Automatic transmission

[Hoghunter11]

Is it normal for a 88 mighty max to wait to shift until rpm are really high and to drop from overdrive back down with a slight bit of foot in the gas to accelerate a little more

[geezer101]

Sounds like it needs servicing. If it has issues engaging or needs high rpm to shift there is something up. My guess are the control circuit valves are sticking or are gummed up.

[SubGothius]

I can't speak to these autos in particular, but typical behavior for autos in general is to kickdown to lower gear on abrupt acceleration, and to delay upshift until high-RPM when the gas is floored, but neither of those should happen with routine part-throttle acceleration. You could have a bad, dirty, or just misadjusted throttle position sensor or carb kickdown mechanism, so it's misreading a wide-open throttle condition when that's not actually the case.

[geezer101]

^good point - I overlooked something simpler. Check the kickdown cable ad adjust it if it has some obvious slack (check your throttle cable too while you're there)