Folks,
I got a 97 national dolphin with the P30 and the vortec 454 7.4 engine.
From what i read I suspect I have a 4L85-E transmission?
My issue is, when i go past 3000 rpm, the tranmission neutrals.
RPM confirmed by ODB scanner, but that darn thing cant read any transmission codes...
It does not matter what gear Im in, obviously, I have not testet it in Reverse, but 1 through 4.
Into death vally coasting using th engine to brake in first gear....
on the highway in what ever gear I am, when I cross the 3000 rpm treshold it just cuts out into neutral.
I dont recall if it was in operational temp only or cold and hot. However it was freezing outside and we had it while going by lake sevier UT in the low 20s, it also was quite warm in death vally and we had while coasting down into DV. I also had it crusing on the interstate.
no matter the throttle possition, no matter the gear selector.
The RV got 54000 miles on the clock, how ever, it was sitting for about 10 years and did less than 100 miles. So 50k miles between 1997-2014, then less than 100 miles between 2014-2024. (by title history)
From shop records and what the former owners told me I know that it was basically parked after 2005 still with its first owner. then was sold 2014 after his death by his kids inside the town limits to the second owner, who sold it to me in 2024.
So it was rather 20 years less than say 200 miles, and then I came and fixed the engien and did put several k miles on it in 6 weeks.
Last time i chekced, the trans oil was smelling non burned and was red and clear and up to level.
I dont recal the gearbox acting funny when we left for our trip. But back then we where batteling a faulty distributer.... So i might have missed it or atributed it to the distributer...
On return to my RV this coming January I planed to fix my brake issues (tags wont brake at all (dont even get warm), and front calipers are therefore cooked and need new seals just in case) and then go to Richard from Precision Transmissions in Amarillo TX to get it fixed.
How ever, Precision Transmissions had a fall out between father and son and the shop moved in Amarillo, while the son hijacked the YT channel for a while. They also ditched all known phone numbers, and dont answer to emails. So I dont really knwo what to do, and I dont want to drive 5k miles to find the shop booked or out of businesse.
Last time i walked into a shop, they screwed me over big time. Its obvious Im not a returning customer, being an RVer and ontop a foreigner, so its an easy guess that i wont come back to bite em, they therefore take the money and send me on.
(I also have a 88 Ford AOD Transmission that needs some attendion, as a result of me walking into a shop and getting screwed over big time, and now I have a dead OD clutch cause the shop charged my a fortune for checking the car over and fixing the broken TV cable to TB link with a zip tie... Needless to say it failed on the 1k mile trip home, OD clutch now is shot.... so I need the tranny shop for two transmissions)
Currently the RV is near Montrose CO, and we plan to go whale watching and family visiting in Vancuver BC and then make it to Sand Hollow State Park UT for Matts Offrod Wrecker Games 25...
I also need to get a few things fixed along the line, like the screaming hot air heater engine, a broken window next to the drivers seat, the hot water tank leaks somewhere just a little bit, probably frozen and ruptured or so, and an genset exhaust that leaks into the master bed room, probably exchange the rubbermounts for the genset while im at it....
So if some of you know the details for
- tried and proven GM-4L85-E / Ford-AOD expert
- P30 caliper seals for front, drive, tag and master
- P30 brake pads for front, drive, tag and parking brake
- P30 ABS sensors front axle
- air bags front axle (my left one losses its pressure)
- new or known good source refurbished blower motor for an Atwood 8535
- source for a drivers window (right next to the driver seat) for a 97 national dolphin 535...
- a source for a new/refurbished hot water tank, maybe used?
- a set of chains for 225/70R19.5 tires, just so I can make it safely off the 5k ft Colorado plain Im on in January...
thanks for your hints
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