Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Auto, first gear

[JoshPeters]

Why is it I always seem to have funny problems... ...

Here's another one... .

Over the last month I've had a slight miss getting worse and worse. A fellow TDR memeber had installed 370's in his truck and had his 215 injectors layin around. So we pulled my 180's and dropped in the 215's. On the way home the Converter started to slip. Great. Well I had a Suncoast converter waiting for me at home, so a couple days later we put that in. No slippage anymore... . well kinda... .

I noticed yesterday on my way to work, in traffic. That at approx 1/2 throttle first gear seemed to flair a bit before it shiffed into 2nd. So next light, I stood on it. Figuring that if it's 1st slipping it should be worse. Nope, Locked right up and took off like a scared cat. I'm just wondering if this is just a different sinsation due to the converter or not. Have any of you guys had problems with 1st gear? I've heard of the converter and OD issues with this trans, but none with 1st. Any Ideas?



Josh

 

[JohnE]

Josh;



The shift problem isn't caused by the torque converter. Do you have the Suncoast valve body (BV) installed, too? Poor timing in the vb is the cause for 1st to 2nd shift confusion.





I'm thinking your slight miss means time to pull the pump and get it calibrated. I think the rest of your fuel delivery system checks out?



Chilly let you take his 215's?

 

[JoshPeters]

Tim Christenson is the gentleman that is letting me use his 215's till the 370's go on sale. Once they were installed the miss is gone. The calibration of the pump doesn't sound cheep. Being the beast is my daily driver, I'd have to find other means of transportation as well.

The suncoast valve body is in. I put that in last december to help the trans at that point. What can I do to fix the shift timing problem? Is there an adjustment? R&R the valve body and talk to suncoast. Since I just did the converter I have yet to send back my "old" valve body and converter.





Josh

 

[JohnE]

Sorry Josh, thought I replied earlier.



Yes,You should talk to Suncoast on tuning the valve body. I've been told the 96 to 98. 4 RE's are tough to tune.



Hmm the 215's cleared things up? Maybe you have a bad injector?

 

[LSMITH]

Josh, do yourself and Suncoast a favor: Get and install a 3K governor spring kit before you tackle the shift timing. Tuning a VB with the stock 2500 RPM is miserabe. 3000 RPM makes it a LOT easier.

 

[JohnE]

Howard



I understand the governor springs, but not how it changes the transmission timing on a RH or pre 98. 5 RE.



Explain?

 

[LSMITH]

John, it simply gives you more "room" and makes the relationships between light and heavy throttle shift points less challenging. Change one and the other moves etc.

 

[JohnE]

Shift points on a (12 valve powered) auto do not change by adding governor springs. My shift points stayed around 2,200 RPM at full throttle.

Adding the #4 plate it moved to 2,900 rpm. I since learned the engine rpm was pulling past the turbine rpm on the stock TC. Once the transmission reached 2,200 rpm it still shifted.



For Josh, a GSK would really help his ricer stomping, uh city driving needs, but do little on his shift points.



-John

 

[JoshPeters]

Thanx guys,



I do want to put a GSK in. I kinda think that if I'm gonna put them in I may as well go big... . and do the valve springs and a 4k kit. I will talk to SunCoast about the timing issue. Hopefully its something simple... .



Josh

 

[LSMITH]

John, when you start changing/clipping/shimming springs and altering the volume or blocking of the accumulators and so on in the VB to get the shift points where they should be rather than where Chryco wanted them you will appreciate the governor spring kit. I am talking about TUNING the VB to make the shift points match the TC and the power the truck makes, not putting in a gov spring kit to alter the way the trans shifts. The gov spring kit gets you some much needed "room" in the RPM band that will greatly simplify getting a workable solution when you start tuning the VB. In a hydraulic VB (1-3 in all our trucks regardless of 12 or 24V) when you change one thing it will be reflected in another, and the balance you are looking for between light, moderate and wide open throttle can be a real PITA to find.



I should have been more clear in the first post, sorry.