Hey Guys,

Up until now the Barth has been running really well. However this weekend I ran into a problem that is getting a little out of my technical/mechanical ability.

We were driving really slow looking at some Christmas lights when my breaks go out. I checked the brake fluid and it was full. So I was scratching my head a little bit and than all of a sudden she starts smoking like crazy, we thought the thing was on fire. I kill the engine get the family out and I call up my uncle who is an old school mechanic. He tells me that there is this hose from the drivers side manifold that will go into the bottom of the carb. Sure enough that was disconnected.

Now why did that just all the suddenly disconnect? Well he says that so much pressure built up that it blew it out. So naturally he has me check the oil and sure enough the poor gal was bone dry.

So I put in 20w-50 oil connect the hose back, brakes are working and engine starts up. Smoke is coming out like crazy out the the exhaust which I expected because there is probably oil or something still burning out. When I drove it home it seemed to clear up just only a little. It really starts smoking bad in idle, once I get going it clears up.

Now another problem I wasn't expecting is she is not shifting very well at all. This is an automatic. Has a very hard time shifting. Once it does shift up it runs ok, I guess, I did not drive her very hard, I just wanted to get the motorhome home without a tow.

I'm hoping that if I can get the shifting problems fixed that I can get her to drive around enough to determine the extent of the engine damage that may or may not have been done.

Other than engine oil, all fluids were ok before the trip. Good on Coolant, transmission oil, brakes.

1972 Barth Limited 454 Big Block.

Any help would be appreciated. My uncle says something about a vacuum, maybe something is out of whack.

Also I am in the South Florida area, Fort Lauderdale so if anyone knows of a reliable mechanic down here that would be awesome. Unfortunately we started in Philadelphia and got scammed out of 3000 dollars to fix a fuel issue that I ended up fixing after they failed, and I have been very gun shy of taking this thing to any mechanic. I'd rather do my own work so I know how to be self sufficient, but my uncle says I may be getting in over my head on this one.

Hope you all have a good and safe Christmas.

RustyBarth.

For the trans, assuming it is a TH400, I would check the vacuum line to the modulator. Is it connected and dry?

Then pull the governor, and clean and inspect it. If it is gummed up or if the teeth are worn, the trans will not know the road speed and will not shift. It is behind a sheet metal plate held on by 4 bolts.

You could have a sticking kickdown switch, telling the trans that you are full throttle, causing the upshift to wait until you have the acc pedal floored. Disconnecting the kickdown switch will tell you. the kickdown servo inside the trans could be bad, or just sludged up.

However, since your problem is intermittent, it could be just general gumming up of the trans. A fluid change and a filter is probably a good idea. Some Trans Medic and a good heat up before the change would help. Since you are not eager to drive it, put it in drive and hold the brakes down and load the engine. Watch your trans temp gage and discontinue when it gets above 250.

If you don't have a trans gauge, get the engine really warm the same way. The trans fluid is heated by the heat exchanger in the radiator.

It is never a bad idea to do that.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the info. I picked up the modulator, tranny replacement oil/kit, the TransMedic, and new oil and filter.

Goal is to try to get it put in between today/tomorrow and take her out for a test drive. If it gets rid of the smoke and shifts ok, I might be ok on the engine. Gave her a licking thats for sure.