2004R UPGRADE'S to work like a BRF.

[TURBOPOWERED68]

I have a Trans that was built about 8-9 years ago sitting in the garage it has about 1 years worth of use behind a very week motor then it sat. The Trans never felt perfect but I also never had a good converter (not even a Stock D5)

So now my current trans (stock 2004R out of a 4.3 Monte) is dieing and I am going to put the "Built" Trans on the car and would like to now what "things" I could do to it to make it work like a solid BRF trans.

The car is almost all stock
I am going to use a used stock D5 (from a board vendor)

The Trans has or should have all art carr stuff from the late 90's
1-billet servo
2-clutches
3-band
4-up graded front pump.
Id say about $1100.00 of art car stuff.
Including a stator support that broke with in a week.
I also put a B&M shift kit on it. Before it was sent to the shop.

Before I put the Trans in the car WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IT?
Of course on a SMALL budget.
Thanks guys for your help.

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Ttt.

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Ttt

[bison]

For starters id get a BR coded vb and the governor that goes with it. Use a CK shift recalibration kit. B&M inst thorough enough and doesnt include boost valves from what i remember. You need hardened pump rings in the pump also. Who built it before?

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Originally Posted by bison

For starters id get a BR coded vb and the governor that goes with it. Use a CK shift recalibration kit. B&M inst thorough enough and doesnt include boost valves from what i remember. You need hardened pump rings in the pump also. Who built it before?

A local shop with some really fast cars under his belt but I think mostly 2 and 3 speeds.
I didn't think the BRF valve body would fit a Regular Trans and neither did the Trans guy.
I have been looking every where for my old Art Carr book I had circled every thing I ordered for the Trans.
I’ll try and call them to see if they have a copy of the order (wish full thinking)

If I open the Trans my self how could I tell what parts are in it?
Would getting pictures for you guys help?
Could another shift kit be put on the same valve body?
Could the governer from a BRF be put on my Trans with the current Valve body? (In case I can't afford a BRF one)

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Ttt

[David Husek]

As per our conversation on the phone, you need to get the correct parts and I will go thru the unit for you to see what is there. We have only been building BRF transmissions for 16+ years.. As for doing this right, you are on a budget, why do it ten times, do it right the first time and save some money. Any more info, you can contact me anytime...we will work with you as I said on the phone to you. Dave

[bison]

Originally Posted by TURBOPOWERED68

A local shop with some really fast cars under his belt but I think mostly 2 and 3 speeds.
I didn't think the BRF valve body would fit a Regular Trans and neither did the Trans guy.
I have been looking every where for my old Art Carr book I had circled every thing I ordered for the Trans.
I’ll try and call them to see if they have a copy of the order (wish full thinking)

If I open the Trans my self how could I tell what parts are in it?
Would getting pictures for you guys help?
Could another shift kit be put on the same valve body?
Could the governer from a BRF be put on my Trans with the current Valve body? (In case I can't afford a BRF one)

All 200 4-R vb's are interchangeable as long as the correct seperater plate is used so i would be wary of that trans guy. All the case casting hydraulic passeges are the same. You need the vb and the governor. Call CK. He usually has both and will selll you one with his updated accumlator spring and line bias spring. The valvebody will have a paint mark on it that will read BR. BQ, CZ, CQ, KZ, and OZ are are just as good but they must be used with the governor that they came with. There are small exceptions to that between the ones i mentioned but you will have problems trying to use a low performance vb with a governor from a high perf vb. They are not that expensive and can be had for under $500 for both and will make a huge difference. Swapping them on the bench is very easy.

[TURBOPOWERED68]

WOW

I went to the Trans shop that did the all of the original work and talked to him for a little bit. (Over the years they have done two PGs, one TH350 and 3 T400's and I have been happy with all of them).
I asked him the same question about upgrades and BRF and "whys I didn't" and "why I dids" the things I did.
Anyway the out come was that at the time I had the Trans done I didn't have enough money for a BRF body and supporting goods AND that I didn't need it.
Because My Trans is a "BQ" ? And even after I had installed a cheap (B&M) Shift kit. He went in there and made some his adjustments to it (him being familiar with the B&M kits).
Anyway he told right from the beginning of hour conversation that my problem all ways and has been the converter and if I had waited for one from the beginning I wouldn't have any doubts or upgrades questions about the Trans.
The bottom line is, he said he would order me a D5 with a HD Bearing and that I would be more then happy with the Trans. And he was right on the money.

Well after 9 years of getting the Trans done. (1 year on the road and 8 collecting dust) I am happy as a pig in ship.

I put this stuff just before I installed it today.
New front and rear seals
New O-ring on the Plug
New filter and gasket
And the new D5 with HD bearing

And it was like driving a completely deferent car.
I put it gear and NO more hard BUMP.
I drove it normal and it felt almost normal (strong second and third shift)
I stepped on it from a 15-20 roll and it just broke loose
I stepped on it from a dead stop (off of idle) and it almost instantly broke loose and it went thru first and second.
I took of hard but with no tire spin and when it shifted into second it chirped the tire and just took off.
This Trans never felt like this heck this set up never worked this good.
Tuesday they are getting breakfast on me.

I just want to go back out and just drive my car.
Anyway thanks guys for all of your help and advice.

Now I wonder what’s going to be my next issue

[bison]

The BQ vb is very similar to the BR

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Originally Posted by bison

The BQ vb is very similar to the BR

cool, i had no idea.
but what a deference a TC makes i could just imagine what a high $$$ TC would feel like.
also the car doesn't feel "loose" it feels real good.

now to put on that huge cooler thats coming in the mail.

[bison]

Originally Posted by TURBOPOWERED68

cool, i had no idea.
but what a deference a TC makes i could just imagine what a high $$$ TC would feel like.
also the car doesn't feel "loose" it feels real good.

now to put on that huge cooler thats coming in the mail.

We know what a difference a converter makes. Actually out of all things in the last 10 years imo torque converters are the most improved high performance part. Were picking up 4-5 mph with a good converter these days and they work just as well or better down low.