Hi guys, A few months back I was asked to strip and check the condition of a T350 auto.. I was told it was overhauled and fitted with a shift kit 10 years back, and been sitting/never used ever since.. On striping it everything looked brand new, plates, steels, seals etc etc.. Buuut one strange thing (to me anyway) I noticed it only had two ball check valves between the body and valve body. I've fitted few shift kits (mostly enhancer types) but none that only used two ball valves.. I'm sure/positive I put them back in the correct positions that they came out of on re***embly.. My question is, has anyone fitted a kit that only required two of the four ball valves, and if so, can you advise where they go (I'm thinking of dropping the pan to double check) Also what 'stage' is the kit?? Any information would be much appreciated.. Thanks Grant.
If I take one apart that I don't know anything about I install a shift improver kit to match my needs.
you might see if you can find instructions for different shift kits online, I know B&M usually left out some of the check balls. I think trans-go keeps their instructions to themselves. Years ago when I worked at a transmission shop, the owner of the place was a cheapskate, so he copied the TransGo kit for a few transmissions...for the TH350 there were two holes to drill in the transfer plate, and two plugs with holes drilled to install in the case and valve body to restrict the ac***ulators. Hole sized depended on stage. I built several 350s over the years using those tricks, they shifted nice. All the check balls went back in. On the TH400 it was similar, but also shimmed the pressure spring in the pump. Good luck...might be wise to start over with a kit you are familiar with, unless that means delaying the work for a month or two to get parts.
Thanks for the replies, saltflats and squirel.. I did a quick Google search (after finishing the job) for kits using only two ball valves, but had no joy.. I will try again using B&M and Trans go.. The use of only 2 balls as against the factory 4 makes me wonder what else has been modified, as the balls are required to shut of flow at certain times, to certain components.. I'll do a bit more searching tonight..
A local guy that built transmissions out of his ba*****t would delete bearings and said it would shift harder without them. HRP
I just looked at a Transgo 350-3 kit paper work and it shows 4 check ball in the case. Haven't found a B&M paper work yet.
quick internet search...speedway has the instructions pdf for the BM kit, it shows installing two balls, but I didn't read the whole thing.
What the check balls do is to close off the exhaust port of the circuit and force oil through a metered hole for apply, to that clutch. The check ball unseats for rapid release of the clutch through a larger hole in the plate. In some applications check balls are omitted for max oil flow for both apply and release of that clutch. B&M separator plates are gold in color and the transfer plate at the front of the VB is a separate plate. Transgo plates are black and the transfer plate is spotwelded to the separator plate. Different modes of the shift kit, street&strip or heavy duty usually have different amounts of check balls installed. There are different brand shift kits, but these are the most common. B&M also have a shift improver kit along with the Transpack, which is a lower cost version. Trying to determine just what is in there, is the first step. Bill
Thanks for all the HAMB experts and their input, from memory the plate looked standard factory.. Big thanks to "justp***inthru'' for the explanation of the ball check valves, I idea of their purpose and working principles were slightly off.. Working on that theory, I'll do a trip to another city sometime in the future, and do a recheck for my own peace of mind.. Thanks again guys.
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