Hello All. My '79 Hurst Olds will not shift out of first gear. I have replaced the modulator, (vac hose attached right to the intake) removed and inspected the governor, adjusted the kickdown, and it still won't shift. Reverse works too, and the trans bangs pretty hard when going into gear. Idle and motor mounts are good. The previous owner claims that it was "rebuilt". The fluid is bright red without any burning smell. I guess I'm still clinging to the hope that it will be something simple as the problems with this car are continuing to add up.
Thanks for any input that you all can provide!

 

Have you verified that you have vacuum on the line AT the modulator? You say it bangs into gear hard, thats a symptom of high line pressure caused by no vacuum at the modulator.

 

X2 on vacuum at the modulator.

 

I have replaced the modulator and the rubber line twice. I have it tapped into the the vaccum port directly in the intake manifold, just in front of the carb. Maybe I'll experiment with moving it to another location, and see if that makes a difference.

 

Did you see if you have vacuum at the modulator through the line by pulling it off with the engine running?

 

I'm gonna give that a look over tonight. Maybe there is hope yet!

 

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!! Someone had shoved a bb 3 inches into the rubber vaccum hose! I cut it with a razor blade when removing it from the steel line, and thats when I found it. So all gears are functional, and its smoother when going into gear (need to lower the idle yet)
Thanks Again Guys!
Jeff

 

Fascinating.

One wonders how that could have gotten there.
Repair shop looking to sell the PO a "rebuild"?
Repair shop that was PO'd at the PO?
Work "buddy" with a sense of humor?

Hmmmmmm...

- Eric

 

Somethings really amaze me! Glad it works now.

 

The guy I bought the car from was a bit of a story teller, and did a fair amount to misrepresent the car (bought untest driven off Craigslist from out of state) He claimed that he bought the car for his son, whom promptly ran it into a concrete pole in a parking lot, and he was selling the car as a punishment. I'm not sure either of them would have the smarts to plug the line like that, judging by the "repaired" core support and the fender that is held on by 3 bolts. I'm thrilled that its working again, so I can focus on some suspension work and getting it safely back on the road again!

 

Thats the thing about older cars, there's just no telling what the previous owners did, and what they were thinking while doing it.