Shift kit post-install

[Mohpar]

So I finally started the shift kit. Dropped the pan, took off the valve body, and used the TransGo TFOD-HD2 to modify the valve body. It also came with springs for the rear bands and front (bands?) that I haven't installed. I'm fairly certain you have to drop the trans to get them in.

Anyhow. Truck is shifting oddly. Acts like it's slipping into neutral when I stop, and sometimes on the highway when cruising. I can't get past 4k RPMs and it shifts oddly on the highway, I had to turn OD off and cruise at 3k. At stoplights when I go it takes a half second to engage and shifts (nice and) hard into gear, but at higher RPM the it shifts softer than before.

When I park the truck for a few minutes and turn it back on, it won't even engage for about a minute. I think it's a problem with not getting enough pressure, something that the springs I haven't installed could be the cause of. I didn't change anything else, new filter, didn't adjust bands or anything.

Transmission junkies, where are ya ?

Last note - I'm about to start school again. Thinking of grabbing a stock valve body out of a parts truck for the time being.

 

[tommyboi87]

Did you drill a hole in the valve body like it instructed you? If so, the fluid is draining back into the pan from the torque converter. When you start it, drop her into gear, don't move, just sit for 20-30 seconds so the TC fills back up. It sounds a little like low pressure, but you should have installed the springs. I don't recall dropping my transmission to install them. I think they install under the piston or whatever it is that tightens down on the band. With that, you also need to readjust your bands. Make sure you go over the instructions for increased/decreased band tightness once/if you install new tougher springs. Also you should have done an adjustment while you had the pan down. Also, this should be your first step. Go ahead and get that thing to temp, cycle through the gears ending in neutral, hit the E-brake, and check your fluid. Might have looked right when you finished, but could have spread out more leaving you low, which could cause these same symptoms.

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[Jimmy68]

A lesson in not doing half a job.

 

[dodge dude94]

Sounds almost like you don't have enough fluid in the trans. How much did you put back in it?

 

[Mohpar]

Did you drill a hole in the valve body like it instructed you? If so, the fluid is draining back into the pan from the torque converter. When you start it, drop her into gear, don't move, just sit for 20-30 seconds so the TC fills back up. It sounds a little like low pressure, but you should have installed the springs. I don't recall dropping my transmission to install them. I think they install under the piston or whatever it is that tightens down on the band. With that, you also need to readjust your bands. Make sure you go over the instructions for increased/decreased band tightness once/if you install new tougher springs. Also you should have done an adjustment while you had the pan down. Also, this should be your first step. Go ahead and get that thing to temp, cycle through the gears ending in neutral, hit the E-brake, and check your fluid. Might have looked right when you finished, but could have spread out more leaving you low, which could cause these same symptoms.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

Any chance you could detail how you installed the springs? It's like I couldn't move the bands with the piston to install the spring. And yes I did drill holes to accommodate. We checked pressure last night after running thru the gears and idling for a few mins. Ill check again today.

 

[Mohpar]

Did you drill a hole in the valve body like it instructed you? If so, the fluid is draining back into the pan from the torque converter. When you start it, drop her into gear, don't move, just sit for 20-30 seconds so the TC fills back up. It sounds a little like low pressure, but you should have installed the springs. I don't recall dropping my transmission to install them. I think they install under the piston or whatever it is that tightens down on the band. With that, you also need to readjust your bands. Make sure you go over the instructions for increased/decreased band tightness once/if you install new tougher springs. Also you should have done an adjustment while you had the pan down. Also, this should be your first step. Go ahead and get that thing to temp, cycle through the gears ending in neutral, hit the E-brake, and check your fluid. Might have looked right when you finished, but could have spread out more leaving you low, which could cause these same symptoms.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

Any chance you could detail how you installed the springs? It's like I could've move the bands to install the spring. And yes I did drill holes to accommodate. We checked pressure last night after running thru the gears and idling for a few mins. Ill check again today.

 

[dapepper9]

I'm on low fluid wagon as well

 

[Mohpar]

Sounds almost like you don't have enough fluid in the trans. How much did you put back in it?

I'm on low fluid wagon as well

Drove it today, checked levels, was low so I added a quart (checked in N on a level surface after 30mins driving), seems to help city driving. On open roads I can't get above 50mph well, and wont shift into a higher gear to get above 3.5k rpm.

Either I take out the valvebody and try to add the upgraded springs + adjust bands or I grab a stock valvebody from a junkyard and put it in for now.

 

[CVX20]

A lesson in not doing half a job.

Totally agree!
You can't install half a shift kit.Too much tied together to make a proper shift.A shift kit just adjusts the timing of one clutch/band engaging and one dis-engaging.All the parts in the kit need to be in there to perform the way it was designed.The OP will be lucky if he hasn't already done some damage driving it like that.

 

[Mohpar]

Totally agree!
You can't install half a shift kit.Too much tied together to make a proper shift.A shift kit just adjusts the timing of one clutch/band engaging and one dis-engaging.All the parts in the kit need to be in there to perform the way it was designed.The OP will be lucky if he hasn't already done some damage driving it like that.

Good thoughts. I won't be driving the truck anymore until I install the springs into the trans. Unfortunately I won't have any time to do that for a few weeks. Looks like I have to remove the OD to access the trans better.