I bought a 1985 Dodge D150 about a year ago. It's an old farm truck. It has an older engine in it from 1975. I've just began really working on it to get it running and ready for registration. I have been working on the transmission for the last three days and am having 2 issues with it. Before I get into the issues, first I should say that I have serviced it, including adjusting the bands. However, I do not know what year the transmission is, if it's the original or if it goes with the 75 engine. But it doesn't make sense that it would go with the 75 engine, because I would not be having an issue with the kick down rod. Also, it is a 727 Torqueflite.

The first issue is the kick down rod. It doesn't seem to be the right part. After I adjusted the kickdown band, I put the rod in, and when I connect it to the throttle on the carburetor, it is pushed back too far and won't allow movement of the accelerator. Also, the bar that connects directly to the throttle on the carburetor is pushed all the way forward and there is no way to adjust it. I would include a photo but the linkage bar is not on my truck at the moment.

The second issue is after I put the new fluid in and started it, then I put it in reverse and nothing happened. Then I put it in drive, I didn't feel it kick in but I got it to move forward. Then I started shifting through the gears and the pressure started building. After that, I could feel it kicking into gear when I put it in reverse and in drive. However, I turned the engine off for a few minutes and then started it back up, and again there seemed to be no pressure until I cycled through the gears again. Could this be an issue with the fluid pump or the torque converter?

One thing I do know it this truck has been badly abused.

 

did you check the transmission fluid level with the truck in neutral? it is either a 727 or 904 transmission. either way i would guess there is likely the wrong linkage on the truck or it is not the right linkage for the carb or intake on your truck.

 

On the transmission shifting, try putting it in neutral for a few moments then go into drive or reverse and see what happens. If it goes into gear then, you have a severe leak inside.

Now, on the other issues, It's been many years since I've fooled with these trucks. Some had a kick down rod and some had a cable. Your transmission might be a truckflite version of the torqueflite but it may be out of a car too. The VIN of the donor vehicle should be on the side of the transmission body near the bottom pan.

 

If there is a leak inside, do you know if it would have anything to do with the fluid pump? If not, do you know where the leak could be? Hopefully, not in the valve body.

As far as the type of transmission, I do believe that it is the 85 727 torqueflite, but I will check that VIN you have mentioned.

Thanks for your reply.

Thea

 

I've seen front pump seals leak inside and allow the fluid to siphon out of the torque converter. I can swap a transmission but that is about it for me.

 

Hey guys, progress has been made. Fire is now getting to the sparkplugs. It tried several times to fire up, but it may be out of gas. It's already too hot to continue working today. So I'll get gas and try again tomorrow morning. I think the problem was with the wiring connecter which goes from the ignition relay to the ballast resistor, then to the coil. It wasn't plugged in at the ballast. I didn't discover this until I decided to change the wiring back to pink because I had red wire running to it. Y'all keep your fingers crossed that I will hear it running tomorrow.