How do you make it shift harder?

[OneLethal87GN]

Other than the usual ways of a shift kit and playing with the t.v. cable? The tranny is a BQ code with one of Bruce's shift kits, but a generic valve body installed due to a stacked shift in the original. With the cheap valve body and Bruce's kit the car will not even come close to barking any gear, even with the t.v. cable adjusted all the way in. Not under WOT, half-throttle or even with a little boost. The shifts become a little firmer under more throttle but nowhere near what they were before AAMCO got ahold of it. I know the bigger servo will help some but does the valve body make that big of a difference in shift feel? It supposedly has the Alto red band installed. With the stcok valve body it had strong shifts, but a stacked shift. Their lack of ability to get that out resulted in them putting in a lesser valve body. The shifts were more where they were supposed to be but the firmness was almost all but gone. I was thinking of adding the 200 servo and maybe trying a different shift kit. Can you delete any springs to make a firmer shift? I know a shift kit replaces some springs but do any tell you to delete any? One last note... If you even come close to thinking about letting ANY AAMCO even touch your tranny THINK AGAIN!!!!! Not only do they seem to scam you on price but their home office for customer service is a joke!

 

[MeanBuicks]

Before you change anything, I suggest you get the line pressure checked. You may have a situation with the pump/boost valves/TV system that is preventing your maximum pressure from being correct; i.e. 200+ psi.

 

[HellOnWheels]

What should the pressure(s) be?


HOW

 

[77 cruiser]

In this range

Range Minimum Maximum
Park 90-110 190-230
Reverse 95-120 200-300
Neutral 90-110 190-230
Overdrive 90-110 190-230
Drive 90-110 190-230
Second 185-230 185-230
Low 185-230 185-230



Jim

 

[HellOnWheels]

Re: In this range

Originally posted by 77 cruiser
Range Minimum Maximum
Park 90-110 190-230
Reverse 95-120 200-300
Neutral 90-110 190-230
Overdrive 90-110 190-230
Drive 90-110 190-230
Second 185-230 185-230
Low 185-230 185-230



Jim

Thanks Jim.

 

[jpratt]

If the trans pressure checks out to be good, try changing fluid to type F. Mine shifted real hard and I will switch back to Dex as soon as the engine is done.

 

[2quiktocare]

Lethal, did you ever get your valve body from your old trans back?
That is going to be the first place to start. Get that valve body rebuilt and installed with the alterations in it for our shift kit.
I really get bothered when people go to places like Aamco and get the run around and then get sold things that aren't needed and your trans still works poorly. If our shift kit is installed properly even with a non br/bq valve body, it will shift hard. Something is going on that needs to be addressed to get this thing right.
Let us know if we can be of any help. thanks, Mark

 

[OneLethal87GN]

Thanks for the replies. Mark, you may remember me from a few months ago when I had the guy at AAMCO give you guys a call about the shift kit instructions. I believe he changed the springs and valve bodies so much he doesn't know which spring belongs where anymore. He traded the valve bodies out more than once before settling on the generic one. He could never get the stacked shift out. I have the valve body on the floor behind me. How much do you guys charge ro rebuild/repair valve bodies? He cleaned most of the stacked shift up. It comes back every now and then though. The shift kit is still in the car but the shifts are nowhere near what they were before the trans went down. itried to get them to do a pressure check more than once but they refused. They want me to believe there is nothing wrong with my tranny and to leave them alone. I sure wished one of you tranny experts on this board lived closer to N.C. My main concern was having a tranny shop remove the tranny, shipping it to a vendor, having it shipped back, then put back in. I had the cash to have it done but not have the shipping and R/R on top of it. I'm trying to save up though. One thing's for sure, either I'll end up getting it done by one of the board vendors or I'll sell the car.

 

[2quiktocare]

Leathal, Bruce said if you want to, ship the valve body to us and we can look and see what we can with it. After he takes a look, he can better tell what is up. Let us know. Mark

 

[OneLethal87GN]

Cool. I'll try and send it out sometime next week. Your kit worked great before they started shifting valve bodies around. I believe he switched the springs so much that he got them confused and now the shifts are like I don't even have a shift kit in the car. He says the plate is in the tranny along with the acc. spring. Would a stiffer acc. spring bring harder shifts or would you recommend removing the spring altogether? I'm looking at just ordering a big servo and making the tranny shift like it used to and leaving the useless morons at Aamco alone. I do have one last surprise in store for them though. If trying to negotiate with them and legal action don't make them be stand-up guys then maybe this will work.