my 62 shifts to early

[tiparosa]

1962 Dynamic shifts from 1st to 2nd and the engine seems to be "lugging" when she shifts to the point it does not appear to be the correct shift time. Is there a way to adjust when the hydro shifts gears? the car is all stock.

thanks,
T

[keith6989]

I do not know about the trans, but in my 55 manual it says a sluggish engine can be easily mistaken for trans, hope you find your problem.

[Oldsfan]

Linkage adjustment and fluid level are critical to slim jim performance. Not they perform all the good to begin with.

If you don't have a service manual, you really need to get one. And a set of Service Guild newsletters. There is a lot of transmission information in these manuals, including linkage adjustment.

You may be able to adjust it to shift later, but it may affect other shifting aspects. My mechanic thinks mine shifts too soon, too. But I think it's about as good as it's going to get. He's used to TH350 and such, and these aren't anywhere near those. Mine does the same as yours. Really bogs the motor down. Sometimes it'll knock, especially if I'm not running high octane. If the motor's cold, it'll stall shifting into second.

Just a poor design.

Paul

[tiparosa]

The more I drive the car the more I agree with you Paul. My 62 has a rebuilt 394 and rebuilt tranny within the last 2 years and it is an outstanding driver besides the early shifting. The more I drive it the more I can manage the shifting with the gas and brakes which makes it more tolorable.

[Kahuna]

When I first got my '62 Dynamic 88 a couple of years ago, I experienced the same phenomenon and thought something was wrong with my transmission, so I did some research. The “Slim Jim” Roto-Hydramatic Model 10 4-S (four stage) transmission is essentially a three forward gear, one reverse gear design with a small torque converter. The torque converter's stator, the "Accel-A-Rotor", creates a two-stage shift effect in first gear. The shift from first to second speed (or stage) happens early by design, within a few feet of travel to get the heavy car launched. The "Accel-A-Rotor" actually converts the first gear ratio from 3.56:1 to 2.97:1. When the car shifts to second gear, it’s actually in the third stage speed at 1.56:1. Third gear is fourth stage speed at 1:00:1, and reverse is 3.53:1.

[Oldsfan]

Tiparosa sold that car about a month ago and hasn't been heard from since. That is a sharp looking D88 you have in your avatar. Pacific Mist. Cool.

Paul

[Kahuna]

Thanks Paul. Love your Starfire.

[aristellier]

Hi guys, I seem to have the opposite, on my '63 88 the first stage seems to hang on forever and then shifts almost immediately to 2nd, any ideas on how to make the 1st stage change earlier?

[Olds64]

That is probably normal for your transmission. My 64 98 also shifts that way. The best thing for you to do is adjust the throttle valve linkage that goes from the carburetor to the transmission. Definitely purchase a factory service manual as well.

[rocketraider]

Doesn't hurt to have the factory service tools either. TV rod adjustment is critical on a Slim Jim.

I can think of one SJ in my experience that felt like it shifted right. It was in a 63 D88 Holiday sedan that I really should have bought from the old couple who owned it.