No....the '82 used the 700R4 transmission, which is a 4 speed automatic. No vacuum modulator here. The shift feel/pressures are controlled by the TV(throttle valve) cable, which is attached to one of the throttle bodies on the intake. The cable comes up from the trans to the rear of the intake.
Check the actual metal cable part where it comes out of the plastic sheathing for any fraying, or other damage that would keep the inner cable from sliding in/out smoothly. The adjustment is by pushing IN on the small metal tab on the cable end(arrow), then moving the cable in/out of the adjustment block. Moving the cable towards the front of the car will make the shifts earlier and softer, moving the cable towards the rear of the car makes the shifts later and firmer. You do NOT want the shifts too early, or soft.....trans damage WILL occur if it shifts too soft.
The cable is responsible for controlling the fluid pressure of the trans mainly. It also has an effect on shift
timing. However, it is the trans
governor that is most responsible for shift timing.
The governor is basically a mechanical speed sensor that tells the trans how fast the vehicle is moving, and what gear it needs to be in. A failing gov can cause all kinds of shifting issues, from wrong gear starts, late/early shifts, to no shift at all.
The last thing that can cause a weird shift pattern would be the valve body itself. Valve body problems with the 700 are not very common, other than a sticky/stuck TV valve.....which brings us back to the TV cable itself. Check that cable first, and go from there. Make sure it is not damaged, and that you can pull it all the way out, and it pulls itself back in. ANY binding of the cable can cause shifting problems.....gotta make sure the cable is working well first.
I don't recommend making any adjustments on the TV cable at this point....just check to see if it is free to work properly.
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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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