Installed Transgo Kit now no 1st gear!! PROBLEM SOLVED!!

[Green98XLT]

I managed to get around to installing my Transgo kit this weekend (man I don't see how you guys do this in 3-4 hours!)

It didn't go so well at all.... I really need some expertise from you guys on this.

First I found that my trans was a Ford remanufactured piece so that was nice, at least I know my trans doesn't have the 120k miles that the truck does.

It had the seperator plate with bonded gaskets and everything looked great inside. I installed the kit exactly like the instructions entail. I go for a test drive and find that when in Drive that it doesn't start out in first, it feels like it's in 2nd or 3rd... now it will go in 1 and 2 manually but not in drive... within 5 minutes it starts flashing the O/D light indicating a problem.

I noticed that my VB had the little 7 hole end plug relief installed and didn't have any type of retainer as I expected it should, the Transgo solid end plug included a retainer for this location... HELP!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you double check the torque of the bolts when you reinstalled the VB? It is possible that a bolt, or two might not be as tight as they should.

 

[Green98XLT]

Now that I had a hard time with... I could NOT remove my CAT pipe (bolts were frozen solid and I didn't want to add another project) so I had a really hard time getting a torque wrench in there. I slowly torqued them all to about 90 in/lbs as stated in the instructions. But I guess it's possible that I missed a bolt? What if I went a lil too tight, could that do it?

 

[BrooklynBay]

What code were you getting from the flashing OD light?

 

[Green98XLT]

What about the bonded gaskets on the sep. plate, am I ok reusing them? They were in great shape and didn't seem to require replacement at all. I did buy new sep. plate gaskets but I didn't use them as I thought the new bonded gaskets are good?

 

[Green98XLT]

I have to pull the code this evening when I'm off work... didn't get to it last night.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I remember reading in another thread that somebody overtightened the bolts, and had no OD after reinstalling a VB. He said that he later read that it was in some Ford manual, or TSB explaining that type of situation could occur from the wrong torque on those bolts.

 

[Glacier991]

From what you are describing, it sounds as if you may have had a later model VB that already had the FORD mod in it. Part of the reason I did not install the transgo kit is that it duplicated the FORD mod, just in a different way.

Did you have the FORD blowoff already installed? If so did you install the rivet in the Sep plate?

If my assumption is correct, I think the fact you put the transgo kit on top of an already modded VB may be the root of your problem...

Is my assumption correct?

 

[Green98XLT]

You got it Glacier(by the way, what is your name man?)

It had the bonded gasket sep. plate, and the ford Blow off as shown on the first page of your diary. And yes I did put the small rivet in the plate just as transgo said to...

Brooklyn- I also seen on the transgo sheet that over-torqing the VB bolts can cause problems... I tried to keep them all around 90-95 in/lbs

 

[Glacier991]

If you find the FORD mod in place (the tipoff is the odd looking blowoff in the end of the VB, then I would advise you to undo the Transgo mod you installed and go back to stock. Remove the rivet you installed.

THIS ADVICE is assuming that the FORD MOD WAS (and is) IN PLACE.

Chris

 

[Green98XLT]

I called the transgo tech line and the guy was somewhat helpful but really short with me. He basically said that their kit will not cause my problem and that I must have something else wrong (no ****..)

He said that I may have lost one of the "L" shaped retainers accidently and a valve is loose behind the forward valve?

 

[BrooklynBay]

You didn't notice any "L" shaped retainers, or any other parts lying around on your work bench afterward did you? There are pictures in the diary for all of the "L" shape retainers, and newer style "hitch pin" looking retiners.

 

[Green98XLT]

Yes, I believe the FORD mod was already done since this was a reman trans. It had the little 7 hold blowoff already there but I did notice there wasn't any retainer holding that blowoff in, wasn't there supposed to be? The new end plug that transgo provides has a retainer.

Brook- I didn't notice any retainers at all. I'm going to take the pic from the diary home and try to pull the VB back out and double check them though.

 

[Green98XLT]

Chris- was I NOT supposed to do the transgo kit if I had the ford mod? I thought they were basically duplicative of one another?

I really want firmer shifts with this thing and I'd feel better knowing there isn't so much slipping when I tow with it.. WIth the ford mod it was still slow and sloppy.

 

[Glacier991]

I can not speak authoritatively as to whether the inner vb modifications for blowoff used by Transgo are incompatible with the FORD mods in the VB. Nor, for that matter can I say thery are compatible. What I am rather sure of is that the FORD mod would have used a modified separator plate, and the hole in that plate should have already been eliminated - making me wonder what hole the rivet might have gone in.

The rest of the Transgo mods (springs etc) should help your shifts, but I think the blowoff mod, and rivet may be causing you problems. At this point I think I might go ahead and remove those, and order a new separator plate as per the TSB. I'm thinking this will likely solve your problem.

All in all, you made my point as to why I used and recommended the Superior kit.

 

[Green98XLT]

Ahhh.... I see...

But I checked and double checked that I installed the rivet in the correct hole in the seperator plate. I spent a rediculous amount of time beign careful with this as it's the first shift kit I have ever installed.

The tech guy at transgo said that the ford blowoff and theirs could be ran together that it was just overkill. He also said that they located their blowoff closer to the EPC and felt it was more effective in the circuit than the location of the ford installed blowoff.

I just want a plan of attack here.... you are saying I should put the ford blowoff back in and get a sep. plate from ford right? I might just do that. and leave the other transgo mods in there.

 

[Glacier991]

My advice is this. Take the Transgo EPC blowoff mods out. (And the guy from Transgo is probably right, I just need a baseline here on the sep plate issues). Put the FORD blowoff back in. Buy a separator plate from the chart (Dealer list is about $17). Put it all back together and carefully torque it back in.

Let me say again, I am not bashing Transgo. I buy and use their products and think they are a great company.

 

[CDW6212R]

Chris how are you doing, I've been busy with my work vehicle, and a dying PC?

I think the problem will be either what Chris has suggested, or just a general small mistake. I have the TransGo kit in my work vehicle(99 SOHC with reman trans, 77K, not driven yet). I have done many many shift kits, most of them TransGo kits. Theirs are by far the most complicated, presumably well thought out and developed.

I have accidently left one VB bolt out before, an AOD TV valve spring unhooked, and I can say that everything must be perfect. If the bolts are not torqued correctly then many many things could happen.

Most of your care and attention should be spent on correctly locating the bolts, VB balls, "L" clips, retainers, etc. The actual VB modifications are relatively easy to do. It's those details where it is easy to miss something.

TransGo tech told me that their kit covered all years of the 5R55E, so no Ford special plates or gaskets are needed. They also told me that no harm would be done if both were performed, just that the corrections were the same, and compatible.

Do be sure that you have the correct gaskets for the VB model. Always spend lots of time verifying that the gaskets line up perfectly, and block nothing. Take your time removing the gaskets, and cleaning the plate. You don't want any nicks or scratches at all. Good luck,

 

[Glacier991]

Hey Don... I'm good, been real busy and what little free time I have I am tweaking the 4R70W rebuild. I was hoping you would join in here.... sicne you have actually DONE the transgo mod.

My worry is more sep plate related.

Donnie, Don is an old hand here and his advice is very good. I think if you back up and retrace your steps and check check and recheck everything you should be fine. Oh and the FORD retainer was a clip. It cannot fall off...U sure it isn't there?

With the help of and contributions from many (like you) the 5R55E Valve Body Diary is about the most complete picture packed bible there is on this. You might want to walk thru the process there again as well.

OH and, one last thing. We will not let you fail. No one yet has ever failed, though there have been some seemingly dark moments. WE all are here to help you succeed. Ask whatever help you need and it is yours.

Ain't This the greatest FORUM ?

 

[Green98XLT]

Thanks so much guys, I knew I could count on sound advice from you fellas. This seemed like such an easy thing (I'm very mechanically enclined, been an ASE tech for years) I just don't do much auto trans work at all. So I can only think that I accidently missed a VB bolt or lost a "L" retainer somehow.

Oh and That ford installed blowoff, there was NOTHING on it, no clip or retainer of any kind unless it fell off when I removed the VB somehow.. Now I did install a clip with the transgo plug that replaced it.