[Warrant]

I remember seeing a website that showed you how to modify your valve body or make a shift kit at home for next to nothing. I have a transgo noyoyo or whatever shiftkit in it, and it shifts nicely, but I would like to be able to downshift at any RPM...it wont let me. And be able to hold any gear at any rpm(basicaly a manual/auto kit. I rember their was a way to do this I thoguht? (BTW if I have the trans in Low, should the trans stay in first or will it eventually shift?)

[gilby246]

There are quite a few things you can do to modify a trans without using a shift kit like remove all but one check balls, remove accumulator spring,....
I have only done one th350 so Ill leave that answer up to someone else...


for those of you doing 400's this is something I do to all mine and gives a very violent shift
1) Full seal and bushing replacement
2) HD Kevlar Bands
3) Kolene steels
4) Red Eagle Frictions
5) Swapped out direct housing for 1968 housing (or ealier)
6) 4L80e forward piston and clutch hub to allow for extra friction and steel.
7) Switched forward and direct piston release springs
8) Removed center seal from direct clutch hub
9) Plug in reverse feed to center support w/ .25 plug
10) 34 element sprag
11) Hardened output shaft
12) Removed 4 check balls. RND/3rd clutch/2-3 Dr
13) Increased 2nd clutch feed to .110” and 3rd clutch feed to .184” in spacer plate
14) Removed 2-3 accumulator spring, and replaced plastic piston with aluminum piston w/ cast seal and installed upside down.
15) Removed 1-2 valve spring and replaced with ¼ copper tubing @ .95 long to block piston.
16) Shimmed Pressure regulator spring

[Crosley]

Originally Posted by Warrant

I remember seeing a website that showed you how to modify your valve body or make a shift kit at home for next to nothing. I have a transgo noyoyo or whatever shiftkit in it, and it shifts nicely, but I would like to be able to downshift at any RPM...it wont let me. And be able to hold any gear at any rpm(basicaly a manual/auto kit. I rember their was a way to do this I thoguht? (BTW if I have the trans in Low, should the trans stay in first or will it eventually shift?)

there is one valve to block in place..... the trans will down shift from 3rd to 2 gear or 1st at any speed.

[gilby246]

Originally Posted by Crosley

there is one valve to block in place..... the trans will down shift from 3rd to 2 gear or 1st at any speed.

I THINK thats the manual low control valve. Like Crosley said, Taking the spring out and blocking it will allow these down shifts. Although, I thought most kits came with a plug or something so you could downshift at any speed????

[Warrant]

anyone else? confirm what to do and which valve? What can I block this valve with?

Also will blocking wich ever valve change the way the transmission operates or behaves? ofcourse it will allow you downshift whenever (I would guess that valve is thier to prevent damnage to the engine in trans)

Thanks

[Crosley]

Originally Posted by Warrant

anyone else? confirm what to do and which valve? What can I block this valve with?

Also will blocking wich ever valve change the way the transmission operates or behaves? ofcourse it will allow you downshift whenever (I would guess that valve is thier to prevent damnage to the engine in trans)

Thanks

not sure how much you know about the t-350 v-body.... I do not have a photo of one for visual reference.

look at the v-body with the passages side UP so you can see the valves in the bores..... do you know which valve assembly line up is the pressure regulator ? I hope so.

the valve to block for down shifting to low gear at ANY speed is the valve on the other side of the v-body.

To recap; IF the pressure regulator valve line up is on the left side as you look at the v-body.... the valve to block is a small one the right side . There are several passages with sleeves & valves in them. PR on one side , the valve to block on the opposite side.

Block it with a stiffer spring OR cut out a short section 5/16 steel cooler line tube . Make SURE the retaining pin & bore plug will not fall out!