Valve Body

[FordGuy88]

I have an 88 Mustang 5.0, and it has an AOD. I was thinking about putting a forward manual valve body in it. It is the TCI Street Fighter valve body. First off does any one have it? If so, how do you like it? Also if I put that valve body in my car, do I still have to put a shift kit in it? Does the shift kit get put in the valve body? If I were to get the street fighter valve body, how hard would it be to it in? Summit says it is direct bolt up, and it is easy.

Thanks alot,
Dave

 

[TheBocSez]

If you install an aftermarket valvebody, you do not need to install a shift kit. The valvebody is already programed to improve shifts.

I have the Lentech Street Terminator valvebody in my AOD. I do not know anything about TCI, but with my Lentech, it allows the holding of 2nd gear as well as electronic delete of OD by flipping a switch. I would look into Lentech (about 350.00 for Lentech I beleive). Most aftermarket valvebodys increase time spent in each gear but still do not allow you to hold 2nd or to turn OD on and off.

As far as install, its a simple matter of unbolting the pan, removing the filter, and the 20+ bolts holding the old valvebody to the case. Put the new one on and go. The lentech requires a minor additional step of drilling a small hole in the case to run the OD delete wire.

 

[FordGuy88]

Thanks alot for the help. The TCI is manual or automatic so I can hold all gears. Or put it in fully automatic. Also it is only like $200 from summit. That is why I am going with a TCI valve body. So it is really easy to install?

Thanks alot,
Dave

 

[davs5.0]

replacing the valvebody is just removing bolts and reinstalling them. If this is the first time you are removing the pan and you don't have a drain plug in it, its going to be messy. There is a ton of fluid in the pan so have a big pan to catch it all. You'll need the car up in the air high enough for you to work under it comfortably and some basic metric wrenches. A good quality torque wrench is a must for the re-install so you don't over tighten the valvebody bolts. They are pretty small and don't take much to break.
Another good thing to do is to pick up a drain plug kit at the parts store so you can put it in the pan so fluid changes will be much cleaner the next time you do it. They are less than $10 or so.

http://store.summitracing.com/defau...ch&DDS=1&N=115&target=egnsearch.asp&x=25&y=11

 

[pb_paulie_b]

I would add that it's a good time to add a trans cooler if you don't already have one. I don't know about the TCI v/b, but my lentech strip terminator has a fixed line presure (no tv cable ) and this makes it run hotter on a long haul. If yours is like this then besides a cooler, you should also think about a trans temp gauge...PB