this post is what's needed on this MB; step by step stuff and spiffing fun. 
Keep it up boy, sweet as a nut Newbies photo diary - 727 pan gasket
Moderator: Moderators
-
Anonymous
Righto Morgan, might as well investigate your kickdown problem as well now you're in there! Disconnect the kickdown linkage from the top lever on the box. You can now move the lever backwards and forwards and you'll see that basically it's a cam that pushes on a spring loaded valve. With the lever pulled all the way forward it will be against a stop and there will be an air gap between the piston and the cam. Check and adjust this gap as per your manual ( may be possible to adjust in situ, I have never tried, if not drop out the valve body to do it). Get somone to press the throttle pedal to the floor while you push the lever all the way back and see if the kickdown linkage will drop back on, indicating that at full throttle, you have full kickdown, this is what you are aiming for, adjust as ness. You might find it easier to adjust the front band by undoing the gearbox crossmember and lowering the box out of the tunnel a bit. You really need a square drive socket to adjust the bands accuratly, but you can do it with an open ended spanner, tightening them gently till "snug", and then undoing by the correct amount of turns. That manual you have there is an excellent one, it should tell you all you need to know, but you can always call me if you hit a problem. Good to see a newbie getting stuck in, you have released the voodoo, you've done it now, AAAHHHH!
Dave - That 'this is what happens if you adjust the bands' pic is not helpful ! ! ! ! 
Dr.Blue - Thanks ! Just getting my first couple of coffees loaded, and then I am straight black in there... Will try and do as you say. First step is to clean some of the road-gunge off the outside of the adjuster I think, and see if it is even going to be possible with box in place.
Will let you know ref kickdown linkage...
Dr.Blue - Thanks ! Just getting my first couple of coffees loaded, and then I am straight black in there... Will try and do as you say. First step is to clean some of the road-gunge off the outside of the adjuster I think, and see if it is even going to be possible with box in place.
Will let you know ref kickdown linkage...
-
Anonymous
Great stuff Morgan, I think we've all been there at one point! I managed to adjust the bands in situ so unless the '72 trans tunnel has a bit more room I would imagine you should get there. Not sure about those little bloks of wood under the axle stands though!
Dave, that trans of yours looks like Steve Austins old leg or was it theTerminators?
Dave, that trans of yours looks like Steve Austins old leg or was it theTerminators?
Drogo - I know - they are my 'utter emergency'. No weight on them at the mo, but if the ramps and trolley give they are my 'quick catch'. It was that or have a gap - will put a bigger board under instead....
Right - on with the action folks...
This morning have cleaned things up a bit and reached an executive decision with regards to the band adjust.
Although it can be done in situ, it is practically impossible to get in with the headers (and starter) in the way. Given that
a) I am changing the headers at some point
b) ditto starter
c) The band adjustment does not need the pan off
I am going to leave that be until I do headers.
More interesting is the throttle adjustment, but first a nice pic to show what I am looking at this morning. I like this one as it shows the oil and muck that has been going onto the exhaust for AGES.
Not sure about that cooler pipe. Should it be rubbing against that nut ? Dont think so...
Right - on with the action folks...
This morning have cleaned things up a bit and reached an executive decision with regards to the band adjust.
Although it can be done in situ, it is practically impossible to get in with the headers (and starter) in the way. Given that
a) I am changing the headers at some point
b) ditto starter
c) The band adjustment does not need the pan off
I am going to leave that be until I do headers.
More interesting is the throttle adjustment, but first a nice pic to show what I am looking at this morning. I like this one as it shows the oil and muck that has been going onto the exhaust for AGES.
Not sure about that cooler pipe. Should it be rubbing against that nut ? Dont think so...
Right - armed with Blues instructions and of course the manual I decided to investigate. The manual is not helpful in this respect - it tells me of a special tool I need and then proceeds to give a template for you to fabricate your own. Frankly, my garage is not cut out for fabricating custom tools accurate to the 000th of an inch.
Anyway - this is the no throttle pic for the kickdown valve thingy -
Anyway - this is the no throttle pic for the kickdown valve thingy -
Right - full throttle.
The cam pushes the top part of the sprung valve into the bottom part. The bottom part does not really move.
Only thing is, results are not consistant. If wife-a-la-broom-handle opens the throttle quickly the bottom one does sometimes move. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't.
Either way, with me manually pushing the lever I can get both valves to go fully in.
With the throttle, halfway is the best I can get.
So - the million dollar question that I throw to the crowds is...
Is this right ?
Blue - you can expect your phone to ring pretty soon
The cam pushes the top part of the sprung valve into the bottom part. The bottom part does not really move.
Only thing is, results are not consistant. If wife-a-la-broom-handle opens the throttle quickly the bottom one does sometimes move. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't.
Either way, with me manually pushing the lever I can get both valves to go fully in.
With the throttle, halfway is the best I can get.
So - the million dollar question that I throw to the crowds is...
Is this right ?
Blue - you can expect your phone to ring pretty soon
Update -
Right - Consulted with Dr.Blue (bless you kind sir, on a Sunday too...) and essentially I need to get some more adjustment to fully operate the valve...
The carb linkage is a bit of a lash up anyway, and I am on max adjust, so I am going to get this sorted first, ensure I get full adjustment, then put the Gbox pan back on...
In the meantime, I'm gonna check the rear band. COuld be the last update for a while. Unless anyone wants to see pics of the throttle linkage (like you are REALLY bored or something ?)
Thanks to all -
Morgan.
Right - Consulted with Dr.Blue (bless you kind sir, on a Sunday too...) and essentially I need to get some more adjustment to fully operate the valve...
The carb linkage is a bit of a lash up anyway, and I am on max adjust, so I am going to get this sorted first, ensure I get full adjustment, then put the Gbox pan back on...
In the meantime, I'm gonna check the rear band. COuld be the last update for a while. Unless anyone wants to see pics of the throttle linkage (like you are REALLY bored or something ?)
Thanks to all -
Morgan.
Right - a quick update (no pics, battery flat).
Attempted to look at the rear band today but to no avail. I have no particular reason to suspect it, just thought I ought to ensure adjustment while sump was off.
Anyway, wrong tools and car must be operational for Thursday when I have to take it to Millbrook to meet the DVLA (who hopefully will say 'yep, it's a 68 charger. Have an age related numberplate')
So - Sump (with new sump plug!) back on, bolts properly torqued and 5 litres of fluid put in. Car appears to move under its own power, and took me up the road and back (including one aggresive start to make sure there was some 'bite' - even a wee 318 will squeal on take off if you want ! )
Seems OK, although onlt just on the min dipstick. (add 1 pint it says).
So - we will see if it still leaks. Ominously there was some red goop around Cannonballs vertical selector shaft (so maybe it is this) - but hey - nothing lost and it might be OK. Will check in the morning.
Anything less than about 20 drips will be an improvement !
Keep you posted.....
Attempted to look at the rear band today but to no avail. I have no particular reason to suspect it, just thought I ought to ensure adjustment while sump was off.
Anyway, wrong tools and car must be operational for Thursday when I have to take it to Millbrook to meet the DVLA (who hopefully will say 'yep, it's a 68 charger. Have an age related numberplate')
So - Sump (with new sump plug!) back on, bolts properly torqued and 5 litres of fluid put in. Car appears to move under its own power, and took me up the road and back (including one aggresive start to make sure there was some 'bite' - even a wee 318 will squeal on take off if you want ! )
Seems OK, although onlt just on the min dipstick. (add 1 pint it says).
So - we will see if it still leaks. Ominously there was some red goop around Cannonballs vertical selector shaft (so maybe it is this) - but hey - nothing lost and it might be OK. Will check in the morning.
Anything less than about 20 drips will be an improvement !
Keep you posted.....