8
87LS
Guest
Okay, here's the deal. Tranny is in a 87 Monte. NOT a SS car. Added a lower geared rear, so since I needed to change speedo gears ( drive and driven ) I figured why not go ahead and install a shift-kit in the 95k mile 2004R..which had performed FLAWLESSLY, albeit with soft factory ( non HP ) shifts.
I've done a few shift kits in the 2004R, never had any problems. So off I go, this was the cheapy Trans Go kit w/ better PR valve , TV boost and intermediate boost valve.
I got the TV boost sleeve stuck in the PR bore without any of the other components behind it, ended up putting everything back together and "blowing" it out. After, new boost valves and PR regulator w/ spring installed WITHOUT problems.
Followed the shift kit directions, put the tranny back together. Fill it w/ fluid, go for test drive.
NOTE: At the same time I added a Monte SS governor assembly ( as I needed the 10 tooth gear anyway )
1-2 shift is great, NO 2-3 shift UNLESS you put the column shifter in OD ( 4th) then it shifts to 3rd... NO 4th AT ALL.
Tried playing w/ TV, no 4th gear, just later, harder shifts.
Dropped everything again. checked for misplaced checkballs, mis-aligned gaskets, took valvebody back apart and checked mods..EVERYTHING was right on. Even took the servo back apart and re-checked all the mods. Put it back together with new gaskets..added 4 qts fluid.
Drove car, it shifted fine, EVEN into 4th!!! Drove around for about 10 minutes. Came back, checked fluid, added a quart ( it was low ) took it back out for a drive...NO 4th gear. No 2-3 shift unless in OD position...just like before...!!!!!!!! WTF???
Okay...dropped the pan again.. swapped to the ORIGINAL governor and just swapped the gear on I needed. ALL Springs were there and fine. Used new gasket on governor cover.
Drove it....it WORKED....came back, added another qt of ATF ( it was low ) went for a drive.. it still worked, then driving along at 65mph or so in 4th, it just sort of "slid" into 3rd...no real downshift. Moved the shifter to 3rd, ( after slowing down ) and it shifted to 2nd!!! Moved shifter to 2nd and it DID NOT downshift ( stayed in 2nd ).
Dropped the pan AGAIN...checked everything...got pissed off and went to the junkyard and pulled a complete valvebody from a '82 Caprice w/ 307 and 2004R. Swapped ALL the shift kit parts INTO the "new-to-me" valvebody....installed...4 qts of ATF...go for a drive....IT SHIFTS!!! NICE 1-2 shift, SOFT 2-3 shift, and a GREAT 3-4 shift....
So what happened? Did the original valvebody just die when I dropped it? ALSO the tranny started "buzzing" in gear the day BEFORE I started messing w/ the shift kit....I figured it was the stock PR jumping around in the bore ( common or so I 'm told ).
It buzzed off and on EVEN w/ the new PR valve, but I haven't noticed a buzzing so far w/ the different valvebody.
I THINK I may have put the wrong TV spring in... IF I did, and put the stock TV spring in the valvebody, would that cause the soft 2-3 shift?
The shifts are WAY to early at WOT, and I'm sure the original governor explains it ( 3200 RPM shifts ) , so I'm gonna drop the pan, check the TV spring ( can't I just remove the TV assembly, pull the pin, then remove the TV bushing and plunger to get at the spring? I wouldn't think I'd need to drop the VB ??? ) and install the MONTE SS governor and see if this helps....
Also, I know the NA V-6 servo has less apply area...will adding a Turbo 200 servo help the 2-3 shift? Really don't want to shell out for a Super Servo or something, since the tranny will be replaced by a manual in the next 30k or so...and it's not a high HP application...
Right now the 2-3 shift is VERY soft....it shifts, but feels really MUSHY. The downshift from 4th to 3rd feels firmer than the upshift and EVEN with MORE TV adjustment, it doesn't want to downshift into 2nd when you punch in 3rd...could this be caused by the wrong TV spring ( too weak ) ???
Any help greatly appreciated. I'm getting TOO GOOD at dropping and installing the valvebody.....I did it yesterday in less than 2 hours, and that includes putting it on jackstands, removing the shift kit from one to VB, putting it in the other VB, re-installing, etc etc..
Chris
Who doesn't care about tire-chirping shifts, that's directly-related to engine torque anyway...I just want nice , firm , QUICK shifts to preserve the tranny until I get my motor built.
I've done a few shift kits in the 2004R, never had any problems. So off I go, this was the cheapy Trans Go kit w/ better PR valve , TV boost and intermediate boost valve.
I got the TV boost sleeve stuck in the PR bore without any of the other components behind it, ended up putting everything back together and "blowing" it out. After, new boost valves and PR regulator w/ spring installed WITHOUT problems.
Followed the shift kit directions, put the tranny back together. Fill it w/ fluid, go for test drive.
NOTE: At the same time I added a Monte SS governor assembly ( as I needed the 10 tooth gear anyway )
1-2 shift is great, NO 2-3 shift UNLESS you put the column shifter in OD ( 4th) then it shifts to 3rd... NO 4th AT ALL.
Tried playing w/ TV, no 4th gear, just later, harder shifts.
Dropped everything again. checked for misplaced checkballs, mis-aligned gaskets, took valvebody back apart and checked mods..EVERYTHING was right on. Even took the servo back apart and re-checked all the mods. Put it back together with new gaskets..added 4 qts fluid.
Drove car, it shifted fine, EVEN into 4th!!! Drove around for about 10 minutes. Came back, checked fluid, added a quart ( it was low ) took it back out for a drive...NO 4th gear. No 2-3 shift unless in OD position...just like before...!!!!!!!! WTF???
Okay...dropped the pan again.. swapped to the ORIGINAL governor and just swapped the gear on I needed. ALL Springs were there and fine. Used new gasket on governor cover.
Drove it....it WORKED....came back, added another qt of ATF ( it was low ) went for a drive.. it still worked, then driving along at 65mph or so in 4th, it just sort of "slid" into 3rd...no real downshift. Moved the shifter to 3rd, ( after slowing down ) and it shifted to 2nd!!! Moved shifter to 2nd and it DID NOT downshift ( stayed in 2nd ).
Dropped the pan AGAIN...checked everything...got pissed off and went to the junkyard and pulled a complete valvebody from a '82 Caprice w/ 307 and 2004R. Swapped ALL the shift kit parts INTO the "new-to-me" valvebody....installed...4 qts of ATF...go for a drive....IT SHIFTS!!! NICE 1-2 shift, SOFT 2-3 shift, and a GREAT 3-4 shift....
So what happened? Did the original valvebody just die when I dropped it? ALSO the tranny started "buzzing" in gear the day BEFORE I started messing w/ the shift kit....I figured it was the stock PR jumping around in the bore ( common or so I 'm told ).
It buzzed off and on EVEN w/ the new PR valve, but I haven't noticed a buzzing so far w/ the different valvebody.
I THINK I may have put the wrong TV spring in... IF I did, and put the stock TV spring in the valvebody, would that cause the soft 2-3 shift?
The shifts are WAY to early at WOT, and I'm sure the original governor explains it ( 3200 RPM shifts ) , so I'm gonna drop the pan, check the TV spring ( can't I just remove the TV assembly, pull the pin, then remove the TV bushing and plunger to get at the spring? I wouldn't think I'd need to drop the VB ??? ) and install the MONTE SS governor and see if this helps....
Also, I know the NA V-6 servo has less apply area...will adding a Turbo 200 servo help the 2-3 shift? Really don't want to shell out for a Super Servo or something, since the tranny will be replaced by a manual in the next 30k or so...and it's not a high HP application...
Right now the 2-3 shift is VERY soft....it shifts, but feels really MUSHY. The downshift from 4th to 3rd feels firmer than the upshift and EVEN with MORE TV adjustment, it doesn't want to downshift into 2nd when you punch in 3rd...could this be caused by the wrong TV spring ( too weak ) ???
Any help greatly appreciated. I'm getting TOO GOOD at dropping and installing the valvebody.....I did it yesterday in less than 2 hours, and that includes putting it on jackstands, removing the shift kit from one to VB, putting it in the other VB, re-installing, etc etc..
Chris
Who doesn't care about tire-chirping shifts, that's directly-related to engine torque anyway...I just want nice , firm , QUICK shifts to preserve the tranny until I get my motor built.