What does blocking the 3/2 Control Valve actually do?

[Mike T]

Recently took the valve body apart to free up some stuck valves due to the trans sitting before installation. Noticed that the 3/2 control valve had shims wedged in to block it...what does this do?

 

[INEEDAGN]

There are two different paths for oil to flow during the 2-3 shift and the paths are controlled by that valve. Blocking the valve simplifies the circuit and forces oil to flow down one path. This is the short version of the story.

 

[BEATAV8]

Usually the valve is simply re-arranged, with the spring installed on the wrong side along with the hole blocked off in the separator plate.

The story I remember from way back is that the control valve adds a hydraulic delay to the circuit to slow down and soften the shift. Something we definitely don't want.

 

[Mike T]

Thanks guys, it's taking me a little while to grasp how things work in our transmissions. This one has had a few quirks that I've been chipping away at. The part throttle 2/3 is not as quick/firm as l hoped for but strangely it seems to be improving after a few hundred miles? Full throttle is good.

 

[TexasT]

I would suggest the clearance on your direct clutches isn't optimum causing the soft shift.

 

[Mike T]

May be a possibility.......if so it would likely be from test driving it while trying to straighten out the valve body. It was driven with extreme care while the VB was giving problems though. Had the pan off 5+ times and maybe 2 thimbles full (total) of very fine debris in the pan.

 

[TexasT]

or whoever assembled it didn't set em up tight enough. The clearances on a 2004r are crucial for shift quality. Just throw it together, it'll shift. But not well. Set it up "right" and it'll snap the shifts with authority at partial throttle and bark the tires at wot. Clutch selection is another possible cause. Tans in a direct and you are in for a short time(just my opinion, but I don't know of any of the "recommended" builders who would assemble a direct with a stock tan clutch).