Low Line Pressure

[LCAC_Man]

I have a 200r4 installed behind my 406SBC. Built by what I believe to be a good vendor (well known in the LS1 community anyway). I'm getting very low No TV idle pressure (58psi) in park, full TV in park with 1500rpms is only making about 140psi (and fluctuating there). I've spent alot of time getting the TV cable set well (even pulled the pan to ensure the closed and WOT positions).
Road test shows that it does not want to start in 1st and has early and soft shifts, no doubt these are symptoms of the low pressures. Vendor sent me a new .500 boost valve that I have not yet installed. Wanted to get some input before I tear into this again.
Also I'm running a Yank SS3200 stall converter if that makes any difference.
Vendor has offered to take the trans back but I'd like to get it solved in the car if possible.

 

[bison]

With a .470 boost valve it should still have about 175 psi line at full TV. You may have a pump issue. High pressures cause second gear starts not low ones. Get us all the details on the trans. The vb the was used and the pump mods.

 

[LCAC_Man]

Get us all the details on the trans.

PM sent, don't want to get into vendor bashing.

 

[LCAC_Man]

With a .470 boost valve it should still have about 175 psi line at full TV. You may have a pump issue. High pressures cause second gear starts not low ones. Get us all the details on the trans. The vb the was used and the pump mods.

Closest it gets to 175 is when in reverse, M1 and M2(about 150psi no tv, only increases to 170 with full TV at 1500rpm). I can manually shift through all gears with no problem, shifts are very "stock" in feel and too early, it shifts to OD at about 40mph.

 

[LCAC_Man]

Without having a tag on the case, how can I identify what VB and Governor I have. Plan to pull the pan in a couple weeks to swap the boost valve, what else should I look at while I'm there? Pressure regulator, reverse boost valve, etc...?

 

[bison]

When you pull he pan you can observe the vb. It will have a 2 letter code painted on it. The high performance vb's have a pink or purple stripe painted on the side of them too. The governor is easy to pull. Post pics.

 

[Lee Thompson]

pressure reg. spring

Shouldn't he go with a slightly stronger spring while into the pump bore?

 

[bison]

Shouldn't he go with a slightly stronger spring while into the pump bore?

Id replace it. But we dont even know what he has. The trans should already have one in it.

 

[LCAC_Man]

When I drop the pan I'll take pic's and post them. I'd like to cover as much as I can while I've got the VB dropped.

 

[jakeshoe]

I'm curious about the builder also. Please PM me the info.

I've been watching some posts on the LS1 sites and I've seen some very interesting stuff from big name builders. Basically "I don't know what the F I'm doing" type stuff, like not dual feeding a 4L80e or TH400 yet installing billet hard parts? No bearing in the rear, etc. Pretty funny actually. Some guys buys a $3K trans from a "reputable" vendor who has been on an advertising blitz on every auto forum on the net, and get's a set of fried direct clutches about every month. Poor guy, but the vendor will be getting some good lessons in hydraulics. They seem to have a decent rep with the 4L60 stuff.
I guess you can be good at ONE thing and nothing else.

Post up the pics, there are plenty here familiar with the 200-4R.

 

[LCAC_Man]

When you pull he pan you can observe the vb. It will have a 2 letter code painted on it. The high performance vb's have a pink or purple stripe painted on the side of them too. The governor is easy to pull. Post pics.

Valve Body looks to be a 6KC, stamped in yellow.

 

[LCAC_Man]

Boost valve was a .365", even the replacement he sent me was only a .423" not the .500" he promised

 

[LCAC_Man]

Need help to id this governor

 

[LCAC_Man]

Valve body has 3 check balls in it. Plate has 7 check balls and the gasket looks to have failed a bit.

 

[LCAC_Man]

No suprise now, the reverse boost valve is the smaller .265" and is burred so that the plunger hangs up toward the bottom. How can I determine what regulator spring this is?

 

[jakeshoe]

It doesn't surprise me.
Stock PR spring, stock boost valves, no VB kit, nothing just a junk ass stock rebuild.

They must really do damage control on the LS1 boards to maintain their reputation because those guys think they are great over there and it is obvious that they don't know shyt.


OK,
Enough of my bashing.

Let me see if I have any reverse boost valves left in stock. If so I'll send you a PR assembly and some VB gaskets and "tips".

Jake

 

[LCAC_Man]

It doesn't surprise me.
Stock PR spring, stock boost valves, no VB kit, nothing just a junk ass stock rebuild.


Let me see if I have any reverse boost valves left in stock. If so I'll send you a PR assembly and some VB gaskets and "tips".

Jake

Jake,
Thanks for the help, I've been thinking this was just a stock soft parts type refresh since I looked up the stock line pressures and mine match almost exactly. Then he send's me the "largest aftermarket boost valve" which turns out to only be a .423" and right on the same install instructions it mentions the .471" and .500" sizes and their part numbers...!
I got ahold of him and he's pretty willing to send me anything I ask for (I just need to know what that is) so don't go depleting your stock, I'll get him to cover at least that and pick up the shipping.
Right now I think I need:
1. Proper MonteCarlo SS governor
2. High Pressure Regulator spring
3. Larger boost (.500") and reverse boost (.283" or .296"?) valves
4. Valve body gaskets
5. New pan gasket and filter
Anything wrong with using the KC valve body? Do I need some sort of "shift kit"?
I think they're doing the ls1 stuff in house and farming out the other, that's what it seems like anyway...

 

[jakeshoe]

I called them to give them a heads up.

The funny thing is that the boost valves are the same as a 700. Basically you build the pump the same as a 700-R4, and a 700 usually has bigger boost valve stock, so they probably have a stock .471 boost valve laying around.

The .500 boost valves cost all of about $4, so for the price of the trans on their website, they shouldn't shortcut here.
An aftermarket PR spring is about a $1.
Reverse boost valves are $4-6.

so for $10-15 worth of parts they could have sent you a unit that at least had decent line pressure, ASSUMING the pump isn't built with sloppy clearances.

I don't know what they are doing as far as subbing out, or what.
I certainly hope they do a better job on the 4L60E stuff.

I understand that the 200-4Rs are somewhat a specialty deal, but there are no secrets to the pump, it's the same parts as a 700, just different pump halves.

The KC VB will work, maybe not ideal, but it is usable.

You need a VB kit. Have them send you a TransGo Reprogramming kit, at least you'll get a decent PR spring and boost valve that way.

 

[PerformaBuilt]

Thanks for the call Jake and we will get this resolved for LEN whatever it takes
Frank

 

[LCAC_Man]

Thanks for the call Jake and we will get this resolved for LEN whatever it takes
Frank

Needed the second set of eyes on this stuff.