Shift understanding

[Mad_Trbo]

I just recently purchased an '87 Buick T - type. It had been sitting for a year and when I got it there were several issues steming around what appears to be the transmission.

The first - the car will not shift beyond overdrive. In other words I can;t shift it below overdrive. Currently there is no shift handle just the stalk and whether the brake is pressed or not I can shift the car into Reverse , neutral or Overdrive. Is this potentially a linkage issue? Shouldn't I have to press the brake as well as a buton on the shifter handle to shift ?

Secondly when driving the car, of course in the only forward gear - OD, it seems to shift quickly. Meaning it doesn;t hold a gear building RPM and therefore boost. This is under WOT, and then when in cruising going to WOT I would expect the car to down shift build RPM's by holding a lower gear and then shift. This does not happen instead the car just kind of mozies along.

I realize there are probably a host of issues, going on. But having never worked on a domestic car and never an automatic transmission to boot. I don;t know where to start to try and get things in shape. Should I be looking at the T.V. cable, linkage from the shifter or other mechanical parts within the transmission. Would it be wise for me to just go ahead and do a tune up of sorts on the transmission.

* - replace TCC solenoid
* - Replace filter
* - Replace ATF


What other hard parts should I just simply replace.

How should this car shift from a stand still under WOT?

[XLR8]

Not a tranny guru but I would adjust the TV cable - it sounds like your line pressure is low. And since you just purchased the car I would replace the fluid and filter. You do not have to depress the brake pedal to shift into any gear. You should have to depress a small white piece of plastic at the top of the shifter stalk to shift out of park or into another gear. I would remove the console and make sure there is nothing binding the shifter - such as a bent J-bar.

[Mad_Trbo]

XLR8 thanks for that feedback. I was going to start with the TV cable. I was also thinking just for kicks of sorts doing the TCC solonoid since I'll be in there for fluid anyway.

Can someone give me a rundown on all the external factors that might have an effect on the transmission.

I.E. T.V. cable , linkage cable ect.....

Still wondering how these cars should shift, IE shift points and should it be hard or soft even though still basically still stock.

[XLR8]

My car always shifted tire barking firm - and I have owned it since 1986.

[Mad_Trbo]

so I adjusted the TV cable and it definitely firmed things up, great advice.

I am not at the point of tire barking firm but it definitely kind of bobs your head.

Now if I could figure out how to get the center console out. The car will shift into Reverse, neutral and over drive, but I can;t get it to shift into the lower gears.

Anyone have any ideas on this, I am wondering if the transmission requires some other level of adjustment.

Terry