c4 wont shift out of first..

[taylor4g63]

took out my tranmsission because i couldn't get it to stop leaking, and did a few upgrades when i had it out (new stall, transpack), and put it back in today. I hook everything up, reverse works, but if i put it in "D" it will only stay in first gear. I can manually put it in 2 and it still stays in first. What could the problem be? Hopefully i didn't mess something up when i put in the transpack...

 

[restomod]

sounds like you have some trash in the valve body. you need to check out www.fordmuscle.com they have a c4 forum in their forums. good luck at cleaning your valve body.

 

[SuperDave]

Agree

 

[taylor4g63]

alright heres an update. I put on a new modulator valve and a shorter rod that was supplied iwth my shift kit that was suppose to lower shift points 5-7 mph. I take it out for a drive, and it revs up to about 4500, and finally shifts into second. woohooo finally an improvement. but i couldn't get it to go in third. so yal think its still trash in the VB, or is there something else i should mess with first?

 

[mp67]

alright heres an update. I put on a new modulator valve and a shorter rod that was supplied iwth my shift kit that was suppose to lower shift points 5-7 mph. I take it out for a drive, and it revs up to about 4500, and finally shifts into second. woohooo finally an improvement. but i couldn't get it to go in third. so yal think its still trash in the VB, or is there something else i should mess with first?

Ok, the modulator was what I was going to suggest checking, along with the vacuum line to it. It is real common when someone pulls the tranny to pull the line loose at the manifold or tear it somewhere along the way. With the car running, pull the line off at the modulator and see if you have good vacuum. If you do then the modulator has a small screw inside the hole where the hose goes. I cant remember for sure but screwing in makes it shift later and out earlier. Or vise versa. Someone help me out on this one. The rod you are speaking of is throwing me. That should be your kickdown rod, which is for passing gear. Don't know what it would have to do with shift point. Your tranny should normally shift at 15 and 25 under normal acceleration. Thats how you set your modulator. Of course when you are getting on it, shift points are higher. The rod could hold your shift points longer by holding it in passing gear longer. But a stock rod is all you need here, and you can still get a good shift. I am thinking you are on the right track with the modulator though. New ones usually need some adjustment.

 

[mustang70]

I think the rod he's referring to is the one that the modulater controls. The vacuum at the modulator moves it in and out.

Yeah, I think it's your modulator adjustment as well.

 

[taylor4g63]

Its brand new vaccuum hose, so i doubt thats the problem but ill check it anyway. I already took out the VB again, i forgot to instal one little plug on it when i was installing the shift kit, so i decided to ahead and pull it, clean it good, install that plug and put it back in. Tomorrow if i get a chance ill mess around with the modulator some more, hopefully ill have things working right again soon.

Anybody know the best way to clean a Valvebody? im pretty clueless on how to go about this, i've got it all apart, but not sure how to acually clean it good...

 

[mp67]

I think the rod he's referring to is the one that the modulater controls.

I know that rod, but since screwing the stock one in or out changes shift pattern, why would you need a shorter one?

 

[mustang70]

Possibly to extend the shift points or make the tranny more responsive.

 

[taylor4g63]

I honestly don't really know, but the kit instructions said "instal the shorter rod when you replace your modulator to lower shift points 5-7 mph" or something to that effect. Anybody know what the best way to clean my VB would be since i have it out? Im thinking to just get some parts cleaner, spray it in there and use some compressed air to blow it all out...

 

[restomod]

i used brake parts cleaner and compressed air. good luck

 

[GaPonyFarm]

I always use mineral spirits for the valve body, and blow the parts off.

btw... you didn't mess around with the intermediate servo, did you? You could have either gotten the bands out of adjustment or dropped the end of the adjuster down into the tranny...

 

[taylor4g63]

Alright a bit of an update. Got it all back in, messed with the modulator a bit (backed it almost all the way out), and now it will shift from 1-3 at higher rpms, but skips 2. If im cruising at say 35 in 3rd, and drop it down into 2, it just goes to neutral. I dunno what kinda rpm's i was at, as i just fried some wires and it stopped working, but thats a whole new thread.

I know my dad messed with the 1-2 band (i think thats right) before we put the transmission back in. Could it be too tight/loose or something?

 

[mp67]

Alright a bit of an update. Got it all back in, messed with the modulator a bit (backed it almost all the way out), and now it will shift from 1-3 at higher rpms, but skips 2. If im cruising at say 35 in 3rd, and drop it down into 2, it just goes to neutral. I dunno what kinda rpm's i was at, as i just fried some wires and it stopped working, but thats a whole new thread.

I know my dad messed with the 1-2 band (i think thats right) before we put the transmission back in. Could it be too tight/loose or something?

I'm guessing your missing something out of your valve body. Have not messed with valve bodies in years, but it seems that you may be missing a spring, or maybe have a passage blocked off by incorrect plate in shift kit. Are you one hundred percent sure you purchased the proper shift kit? Isn't there little ball bearings in valve body? Maybe missing one or put back in wrong place.

 

[taylor4g63]

i KNOW it was the right shift kit, and im almost positive i did everything right. I've read through the directions again and from what i recall it was all right. The shift kit came with new ball bearings to put in different places and discard some of the old oens, and i KNOW i did that right (i checked probably 10 times because i was paranoid i wouldn't get it right...) I guess ill pull the VB and put it back to stock again and hope its all better...

 

[taylor4g63]

Alright another update....

pulled the damn thing out again (haha i can do it in like 2 minutes now), take EVERY valve out and clean every single little thing, then start putting it back in STOCK. When im putting it back in i pay careful attention to the 1-2 shift valve and 1-2 transition valve....OH s*** I had the transition valve in BACKWARDS...I feel about stupid So i put that in there right, and change everything back to the way the shift kit says. Put it all back together, put some fluid in it and WOW IT SHIFTS NORMAL. Acually it shifts at a very low rpm thanks to that short rod and me backing the modulator adjustment all the way out to the lowest possible, but that will be adjusted soon. Thank god this is finally over