Engine dies when I put A500 trans in gear ??

[PlumCrazyChris]

I've done and 3G hemi swap along with an A500 OD swap.  I finally got the motor running and have driven/limped it around the block a couple of times as it was running really poorly, and the last time (after I finally got it running right), it just stalled out and died and I've had trouble getting it started since..   During that drive I realized the trans must have been slipping.  I had put the correct amount of fluid in it, but it was apparently still low, (trans cooler volume, deep pan, etc?).  I ran down and got a couple more quarts and it took nearly both quarts to get up to the full line. 

I started it up, put in gear and it SLAMS into first and dies.   Now when I finally get it started, it will idle, but if I put it in gear, it stalls. 

Any thoughts?  Terry you out there?

Thanks
 

[tactransman]

If the converter is bad ( clutch inside stuck on) it will do that.  But with the engine swap, it could be other things as well I would think. Is there away to hook a scan tool up to this hemi to get some data from it?

[BIGSHCLUNK]

   the converter is locked up, a friend had this problem w a ford product years ago 

[PlumCrazyChris]

Thanks for the input guys, but it was an engine problem it seems.  My throttle body was not getting the correct signals it needed to work, and therefore wasn't at all.  Apparently the computer struggled to make it run at all with the tiny amount of air the engine was getting and when I put it in gear it was too much for it and  died.  I have that corrected now, and was able to drive it around the block. 

But, now it won't shift out of 1st gear!  I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm thinking maybe the Lokar kickdown cable is too tight?   Does that make sense?   

I've never worked with a kickdown "cable" before, so I don't know how sensitive it is compared to stock linkage.  I installed it with no slack, and minimal tension, but maybe there needs to have some slack in it when in park?   

Any input you can give me would be helpful.   Also, I disconnected the wires to the OD before, to see if I was locking up the converter in park or something, and I haven't hooked it back up yet, but that shouldn't change anything in the first 3 gears right?


Thanks!

[Chryco Psycho]

the right ratio would allow the carb to open to full throttle at the end of the kickdown arm travel , it may not get to full throttle if the cable is too short , if it will not upshift until too late you can add a small amount of slack until it shifts where you need it to

[PlumCrazyChris]

I don't think you understand, it won't shift at all.  Its stuck in 1st.   

My car has a 5.7 from a 07 truck and I'm using a Hotwire wiring harness and A500 trans with a lokar kickdown hooked to the Drive-by-wire black box, just like Street and Performance does it.

[hemiken]

Thanks for the input guys, but it was an engine problem it seems.  My throttle body was not getting the correct signals it needed to work, and therefore wasn't at all.  Apparently the computer struggled to make it run at all with the tiny amount of air the engine was getting and when I put it in gear it was too much for it and  died.  I have that corrected now, and was able to drive it around the block. 

But, now it won't shift out of 1st gear!  I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm thinking maybe the Lokar kickdown cable is too tight?   Does that make sense?   

I've never worked with a kickdown "cable" before, so I don't know how sensitive it is compared to stock linkage.  I installed it with no slack, and minimal tension, but maybe there needs to have some slack in it when in park?   

Any input you can give me would be helpful.   Also, I disconnected the wires to the OD before, to see if I was locking up the converter in park or something, and I haven't hooked it back up yet, but that shouldn't change anything in the first 3 gears right?


Thanks!

Hi Chris,

On a side note, your Challenger is looking really nice buddy. Have you thought about painting out your rims so they look just like Magnum 500's i think they would look killer blacked out
What rims are they please.............. 

Kenny.

[PlumCrazyChris]

Thanks Hemiken,

That is exactly what I planned to do.  They actually make a set thats already painted, but I got these used.  They are "Hot Wheels"  made by Kmc.

[hemiken]

Hey thanks for the info, what size wheels do you have on it ?
Great minds think alike i see

[PlumCrazyChris]

The fronts are 17x 8 with 4.5 bs i think.  Backs are 18x9 6 bs i think.  Tires are bfg 255 45 and 285 40.  I bought them used, so i didnt do the measuring.  I can find the old for them if you are really interested.

Any ideas about my trans?

[Chryco Psycho]

I don't think you understand, it won't shift at all.  Its stuck in 1st.   

My car has a 5.7 from a 07 truck and I'm using a Hotwire wiring harness and A500 trans with a lokar kickdown hooked to the Drive-by-wire black box, just like Street and Performance does it.

I get it , if the kickdown cable is too tight it will nort let the trans upshift until very high RPM , but it may be a computer problem also

[PlumCrazyChris]

Hey guys,
I don't think it was the transmission at all.   In the end I realized that one of my push rods had fallen out of the rocker when I assembled the engine (in the new hemi they are in a horizontal position), so I had one valve not opening at all and the computer was freaking out.   

At the time, I only had open headers on the car, and couldn't really tell/hear what was going on.  I cobbled up the old exhaust and at least I could stay in the garage while its running for  more than a few minutes.   In any case, I pulled the A500 and put in the A518 I had as a spare.  I haven't had any trouble with the driveshaft.  there is a little less clearance, but it hasn't bottomed out that I can tell yet.   

So after I fixed the pushrod,  the motor purrs like a kitten.  I haven't had any problem, other than a leak at my connection for the LU/OD pressure switches.  My home made trans mount seems to work well too, no welding required! 

On to other tasks...     

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Cool