Doing shakedown drives on my Imperial's new powertrain. Discovered that the A999 automatic in the car doesn't seem to have third gear at all. In drive at low throttle, the first-second shift feels fine and then feels like I've left the car in "2". Reverse functions fine, no banging or other concerning issues. Manual shifting first-second works, does not work second-third. I'm still fabbing up a fully functional kickdown system, but for part-throttle use I've set the kickdown pressure to about 25% and I have not gone better than half-throttle for any measurable amount.

Where do I start troubleshooting...the valvebody? Everything else about the transmission feels right, just the missing third gear, and I'd like to see if it's something simple before it's time to make an appointment with a trans shop.

Disconnect the kick down and see if it will shift into third then.

Just tried that. Same story.

How fast have you run it up to? Did you try it with the rear up on jack stands? Just trying to figure things out.

Did you disconnect it at the transmission lever or at the carb? Sometimes mismatched linkage will hold the lever back even when disconnected above; disconnect it at the transmission lever.

It's been on jack stands, only up to an indicated 50 mph. On ground, disconnected linkage at the transmission lever, got it up to an indicated 60 mph, no shift. Lever feels free, no binding or really loose spots.

Next step is to hook a gauge to the governor pressure test port, if the governor pressure is correct for the road speed and it won't shift, the problem is probably a stuck shift valve in the valve body or a missing check ball in the valve body.

What's the history of the trans? Been apart lately?

Transmission is the one from the Project Regretmobile Dodge Magnum that Eric Rood was intending to run at the 24 Hours of Lemons. At this point, I'm surprised that I have any forward gears.

Here's where my ignorance needs to be cured. What do I need to get to check that pressure? All I've ever done with a trans is swap it in and out, and change filters.

I'm pretty sure it is an 1/8" NPT port in the trans case, Not sure what psi range gauge you need, John will chime it. EDIT I Googled it & they said it starts at zero & goes up about 1 psi for every 1 MPH. I'd get it up on stands, plumb the gauge in with some cheap plumbing pipe fittings & run it up & see what you get. Those gauges are reasonable.