Still on the move... reading the 'net whenever/wherever I get the chance.
Some may recall that I was having some fluid venting that the Tranny Shop
(that rebuilt it the last time) said was just a slight overfill and would
level off.
Aside from blowing smoke when working hard uphill on I-15 (is it just me or
is I15 really all uphill both north and southbound
it sure used up a lot
of pucker factor as I recalled several fire stories. As the fluid was only
at 150 degrees I kept telling myself it was well below flash point.
Anyhoo... running, shifting and performance all seemed ok so I did what
they told me ( as I always do ), and tried not to worry about it.
Got to LA, parked at the client's front door, did my business the next
morning and as I put it into gear to vamoose... no vamoose. After the
frustration, exitement and my innards settled down a bit I added 2 qts of
fluid and off I went northbound.... over the grapevine... more hills. I
added 1 more qt on the top and got to my next client in Bakersfield ok.
The next morning I started to phone around. End result being that it was
projected that the tranny probably had to come out to diagnose/adjust/repair
it further, i.e. come on in to the shop and we'll take care of you.
Long story short... (my clients are auto parts stores) it was suggested that
it may be the modulator. None of the tranny 'specialists' suggested that it
might be, even though I specifically asked. "No that can't be it as you'd
have white smoke out of the exhaust" was what I was told by those 'experts'.
Result: my client-now-forever-buddy gave me a new modulator, I crawled under
(after putting left front wheel up a curb [gently] to make a little room for
the belly, and changed it. [ Watch out for spillage]. Lo and behold, after
several checks enroute, I'm 300 miles upstream and fluid level still same as
when I left Bakersfield. Certainly not out of the woods yet, but feeling
much better.
Moral of the story? Don't know if there is one except more of the same:
"beware". I still kinda feel that a reputable tranny shop would have
suggested changing the modulator, even on spec., instead of making 'get him
in the shop' the top priority.
Guess I should be happy, the shop where I had it done last (Dura-Built in
Rocklin CA) did assure me that I'd get a repeat customer discount. (BTW,
only 30k since rebuild). When asked about just a re+re, i.e. I was thinking
Dunn's Transmission, they said they weren't interested in that, as there was
no money in it for them. Makes me wonder... labor is free?
I guess the real moral of the store is to eliminate all possibilities
yourself first. Seems they really do see BIG$ signs when an out-of-towner
calls. I really did feel like the lonely guy in the leaking liferaft
watching the sharks a'circling.
Other than that... it's been (is) a great trip. Edged close enough to the
cold in Utah to remind myself to not do that again. Definately will be
putting that vent adapter on when (hopefully not if) I get home, before the
next trip out.
Heinz
'76 Transmode - Stockton CA for a few days.
Some may recall that I was having some fluid venting that the Tranny Shop
(that rebuilt it the last time) said was just a slight overfill and would
level off.
Aside from blowing smoke when working hard uphill on I-15 (is it just me or
is I15 really all uphill both north and southbound
it sure used up a lotof pucker factor as I recalled several fire stories. As the fluid was only
at 150 degrees I kept telling myself it was well below flash point.
Anyhoo... running, shifting and performance all seemed ok so I did what
they told me ( as I always do ), and tried not to worry about it.
Got to LA, parked at the client's front door, did my business the next
morning and as I put it into gear to vamoose... no vamoose. After the
frustration, exitement and my innards settled down a bit I added 2 qts of
fluid and off I went northbound.... over the grapevine... more hills. I
added 1 more qt on the top and got to my next client in Bakersfield ok.
The next morning I started to phone around. End result being that it was
projected that the tranny probably had to come out to diagnose/adjust/repair
it further, i.e. come on in to the shop and we'll take care of you.
Long story short... (my clients are auto parts stores) it was suggested that
it may be the modulator. None of the tranny 'specialists' suggested that it
might be, even though I specifically asked. "No that can't be it as you'd
have white smoke out of the exhaust" was what I was told by those 'experts'.
Result: my client-now-forever-buddy gave me a new modulator, I crawled under
(after putting left front wheel up a curb [gently] to make a little room for
the belly, and changed it. [ Watch out for spillage]. Lo and behold, after
several checks enroute, I'm 300 miles upstream and fluid level still same as
when I left Bakersfield. Certainly not out of the woods yet, but feeling
much better.
Moral of the story? Don't know if there is one except more of the same:
"beware". I still kinda feel that a reputable tranny shop would have
suggested changing the modulator, even on spec., instead of making 'get him
in the shop' the top priority.
Guess I should be happy, the shop where I had it done last (Dura-Built in
Rocklin CA) did assure me that I'd get a repeat customer discount. (BTW,
only 30k since rebuild). When asked about just a re+re, i.e. I was thinking
Dunn's Transmission, they said they weren't interested in that, as there was
no money in it for them. Makes me wonder... labor is free?
I guess the real moral of the store is to eliminate all possibilities
yourself first. Seems they really do see BIG$ signs when an out-of-towner
calls. I really did feel like the lonely guy in the leaking liferaft
watching the sharks a'circling.
Other than that... it's been (is) a great trip. Edged close enough to the
cold in Utah to remind myself to not do that again. Definately will be
putting that vent adapter on when (hopefully not if) I get home, before the
next trip out.
Heinz
'76 Transmode - Stockton CA for a few days.
