Finally got a friends gtx ready for it's first time out. The weather was nice today so we took it out. Here is the problem I adjusted the throttle pressure linkage so it shifts into 3rd by 40. Everything seemed nice till I noticed the trans will not down shift out of drive when you come to a stop if you pull the shifter into 2nd or 1st it comes out. This is a stock rebuild. Anybody have any ideas what this could be. I tried moving the throttle pressure linkage around didn't seem to help.

Light throttle 2-3 upshift at 40 mph is way too late, stock is around 15 mph. Stock carb or aftermarket? If aftermarket does it have the correct Mopar throttle lever extension?

If so, try disconnecting the linkage and let the trans lever come full forward....drive it easy and see if it downshifts coming to a stop. If it doesn't it's either a governor or shift valve problem.

Carman, our stock 340 Darts with 3.23 gears would shift into third at light throttle at 18 to 20 mph. My guess is the throttle pressure on your pal's GTX is too high. I'd reset it so the pin barely pushes against the linkage when at idle and then go from there.
Tom

It is 3:23 gear holley carb with correct adapter and the bouchillian kickdown linkage. I will try readjusting tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for the reply's.

Readjusted the linkage now shifts in to drive at around 15 mph. Still no down shift. Tried disconnecting linkage no down shift. He was able to get ahold of the guy that did the trans and he seems to think the governor is stuck. So off to the trans shop it goes. Thanks for the help.

1-2 upshift should be 15mph, 2-3 upshift 24-25mph, under light throttle, then you'll have proper downshifts. A 2-3 upshift at 15 is way too early.

The factory specs:

I don't get that! 3rd by 11mph acceptable? I would think that would burn up a trans. I've always had my set for 1-2 shift at 11-15mph, and the 2-3 at just before 25mph at light throttle, on my small blocks with 3.2 gears.

This said, I stand corrected but confused.

Note that it states "Closed Throttle" for those specs--BIG difference tween closed throttle and light throttle.

I'm diggin the upper spec for a hemi 2-3 upshift at 93mph full throttle!!!

For the sake of that chart "closed throttle" is light throttle. If the throttle were actually closed how could the car attain 10 mph?

John Kunkel, Not to hijack, but a question I've had for you for years...I like my forward pattern /stock overhaul MVB in my Clonerunner, BUT I always wondered at the freewheeling 1st gear.(Think this one is a cheetah)
I know you can frag the sprag if you are not careful when you get back on it from a roll, but WHY is that done for racing,(like does the MVB HAVE to be built that way?) and IIRC some MVBs now have coast braking in 1st?
Thanks, Bear

The original RMVB was a Mopar engineering idea and the absence of rear band apply (freewheeling in 1st gear) was probably for convenience but was also considered a performance benefit because there was no overlap on the 1-2 upshift.

Nowadays MVB's can be built with or without rear band apply.

Yea, I'm likin the 2-3 at 93 also! Closed throttle is light throttle, isn't it?

I think the term "light throttle" is so vague that its almost useless.
Yes the tranny should shift at relatively (another vague term) low mph with a barely cracked throttle (trying to be more specific...LOL).
A car will shift to 3rd just idling down a slight grade at a very low mph.

These shift points became an arguing point when I worked the Chrysler Trans Hotline back in the day. Techs would call and say the customer got a copy of the SM and argued their trans did not shift according to the manual. Altitude, throttle kick down setting, throttle valve adjustment ion the valve body and engine performance all affect these shifts points. The only real "rule" is that governor pressure should be close to vehicle speed - if it is - rises and falls like it is supposed to - and the valve body is adjusted like it is supposed to along with the external linkage - it is what it is and should be close to the published specs.

I get that the shift points could be plus or minus from the specs. Why wouldn't the trans. go back into 1st at a complete stop?

I agree that it just sounds like either a gov problem or a shift valve problem. Even with the throttle pressure to high or to low it should still drop back to first at a stop with the gov and shift valves working right. Ron

Hang an accurate pressure gauge on the governor port and drive it - when you come to a stop the governor pressure must be less than 1.5 lbs., if it is you have an issue elsewhere in the valve body. Make sure you use a lower pressure gauge - 0- 60 or 0 a 80 as a high pressure gauge has a higher margin of error and you may not see a few pounds - and that will cause it not to downshift.

Thanks for all the reply's. He is going to be taking the car to the guy that did the trans for him. This car has fought us thru this whole restoration process if it can go wrong it has. So why not the trans. I guess this what happens when you buy a car that is in boxes.