can a valve body cause slippage?

[OneLethal87GN]

After a rebuild the tranny builder installed a non-performance valve body in my BQ tranny. My BQ body had a slight problem with it so he put the other in. The trans. shifts nice and firm under part throttle. It will catch second at times. The trans. has a shift kit, wide band and old 200 servo installed. Under heavy boost ( @ 15 psi+ ) the trans kind of slips from gear to gear. I have also noticed that leaving it in 2nd and going WOT the trans seems to lose grip about that same psi level. The car has quite a few mods. Could the valve body not be putting out enough pressure to keep things in check? Would installing a GN body cure this? I don't get on it very often. I just want it to hold up when I do. Could over-filling the tranny help cure this? I've also read about sucking in air causing these problems. Is there a certain filter to use, or mods to do to a filter? Thanks in advance.

 

[bison]

After a rebuild the tranny builder installed a non-performance valve body in my BQ tranny. My BQ body had a slight problem with it so he put the other in. The trans. shifts nice and firm under part throttle. It will catch second at times. The trans. has a shift kit, wide band and old 200 servo installed. Under heavy boost ( @ 15 psi+ ) the trans kind of slips from gear to gear. I have also noticed that leaving it in 2nd and going WOT the trans seems to lose grip about that same psi level. The car has quite a few mods. Could the valve body not be putting out enough pressure to keep things in check? Would installing a GN body cure this? I don't get on it very often. I just want it to hold up when I do. Could over-filling the tranny help cure this? I've also read about sucking in air causing these problems. Is there a certain filter to use, or mods to do to a filter? Thanks in advance.

Get some hot line pressure readings and we can go from there. What boost valves wre used in the pump? The BQ and BR trans have a larger throttle vlve also. Find out which valvebody you have.

 

[brian]

You mention you have "quite a few mods".
What accumulator set up/spring is in there. If you have a stock type rebuild without changing those springs you may have a problem. How much power, or how fast is your car? You may be overpowering what that accumulator is capable of, or clutch holding power.
This may be a least a portion of your issues.
HTH, Brian

 

[chris718]

follow bison advise and install a gage .without that we will all only be speculating and that is not going to fix the transmission.

 

[77 cruiser]

Don't just get the press. in the driveway, but take it on the road & see what happens.

 

[OneLethal87GN]

I'll try to locate a gauge. I've looked around before and no local parts stores carry them that I've found. The valve body was replaced with a generic valve body from a 200-4r. The builder ( AAMCO ) believes all 200-4rs are the same so they just found a 200-4r valve body and put it in. I could tell quite a difference in shift firmness from that valve body and the BQ that was taken out. They re-installed the shift kit from Bruce at PTS including the 1-2 spring. They also put an orifice in the 1-2 accumulator hole to firm up the 1-2 shift. I had them install the Alto wide band and an old 200 servo. Under normal driving the shifts are very firm. Under WOT they seem to slip. I want to buy a BQ or BRF valve body to install to see if that helps. If not I will be saving up for a good tranny this time. The days of going to know-it-alls like Aamco are over. I'm taking it to a turbo Buick person that understands how different these trannies are from other 200-4rs.

 

[bison]

I'll try to locate a gauge. I've looked around before and no local parts stores carry them that I've found. The valve body was replaced with a generic valve body from a 200-4r. The builder ( AAMCO ) believes all 200-4rs are the same so they just found a 200-4r valve body and put it in. I could tell quite a difference in shift firmness from that valve body and the BQ that was taken out. They re-installed the shift kit from Bruce at PTS including the 1-2 spring. They also put an orifice in the 1-2 accumulator hole to firm up the 1-2 shift. I had them install the Alto wide band and an old 200 servo. Under normal driving the shifts are very firm. Under WOT they seem to slip. I want to buy a BQ or BRF valve body to install to see if that helps. If not I will be saving up for a good tranny this time. The days of going to know-it-alls like Aamco are over. I'm taking it to a turbo Buick person that understands how different these trannies are from other 200-4rs.

The two valve bodies you mentioned will make all the difference. AA, and CZ will also work well. Others are not reccomended for high performance.

 

[OneLethal87GN]

my mods

I've mentioned the mods to the tranny, so here are the mods to the engine. Rebuilt .030 over w/ forged pistons, ported heads w/ bigger valves, 14" K&N, TE-63-1, ESP front mount, 009s, the normal fuel mods, SMC alky kit, ATR 3" downpipe, 3" single shot, and a power plate are the main mods. There are other mods but I don't want to type all day and I'm sure you're not wanting to read all day. This is a 100% street car that will only see the track from the parking lot. It is my daily driver so the occasional beat down will have to be put on certain people. I'll try the valve body first. I'll still be getting a built unit later this year, if I don't sell it first. One last question, is there a site to get step by step instructions on replacing the body yourself? It seems simple in the video I have but it mainly shows a shift kit being installed and doesn't detail the R&R of the body. I feel confident enough to tackle this myself because it seems to be pretty simple. Thanks again for the responses.

 

[bison]

I've mentioned the mods to the tranny, so here are the mods to the engine. Rebuilt .030 over w/ forged pistons, ported heads w/ bigger valves, 14" K&N, TE-63-1, ESP front mount, 009s, the normal fuel mods, SMC alky kit, ATR 3" downpipe, 3" single shot, and a power plate are the main mods. There are other mods but I don't want to type all day and I'm sure you're not wanting to read all day. This is a 100% street car that will only see the track from the parking lot. It is my daily driver so the occasional beat down will have to be put on certain people. I'll try the valve body first. I'll still be getting a built unit later this year, if I don't sell it first. One last question, is there a site to get step by step instructions on replacing the body yourself? It seems simple in the video I have but it mainly shows a shift kit being installed and doesn't detail the R&R of the body. I feel confident enough to tackle this myself because it seems to be pretty simple. Thanks again for the responses.

Chris at CK has a great manual on the 200 4-R.

 

[WE4]

onelethal87gn

Give me a shout sometime. I got a few questions for you. I am not typing all of them but I think I can quite possibly solve your dilemma.
call shop or cell.
916-739-0510 shop
916-952-9567 cell

Bruce
WE4
ww.PTSXTREME.com

 

[EricB]

I'm in NC as well if you need a gage let me know i might have one that i can get a new hose for and send it to you. I know i shut one in a door before! If you need a hand with the tranny let me know.I would get the correct valvebody and plate for the transmission if I don't have one give Bruce a call.
http://www.ptsxtreme.com

 

[OneLethal87GN]

I'm currently trying to get a BRF valve body to install in it. I will also get it rebuilt if it still acts up with the new valve body. I have Bruce's shift kit installed now but may look into a different shift kit if I do get a rebuild. Where in N.C. are you? I'm about an hour and a half east of Raleigh.

 

[EricB]

I.m in henderson about 35 minutes north of Durham on I 85. I stock Transgo shift kits just let me know.

 

[chris718]

eric do yourself and your customers a favor and stay away from the trans go shift kit.its junk for turbobuicks,ask bruce we just had a conversation about it a few days ago.forward clutch oil and governor feed and upshift oil are all in the same circuit in a 2004r.the orifice transgo has to install in the governor passage causes second gear starts if tv oil exiting the plunger that feeds the tv upshift valve is above 5 psi at idle in gear .this results in enough reidual governor oil in the circuit to open the shift valve against modulated tv upshift oil ,valve land diameter and shift valve spring.also the 2/3 shift valve spring they instal results in late 2/3 shifts at all throttle angles.

 

[bison]

eric do yourself and your customers a favor and stay away from the trans go shift kit.its junk for turbobuicks,ask bruce we just had a conversation about it a few days ago.forward clutch oil and governor feed and upshift oil are all in the same circuit in a 2004r.the orifice transgo has to install in the governor passage causes second gear starts if tv oil exiting the plunger that feeds the tv upshift valve is above 5 psi at idle in gear .this results in enough reidual governor oil in the circuit to open the shift valve against modulated tv upshift oil ,valve land diameter and shift valve spring.also the 2/3 shift valve spring they instal results in late 2/3 shifts at all throttle angles.

Ive noted these symptoms also with the BRF valvebody and the transgo shiftkit.

 

[Turbo1dr]

Billy, I have a gauge you can borrow to check those pressures. Be prepared to get your hands a little dirty... :biggrin:

 

[EricB]

Chris, I build around 400 transmissions a year GM, Ford, and Dodge all come with a 12 12 warrenty, I have installed alot of transgo shift kits with no problems and my customers love the way MY Transmissions shift you build your transmissions your way and i'll build mine my way. O' I guess transgo has been doing it all wrong for all theses years. One thing about it if he or she don't like the kit i'll make it right or refund there money or will try something else.

 

[national]

I think chris was just trying to help not run you down..some things just dont work in some cars & chris & bruce are 2 of the big guys here that specialise in the 200r4...Im sure they have built & still build alot more than most any normal tranny shop..what works for 350's dont always work for the turboregals..

Chris, I build around 400 transmissions a year GM, Ford, and Dodge all come with a 12 12 warrenty, I have installed alot of transgo shift kits with no problems and my customers love the way MY Transmissions shift you build your transmissions your way and i'll build mine my way. O' I guess transgo has been doing it all wrong for all theses years. One thing about it if he or she don't like the kit i'll make it right or refund there money or will try something else.

 

[chris718]

my statement is not at all related to how many transmissions you build or the warrantee you offer.that doesnt interest me.my statement is in regards to the problems associated with the transgo 2004r shift kit when installed in a turbo buick valve body.although we dont use transgo shift kits in favor of our own,anyone in the transmission business is certainly familiar with them.unfortunately the 2004r kit wasnt as well thought out as some of there other items.enjoy the benefits of the 82.00 master kit