So I just picked up this pinto truck conversion. V6 with I think the c3. It's a 3 speed. From what I can tell it has no 2n d gear. It also takes a long time to engage in drive when it's cold. I shift into reverse, and it's immediate, but shift into drive and at idle I don't think it'll ever engage. I have to raise the rpm to about 2000 and it still takes about 10 seconds to finally engage.

When driving at low speeds it stays in 1st until 35 kph and feels like it skips second gear entirely. I can only feel 1 shift change all the way up to 100kph. It also jump shifts if I'm at 30 kph to 60/70 kph if I'm at anything more than maybe 30% throttle, it drops into 1st and the rpm jumps really high. And I've already turned the adjustor for the trans kickdown all the way back to make sure it's not tripping the circuit early in the pedal travel.

I've checked the fluid and it's full when hot and a clean red.

I don't have any hydraulic maps for these things so I'm not sure what fluid circuits are engaging in second. I don't know if maybe any of you know what might be going on or have any diagrams of the valve body I can pour over.

It's a 1979 pinto wagon. 2.8l v6 with the 3 speed auto.


Thanks in advance guys!

The trans well known for shuttle shifting back and forth too early and light throttle. There is a Transgo C3 shift kit that addresses that but you may have other issues. Such as pressure leakage somewhere. The front pump known for blowing out the gasket, that can do it. Reverse still works because reverse has more pressure than the other gears......... .

If the front pump is ever loosened you MUST recenter it to the converter snout and front pump plate, there is no centering device molded into the plate there. If you don't the pump chews itself up quickly or slower depending on how far off center things end up when pump bolted down. Ford uses a special tool to do that work.