REAL TIME a440f help getting 👉🏽 manual swapped

[yotadude520]

Did you buy the transmission directly from Valley Hybrids or did the guy you bought it from say it was rebuilt by them?

I agree that it looks way too dirty to be a fresh rebuild. Something is fishy here.

 

[RevISK]

Here's a weird one - I had this same issue on my 62 where it wouldn't lock up after taking out my instrument panel and fixing the speedo, but then not re-engaging the speedo cable completely into the back of the speedometer. Truck drove totally normal and good until I got up to 51ish on the fwy, then it wouldn't lock up. The speedo needle was dancing more than normal and was making some racket. I pulled over, pulled the instrument panel out (lucky it's not hard on a 62), and cut up my hand re-engaging the speedo cable, and it was all fine after that.

I know the lock-up is a mechanical thing, but best I could figure there is some kind of speed sensor that the trans needs to engage the lock-up.

Hadn't been mentioned, not sure it helps, hoping it could be this simple... all the things. You'll get it. Good luck!

That is an interesting thought, I wonder if it came loose on the tranny side? However, I wasn't getting any anomalous needle action.

Are you able to identify the springs in the valve body the other guy was talking about?

No. I wish he would have provided pictures. He said something about a small spring being dislodged?
I need to open up the A440f manual on my iPad and compare to what is there. The fact that it is a WHOLESALE is news to me.

 

[Skniper]

I still have my dead A440F carcass sitting in the garage. It needs to go to scrap unless you want one (free) to dissect and learn on.
I'm in Houston. There's lots of cruiser heads near you in Austin too.

 

[RevISK]

Did you buy the transmission directly from Valley Hybrids or did the guy you bought it from say it was rebuilt by them?

I agree that it looks way too dirty to be a fresh rebuild. Something is fishy here.

from a dude.

 

[yotadude520]

from a dude.

Yeah he definitely screwed ya over. No way that transmission has only 1k miles on it.

I would try to get all the old transmission fluid out of it and the torque converter (if possible, not too familiar with the A440F) and limp it home. Fresh fluid may be able to clean out all the gunk and get it working better.

If it were me I'd take up sknipers offer on the carcass and try and rebuild it myself using the FSM as a backup plan. That's a very generous offer.

 

[Skniper]

That is an interesting thought, I wonder if it came loose on the tranny side? However, I wasn't getting any anomalous needle action.

No. I wish he would have provided pictures. He said something about a small spring being dislodged?
I need to open up the A440f manual on my iPad and compare to what is there. The fact that it is a WHOLESALE is news to me.

"Wholesale" IIRC is the outfit in Australia that rebuilds these and/or provides the valve bodies for the a440f. They can do custom shift points, heavy duty valve body builds, etc. I "think" Valley Hybrid sources from them. Rodney(Aussie) from Wholesale was very active here for awhile. Might be worth looking into contacting them. Rodney is where the RodneyFlush and Party Trick came from.

 

[Cruiser Cult]

I could be wrong but that laser cut metal wholesale tag might indicate the valve body came from Wholesale Automatic Transmissions - https://automatictransmission.com.au/
I don't think its some lame generic wholesale like we are used to thinking about.

Edit, @Skniper beat me to it.
Here is a install thread on that valve body: Extreme Valve Body - just installed - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/extreme-valve-body-just-installed.222189/

 

[CJF]

Definitely PRD321 and yes, 100% can shift manually through the gears just fine. She just doesn’t want to do OD.

You need to get your lingo straight so no one gets confused: Fourth gear ("D") is overdrive. You've said you *can* get fourth. If that's the case, then what you don't have is torque converter lockup, which only happens in 4th, and only when going over ~49mph.

I think you should go for another drive and make sure you've really got all the symptoms straight: "1" should be first only; "2" should be second only (not first and second), and "3" should be first thru third. Next, drive about 40mph and keep shifting back and forth from "3" to "D". This is the crucial part: Is it or isn't it shifting back and forth from third to fourth (which, again *is* overdrive)?

If you pass that test, then what you're not getting is TC lockup.

 

[yotadude520]

"Wholesale" IIRC is the outfit in Australia that rebuilds these and/or provides the valve bodies for the a440f. They can do custom shift points, heavy duty valve body builds, etc. I "think" Valley Hybrid sources from them. Rodney(Aussie) from Wholesale was very active here for awhile. Might be worth looking into contacting them. Rodney is where the RodneyFlush and Party Trick came from.

Quick google search shows that's right,

I don't know how much it matters but looking at their instructions on the valvebody they recommend putting in Dextron III - is that what you're running currently?

 

[RevISK]

Trying to keep up here. While being at work...
It is a WHOLESALE NOMAD (Georg Confirmed) from Rodney of Rodney Flush Fame. Apparently a great upgrade. I am composing an email to Rodney hoping he can weigh in and Georg is actively helping on the sidelines as well. Furthermore, the PO of this tranny is going to dig up everything he can to help the process of diagnosis. I do not believe he sold me anything he knowingly knew was bad. Either a fluke, something came loose or I am just having the crappiest luck.

 

[RevISK]

You need to get your lingo straight so no one gets confused: Fourth gear ("D") is overdrive. You've said you *can* get fourth. If that's the case, then what you don't have is torque converter lockup, which only happens in 4th, and only when going over ~49mph.

I think you should go for another drive and make sure you've really got all the symptoms straight: "1" should be first only; "2" should be second only (not first and second), and "3" should be first thru third. Next, drive about 40mph and keep shifting back and forth from "3" to "D". This is the crucial part: Is it or isn't it shifting back and forth from third to fourth (which, again *is* overdrive)?

If you pass that test, then what you're not getting is TC lockup.

You are 100% correct.

I think you've hit on something here. I can count up 4 gears while in Drive. However, above this, I am not getting TC lockup in that the RPM's keep climbing instead of dropping down above 50.

I have been advised by Georg to do nothing further with the tranny until we hear back from Rodney. Right now the truck is drained with the pan off in my AirBnB driveway.

 

[RevISK]

Yeah he definitely screwed ya over. No way that transmission has only 1k miles on it.

I would try to get all the old transmission fluid out of it and the torque converter (if possible, not too familiar with the A440F) and limp it home. Fresh fluid may be able to clean out all the gunk and get it working better.

If it were me I'd take up sknipers offer on the carcass and try and rebuild it myself using the FSM as a backup plan. That's a very generous offer.

I have until next Saturday to figure this out and if need be can leave it at a friends here. I do appreciate @Skniper offer. I have two tranny's at home on a pallet (one out of this and another donor from my friend @ceylonfj40nut that I didn't use).

 

[CJF]

I can count up 4 gears while in Drive. However, above this, I am not getting TC lockup in that the RPM's keep climbing instead of dropping down above 50.

@overhanger went thru this exact scenario a looong time ago. He hasn't logged on in a while, but maybe he'll see this.

 

[Malleus]

Well, if nothing else, you'll be the reigning A440F guru after this. Three transmissions...I thought I was a packrat.

 

[RevISK]

Well, if nothing else, you'll be the reigning A440F guru after this. Three transmissions...I thought I was a packrat.

I absolutely 100% do not want to be an expert on the A440f.

Also, I want to be 100% clear that I do not feel or believe that the PO of this tranny knowingly sold me a bunk transmission.
You will notice that I have left this person out of the public convo, he is watching this thread and is actively taking part in helping me assess what happened.

I am hopeful, mostly because I don't like the alternative.

 

[majdomo]

You may have already seen this thread, but thought it was a good analogue to your situation. Still sounds like a TC issue to me, but maybe the spring issue described in here is helpful.

 

[RevISK]

You may have already seen this thread, but thought it was a good analogue to your situation. Still sounds like a TC issue to me, but maybe the spring issue described in here is helpful.

I think it is a torque converter issue as well.

 

[Malleus]

Just for public interest sake, where did the rebuilt torque converter come from?

 

[RevISK]

Just for public interest sake, where did the rebuilt torque converter come from?

It is labeled as SAXCO from San Jose, CA. Guessing sourced through Georg's rebuilder.

 

[RevISK]

Update in case I catch anyone who has the answer…

Overview as of this writing: I mistakenly was saying that the truck slipped out of overdrive, it slipped out of its Torque Converter Lock Up and won’t lock back up.

Shifts through 1-4/OD just fine, beautifully in fact. (EDIT: 1st - 3rd and 3rd lockup (WholeSale Nomad Valve Body). Am not able to shift into 4th/OD.

Drained the pan, found fines on the plug and magnets, very clean filter (no clutch material).

FWIW drained 7 liters or thereabouts.

Fluid looks and smells new/fine.

Discovered that I had a WHOLESALE NOMAD throttle body in there. Supposed to be the bees knees.

Sent an email to Rodney at Wholesale begging some advice/input on Georg’s suggestion.

Georg is awesome (as we know) and is doing his best to aid me. We are waiting on a response/feed back from his trans guy.

Sitting on the front porch in dumb ol’ dallas having a beer and watching the moon come up.

Thanks to everyone so far.
I will close this thread one way or another.