Hey guys im new to the site, but plan on being around for awhile. Thanx in advance for all the help. I have a 1987 yj wrangler automatic with a built 4.2- the motor is bored .040 over, small cam shaft, offenhauser aluminium intake, 600 holley 4barrell carb, full length hooker header, 2 7/8 exhaust with a one chamber flow daddy. Its fairly peppy, considering the stock gears and the 35X15.50 tsl sx's. Gears are my next project. My problem is last sunday the transmission took on water this isn’t the first time it done this. But this time I lost drive; I have flushed the transmission and put new fluid along with a half pt of seafoam. Everything else works reverse, 1st, 2nd just not drive. It doesn’t slip at all. I think a valve in the valve body may be stuck. What do you folks think the problem may be and the steps I can take to fix it?
1987 yj transmission problems
- Thread starter jmathews
- Start date
don't know much about those transmissions, I would swap in a AW4 from a xj though. might have to swap input out put shafts.. but I am relatively confindent they are both 23 spline. BUT.... 600 cfm carb ?? does it run rich? I had a similar set up on an old cj years ago but I ran a 470 cfm Holley on a 4.2 stroker motor. Just curious Good luck with the transmission
Utah_jeepster
Super Moderator
You might want to try a power flush at a local transmission shop but with the advent of water you might have brought in a small speck of dirt, that lodged in the valve body, either blocking a prime passage or holding a valve closed. If the flush doesn't work, at this point you have no choice but drop the pan and pull the valve body. The gasket kit is cheap and the assembly lube to hold the "BB's" in place as you re-assemble.
If you never rebuilt an automatic, there are hundreds of site on the web offering rebuild kits and instructional DVD's.
Still if the task of dropping the pan and valve body is too much, most transmission shops are pretty reasonable just rebuilding the valve body.
If you never rebuilt an automatic, there are hundreds of site on the web offering rebuild kits and instructional DVD's.
Still if the task of dropping the pan and valve body is too much, most transmission shops are pretty reasonable just rebuilding the valve body.
89 jeep yj
New member
This happened to me. I took my transmission out to have it rebuilt and the shop told me I had a leak in my radiator that 's where the water comes from. After the new radiator no more problems.
