakdown late at night on an empty road? It's asking for trouble.

Mind you, Mrs Serpent doesn't even have a driver's licence, so she not only leaves maintenance to me, but the actual driving too! (Well, riding actually, as I have a motorbike and no car, but the principle is the same.)

[Laughing Cow]

Serpent.

Back home you have to go through a goverment approved course/school for your licence.
A pain, but less than trying to get one without the course.

Here they teach you things like:
First Aid
Real basic maintenance (How to use a pantyhose instead of a fanbelt, etc.)
Workings of your car (i.e. what happens if I push this pedal/lever, etc.)
Plus, you are required to show tire changing and how to apply snow chains too.
Minimum of 20 driving lessons to cover the 20 points needed to pass.
(Night driving, Hidhway driving, pulling away on an uphill, etc.)

Test is twofold:
1.) Verbal answers to questions from a team of Examiners.
2.) Actual driving test.

Where as the test for my Wife was as follows:
Training on a simulator and training ground. With few hours of actual driving on a real road.

Test:
1.) Written multiple choice test.
2.) Practical on training ground again.

Cheers.

[Laughing Cow]

Serpent.

What is your Bike?

I am currently saving up to get a custom build Trike.

Looking at either a 'Wing or a Valkyrie with conversion Kit.
Good news here Trikes are classed as cars, so no helmet needed.
;)

Cheers.

[Serpent]

That testing you described sounds good.

Here you have to take a knowledge test and a practical test and there are levels of licence with extra tests until you have a fully unrestricted licence. However, basic maintenance is not included - I think it would be a good idea if it was.

My bike is a Yamaha XJ900, old but sturdy. I'm a big fan of the old sports tourers. ;)

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by Serpent
My bike is a Yamaha XJ900, old but sturdy. I'm a big fan of the old sports tourers. ;)

Yeah, I also like those older and sturdier Bikes. Easy to fix too. :D
Missing my CB750C. :(

BTW, we don't have a concept of learners licence or similar.

You either got it or not.
Bikes differ though but than we got a nice loop-holes that allow you to write any Bike at age 16 and only taking the test once.
FYI, anything upto 50cc requires no licence, or only the equivalent of Bicycle one.

Cheers.

[Serpent]

Ah, bless the CB! I've had a CB900FII and FI and a CB750. Great bikes. If I wasn't riding the XJ now, I'd probably have another one.

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by Serpent
Ah, bless the CB! I've had a CB900FII and FI and a CB750. Great bikes. If I wasn't riding the XJ now, I'd probably have another one.

I will pm you tonight with pics of my CB750C and the KZ440 LTD.

Cheers.

[Serpent]

That'd be cool!

I don't have any digital pics of my steeds, but maybe I can scan some and let you have a look. I'll have to get my scanner working again, however. Remind me again in a few weeks and I'll see what I can do.

[nothingness]

Thanks for the replies. I'll take it to a transmission place thursday and probably not drive it until then. Serpent- you sure do know how to kill a thread, don't you. I bet you're the kind of guy that f@rts at a funeral. :eek:

Royal Dragon, If I was capable of doing what you described in your post, do you think I would have come to this forum for advice in the first place?;)

PS- its a 350.

ppS- Anyone want to buy a used '71 Camaro that possibly needs a rebuilt transmission?:cool:

[Shaolin-Do]

Id never **** at a funeral. At least audibly. But you bet Id do it in a church, and probably laugh about it.
:D
I want a trusty steed, but I may just buy a jet ski instead. Already have a '96 Jeep grand cherokee, just cant decide on what I want next. Bike or jet ski?

[Royal Dragon]

Royal Dragon, If I was capable of doing what you described in your post, do you think I would have come to this forum for advice in the first place?

Reply]
Sure you can, it's easy. Just follow the directions I posted. You will need a basic combination wrench set, Standard Socket set and some extra extensions. A basic screwdriver set, some pliers or vice grip. A big hammer for banging the crossmember over. A funnel for the fluid. Jack stands and a floor jack, and that's really about it. Really, if your goinng to own a car that old, you need to have atleast the basc tools for working on it.

ppS- Anyone want to buy a used '71 Camaro that possibly needs a rebuilt transmission?

Reply]
If I had a house with a garage, I'd take it, so long as it's not too rusted out.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by nothingness
Serpent- you sure do know how to kill a thread, don't you. I bet you're the kind of guy that f@rts at a funeral. :eek:


Actually, I'm the guy that goes up to the open casket and presses the belly of the corpse to make them f@rt.

:)

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by Shaolin-Do
Already have a '96 Jeep grand cherokee, just cant decide on what I want next. Bike or jet ski?

Off-road bike for the back of the Cherokee of course.
;)

[Laughing Cow]

Originally posted by nothingness
Royal Dragon, If I was capable of doing what you described in your post, do you think I would have come to this forum for advice in the first place?;)

Messiest job I ever did was fitting 2 new CV-Joint boot covers on an Opel Kadett.

Silicon split boot, packing the grease in was dirty work.

Cheers.

[Becca]

The worst I've done was replacing the tranny in a '70 Ranchero. That thing had no room to work, even if you've got small hands.

The trickiest was replacing the motor in a '75 Ram Charger. The closest thing I could find was a motor for a '76 Ram PU. Only difference was that mine was standard and the replacement came out of an automatic. I needed to fit a cap over the end of the drive shaft to account for the different specs. Took me three tries to figure out how to press the thing on so it wouldn't split.

Got really good at U-joints on it, too. Dang thing cr@pped a drive line every month or two. And two rear ends.

I used to like Ram Chargers before I owned that thing. :mad:

[Serpent]

That was like reading a foreign language.

:eek: :confused:

[Becca]

Which part?

[Serpent]

All the bits in bold:


Originally posted by Becca
The worst I've done was replacing the tranny in a '70 Ranchero. That thing had no room to work, even if you've got small hands.

The trickiest was replacing the motor in a '75 Ram Charger. The closest thing I could find was a motor for a '76 Ram PU. Only difference was that mine was standard and the replacement came out of an automatic. I needed to fit a cap over the end of the drive shaft to account for the different specs. Took me three tries to figure out how to press the thing on so it wouldn't split.

Got really good at U-joints on it, too. Dang thing cr@pped a drive line every month or two. And two rear ends.

I used to like Ram Chargers before I owned that thing. :mad:

:confused:

:D

[Becca]

tranny in a '70 Ranchero
Transition in a 1970 Ford Ranchero. It was like a Chevy El Camino. Technicly a car but looked like a pickup truck.Also called a "Rancho Buggy" (http://www.thebicyclingguitarist.net/ranchero/advertising01.htm)


'75 Ram Charger. The closest thing I could find was a motor for a '76 Ram PU.
This is aDodge Ram Charger (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/dodgeramcharger4x4/?s). Sweet looking truck, fun to drive. Pain in the @ss to maintain.


I needed to fit a cap over the end of the drive shaft to account for the different specs. Took me three tries to figure out how to press the thing on so it wouldn't split.
Opps! meant Crank Shaft.:p

Crank shaft is that little shank that sticks out the back of a motor. It connects to the transmition. There is a slight diference in diameter between the machine specs for an automatic and a manual transmition in most trucks. You can put a cap over the end to make it the rith diameter if the shaft on the new motor is smaller. Don't remember the proper name for the cap-thingy- throw-out bearing, maybe?


Got really good at U-joints on it, too. Dang thing cr@pped a drive line every month or two. And two rear ends
U-joints, or Universal Joints, are cross-shaper roller bearings. You put two of them together and they allow the drive line to shift while going down the road. 4x4s have two drive lines, so they have 4 sets of U-joints. When they go bad, they tend to take other things out with them. That's why i got to rebuild the rear end twice. Never took out the transfer case, though.:rolleyes:

Dodge trucks are notorious for tearing up drive trains. That's the name for everything that make the vehicle "go" except the motor. But they can take out the motor, too, if you don't catch it in time.:( I bought that truck with a bad motor, so I had no one but me to blame for having to replace it. But I never quite figured out how to keep the drive lines from tearing themselves apart.:(

[Serpent]

OK, that actually makes plenty of sense now! You got some weird abbreviations and names for things.

For example, if you talk about a rear end here people will think someone crashed into the back of you. ;)

Thanks for the translation!

[Becca]

We call it "getting rear-ended" here. We also call the rear end a "pumpkin" 'cause the case for the gears looks like a big metal pumpkin. I was trying to use terms that most people would understand. Guess I didn't do a very good job.:p

[Serpent]

Hey, it's not your fault. You Americans have wrecked the language so much that we don't have a hope of understanding everything any more! ;)

Add to that the fact that I grew up in Britain and now live in Australia and you might get some idea of just how confused I can get!

[Becca]

Sad part about it is, we messed it up deliberatly to pizz off you Britts.:D

Change spellings and pronunciations. Added/removed meenings of certain key words. Drank coffee instead of tea. Heck we even started driving on the wrong side of the road. Just had to rub it in y'alls faces that we won our idependance.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by Becca
Sad part about it is, we messed it up deliberatly to pizz off you Britts.:D

Change spellings and pronunciations. Added/removed meenings of certain key words. Drank coffee instead of tea. Heck we even started driving on the wrong side of the road. Just had to rub it in y'alls faces that we won our idependance.

Lol. Dead right!

And you know the most annoying thing about it all? Bloody Bill Gates! Because Microsoft by default recognises "American English", we have to spend half our time translating and a lot of corps over here have adopted American English "because in the long run it's easier"! :mad: Grrrr!

Not to mention things like HTML ( <color></color>, etc.)

A friend of mine was in an online writer's group, but she eventually quit because she got totally p!ssed off with all the Americans constantly "correcting" her spelling. :rolleyes:

:)

[Serpent]

Mind you, Becca, you have a pretty special way of spelling that seems to be all your own! ;)

You and Royal Dragon both. And you're both real good with cars...

Wait a minute! Royal Dragon, are you masquerading here in drag using the name Becca?!

:eek:

[Becca]

Yes, I know I'm bad speller. I'm a bit dyslexic. I know other dyslexics who can spell just fine, but you have to work real hard to get to that point and work even harder to maintain it. Add that to the learning disability that runs in my family, which makes us basicly scrambles things in the transition between the short term memory and the long term memory... It's just easier to use spell check. But KFO don't have one. Oh, well.

[Serpent]

That's cool. You make points very well and clearly, so your spelling hardly matters. Of course, you could type your posts in Word, then cut and paste them, but that would be a right pain in the arse.

:)

[Becca]

If I was willing to put that much effort into it, I would just work on my spelling in the first place.;)

[Serpent]

LOL.

Good point.

Well made.

:)

[Becca]

You win. I've run out of reply ideas.:D

[Serpent]

Woohoo! Do I get a prize?!

[Becca]

No.

[Serpent]

Oh.

OK.











































:(