Joseph, Before you get too involved in the transmission. Here is something
you might want to try. The part cost about 20.00, and a fairly standard
item. I have seen this problem on a club members 55 DeSoto about a year
ago. It also happened to my 55 Dodge about two months ago. The rear flex
brake line, colapses on the inside of the line, even though the outside
appears fine. This maintains some pressure to the rear brakes, not enough
to lock them, but enough to hold the car back. My 55 Dodge really flew up
this particular hill, 270 hemi with powerflite. When this problem started
it could barely get up the hill. It felt like I was pulling a large trailer
full of rocks. I checked everything, pulled the rear brakes etc. finally
I just changed that brake line, the problem went away, I have put about 800
miles on the car since, and everything is fine. The brake lines are all
about the same age and beginning to break down internally,as the components
start to deteriorate. I would suggest anyone with cars in this year range,
to replace this part the next time you redo the brakes.
Joseph Paolucci
Walton Kentucky
1955 DeSoto Sportsman
1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer
1955 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon
----- Original Message -----
From: Joseph Bouboulis <Joseph_Bouboulis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 9:43 AM
Subject: [FWDLK] Powerflite Trouble
> I have a 56 Belvedere with the push button powerflite. It's been sitting
> for a few years and I'm trying to get it going again but I'm having
> transmission troubles. When I put it in drive or low it feels like the
> parking brake is on, but it's not. It goes into gear but when I step on
the
> gas the engine struggles to move the car forward. Like as if it's fighting
> something. And as soon as I let off the gas it stops like I jammed the
> brakes on. Thing is when I put it in reverse it's fine. Just take my foot
> off the brake and the car goes. The trans pan and shift cable was leaking
> so I dropped the pan to replace the gasket & o-ring and consequently I
> adjusted the shift cable. I thought this might fix it but no go. I
adjusted
> it while watching the detent as it engaged the ball in each gear on the
> valve body so I know the cable is adjusted correctly. And as I said it
> drops into gear no problem. There is also enough fluid in the trans. I
made
> sure of that. I had to recently redo the brakes but they are not dragging
> or stuck (I had originally though that was the cause).
>
> Only thing I can think of now is that I may need to clean out the valve
> body. There was quite a bit of gunk in the bottom of the pan. A mopar
buddy
> of mine said torqueflites sometimes will stick in both reverse and drive
> because of dirt in the valve body, but I don't know how similar the
> torqueflite & powerflite are and he doesn't know 50's mopars.
>
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