First, let me agree with Manasquan Transmission & Clutch that there is no such thing as a "dead miss" in a transmission.

A "dead miss" does usually refer to an engine event. A "dead miss" is basicaly a cylinder that does not fire. It is not an intermittent miss or a weak cylinder, but rather a complete "miss" in the firing sequence...no action at all....pretty much a "dead" cylinder.

A dead miss can affect the way your transmission shifts because your transmission shifts according to how much throttle it receives. If your engine has a dead cylinder (there are several reasons this could be happening including bad spark plug, bad spark plug wire, bad distributor cap or rotor, bad coil pack, or even if your firing order is off) you'll need to use more throttle (gas pedal) to obtain normal power. With a "dead" cylinder you will also probably be getting poor mileage and lack horsepower. All the gas going into the "dead" cylinder comes out the tail pipe because it's not getting burned. If you pull each spark plug out you'll see that one will be black and fouled, and this will be the cylinder with the "dead miss". You will want to buy new plug wires and spark plugs at a minimum, and you may need to consult with a shop that performs quality tune-ups for your year truck.

All that being said, the "man" (you didn't mention whether you took your truck to a transmission shop, general repair shop, or a friend!) may have been referring to your transmission "missing a shift", in which case it would indicate a transmission problem. Let's say you have a three speed transmission and when you shift from first, it skips second and goes directly into third gear. This would indicate that your transmission is "missing a shift", and repairs can be performed to fix this.

You should ask for more details on what precisely is meant by "dead miss" in your transmission, and what he is recommending as the remedy; transmission rebuild, replacement, or repair. If you cannot get answers that make sense to you, get a second opinion.

Motorheads Performance specializes in cars and trucks of the 1920's through 1970's. Answers provided are based on our experience with these vehicles. We wish you luck with your repair. www.motorheadsperformance.com www.manasquantransmission.com
Links: www.motorheadsperformance.com, www.manasquantransmission.com

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