Quote:
Originally Posted by masraum
Weird, the only thing that I can think (that I wouldn't think would kill reverse, but I'm not auto-tranny expert) would be if he backs up and throws it in first while he's still rolling backward instead of stopping and then starting again. But I'd think he'd have to be going backwards fast or doing that a lot.
Does he have any teens that might drive the car, maybe doing burnouts like that?
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Not always, crappy transmission design will do it. I bought my 86 El Camino in 1991, with 40,000 miles on it and it was 100% stock. At 60,000 miles reverse just went away. I parked in a normal spot, and when I tried to leave, no reverse. I had to push it backwards and fortunately it was pretty level ground.
The Elky came with a metric 200 3 speed transmission, designed for the Chevette. It was a POS design, and undersized for an El Camino. I just replaced it with what was an optional transmission in 1986, the 4 speed 2004R with lockup. It just required a new cross member and adjustment of the shifter, and replacement of a little metal cover on the shift indicator to show the extra gears. I have had to have the 2004R rebuilt once after all the miles. 378,000 miles will wear out items never designed to go that far.
So whoever ordered my El Camino when new got the cheapest transmission possible. It is a SS version, yet it only had a speedometer and fuel gauge, the rest were just idiot lights. Those too are long gone and it has had full instruments for the last 30 years. I have the original build sheet.