nlc/lc trans questions

[howdies86]

I need to know the importance of the check ball and retainer in the input shaft on 200r4 Does it really need to come out for non lock up converter? Also I know of a person that ran a nlc w/o changing pump valve or check ball and said he ran mid 11's for 2 years w/o failure! Possible? Comments!

 

[3.8L V-8 eater]

By no means am I a tranny expert, but I just had a brief conversation with a very reputable tranny builder on this very subject... Told me it would not hurt to put in a n/l converter into a l/u tranny. Said to just leave the wire harness unplugged for the l/u solenoid.