1998 Chevy Cavalier Transmission Problems

Hey everyone,

I think I have a pretty good idea as to what is wrong with my transmission, but I wanted to ask the knowledgeable folks here.

So, when I am driving at highway speeds and cruising, I can feel the transmission jerk on and off. (The kind of feeling it makes when it switches gears) If I step on the gas pedal while it is doing it, it goes away. While it is acting up, my speed gradually decreases.

This leads me to believe that the issue lies in the torque converter clutch. I say this because normally, when the driver steps on the gas pedal to accelerate, the transmission will disengage the TCC. It almost feels like the clutch is being engaged and disengaged rapidly, or slipping.

This is my project car, so I decided to remove the transmission to get a better look as to what the issue could be. I haven’t had time to tear into it yet, but I wanted to ask for some opinions. I am wondering if all I need to do is replace the torque converter, or if one of the seals to the TCC hydraulic circuit is leaking and causing a lack of pressure or something. The rebuild kit is only around 85 bucks and comes with all the seals, gaskets, steels, and clutch discs. I also have the factory service manual so I might just rebuild it and see what happens..