Hi guys, new to the site. Just bought a 1986 Z28 on saturday. I'll get some pics up tonight after work. I'm just getting into working on cars and thought this would be fun and fun to drive. So I bought this knowing that I would need to do some work on it. The person I bought it from told me that they had tranny problems with the car so they replaced it, was unable to verify this. The car runs strong, but when I drove it home it shifted hard, (like jerk me back and almost squeel the tires). It made it home fine though. My brother looked at it the next day and told me that I was not driving correctly and to put my foot into it. I did this and it shifted fine, no jerking, no squeeling the tires.
Yesterday we got back under the hood and fixed the temp guage (sensor on the motor went out), replaced this and filled her back up. We noticed while doing this that a wire running from the back of the alternator to the battery was pretty much non existent, barely hanging on by one exposed wire. We replaced this wire and taped it up. We went out for a drive after this to make sure we were still hot, and noticed the battery gauge was down.
When I went to start it this morning she fired up, but then died and was a no go after. I assumed the cold drained the battery and I would just need to charge it. I went to work for about 4 hours and went home with the charger and tried to fire her up. First time just like always and stayed running. When I drove it though it was a different story, was fine at first but then, shifting hard when I went slow, shifting fine when I went fast. Battery gauge was still low, so I turned off the radio (no amps hooked up), and turned off the heater. After doing so the car would not go and I heard popping like noises from what I assume was the tranny.
I guess my questions are, is this type of car supposed to shift that way? This is my first Camaro, I was driving an 86 Prelude before. Second, would the car being low on charge or not charging effect my transmission in any way. Had to go back to work, but plan on digging into it tonight when I get home. Any help would be apreciated, sorry for the wall of text, just wanted to give the limited background I have. Chris.

 

Alternator or regulator is probibly bad. Check to see how much voltage you have while the car is running. Should be 14ish. You can take the alternator to autozone to get it tested.

What trans do you have in it? Probibly had a shift kit installed which will hit the gears harder.

 

If you have the original style transmission, you would have a 700R4. Check the setting for the TV cable (link below). If it's set too tight, it will make the trans bang the upshifts harder than normal. In stock form, your 1-2 shift should happen around 15 mph range, and not hard. http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php

 

the popping noise you heard may have been fuel lighting off in the exhaust by not having enough electrical power to fully burn the fuel mixture. have the alt checked, and replace as needed, and adjust the tv cable. after that, we can help you further

 

Ended up being my alternator in the end. At first when we took it in they told me my alternator was good, but we went to a family friend who owns a garage and he retested it and it was shot. Had quite the time getting a new alternator though, it seems that mine was turned to 30 degrees so I had to go a different shop to have the new turned in the end. Battery gauge steady at 13-14 now, and finally got some pics taken now that we have had a nice day for it. Thanks for all the responses and that link to the TV Cable adjustment, very helpful.