How to disable a shift kit?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,959
Likes: 592
From: Greater Austin, Texas
How to disable a shift kit?
The guy I bought my truck from had tried to make it a hot rod about 18 years ago when he was 16, which is understandable. So it's got very loud glasspacks on it and a mild cam and such, but he also put a shift kit in the C4. It bangs 2nd hard, which I also thought was cool when I was 16, but now it's just annoying. I put a shift kit in my GTO when I was 16 and it consisted of a replacement plate between the valve body and trans case and you drilled out a hole depending on how hard you wanted it.
Is this true for the C4 as well? If I replace the plate between the 2 halves of the valve body with a stock plate, will this make my trans shift soft like when it was stock? Or is it a different arrangement on a C4?
Is this true for the C4 as well? If I replace the plate between the 2 halves of the valve body with a stock plate, will this make my trans shift soft like when it was stock? Or is it a different arrangement on a C4?
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 40
From: El Dorado, Arkansas
If the valve body separator plate was drilled (and it probably was) it would have to be changed back to a stock, unmodified, plate.
Chances are also pretty great that some of the stock springs were changed for stiffer ones.
There were several change levels to the C-4 during its production run. If changing the plate, you'll have to be mindful to get the correct one for your particular transmission model.
If there's an adjustable modulator valve on the transmission (where the vacuum line attaches), you may be able to dial it back a little to take some of the abruptness out of the shifts.
--quick, hard shifts may not be as comfortable but, the transmission will actually live a longer service life like this than one that has long, slow shifts between gear changes. Long, slow shifts equals much higher friction in the clutches which makes the fluid hotter in the transmission. Heat is the killer of an automatic transmission.
If you don't have an auxiliary transmission oil cooler, in tandem with the cooler in the radiator, it would be a very good idea to install one. I have a factory plate style aux. transmission cooler from a '92 F150 on my '69 F100 with an inline 240 and C-4 transmission.
Chances are also pretty great that some of the stock springs were changed for stiffer ones.
There were several change levels to the C-4 during its production run. If changing the plate, you'll have to be mindful to get the correct one for your particular transmission model.
If there's an adjustable modulator valve on the transmission (where the vacuum line attaches), you may be able to dial it back a little to take some of the abruptness out of the shifts.
--quick, hard shifts may not be as comfortable but, the transmission will actually live a longer service life like this than one that has long, slow shifts between gear changes. Long, slow shifts equals much higher friction in the clutches which makes the fluid hotter in the transmission. Heat is the killer of an automatic transmission.
If you don't have an auxiliary transmission oil cooler, in tandem with the cooler in the radiator, it would be a very good idea to install one. I have a factory plate style aux. transmission cooler from a '92 F150 on my '69 F100 with an inline 240 and C-4 transmission.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
The COM in my '67 had a "shift improver" installed at some time of it's life. Ya, it wouldn't bark the tires shifting into 2nd, but it was close. REAL annoying on a daily driver basis. I eliminated that issue by putting a third pedal in and then I could shift it however I wanted to.
I agree, kinda hard to know what someone else has done and without comparing parts it might be hard to know without going through it.
I agree, kinda hard to know what someone else has done and without comparing parts it might be hard to know without going through it.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,959
Likes: 592
From: Greater Austin, Texas
I talked to the guy today via text and he said he put in a separator plate and also it came with some springs he replaced. He said he *thinks* it was a B&M kit but that was 18 years ago so he is not sure. I think my best bet it to find a used C4 for cheap that I can just use the VB from - it would be too hard to figure out what is the right plate to put in there and then what springs did he change.
Or I might just live with it for a while and then replace the C4 with an AOD. Still have not decided if this is a keeper or if I will just do a light restore and flip it.
Or I might just live with it for a while and then replace the C4 with an AOD. Still have not decided if this is a keeper or if I will just do a light restore and flip it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver
It's more complicated than you would like it to be.
Here's instructions: How to Install Shift Kits for Ford C4 Transmissions: Step by Step
Eric
Here's instructions: How to Install Shift Kits for Ford C4 Transmissions: Step by Step
Eric
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 406
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
The Trans-go and B&M shift kits that resulted in this hard shift that you describe required drilling holes in the plate and drilling a new "doorway" in a passage in the body, then moving a spring from point A to point B, remove a checkball, etc...
You get the picture here. Unless you know exactly which kit, and level of shift (street, performance, competition) you won't be able to determine just what was modified. I recommend just buying a replacement valve body. You might be able to find one in a junkyard or at the older transmission shops in your town.
You get the picture here. Unless you know exactly which kit, and level of shift (street, performance, competition) you won't be able to determine just what was modified. I recommend just buying a replacement valve body. You might be able to find one in a junkyard or at the older transmission shops in your town.
The guy I bought my truck from had tried to make it a hot rod about 18 years ago when he was 16, which is understandable. So it's got very loud glasspacks on it and a mild cam and such, but he also put a shift kit in the C4. It bangs 2nd hard, which I also thought was cool when I was 16, but now it's just annoying. I put a shift kit in my GTO when I was 16 and it consisted of a replacement plate between the valve body and trans case and you drilled out a hole depending on how hard you wanted it.
Is this true for the C4 as well? If I replace the plate between the 2 halves of the valve body with a stock plate, will this make my trans shift soft like when it was stock? Or is it a different arrangement on a C4?
Is this true for the C4 as well? If I replace the plate between the 2 halves of the valve body with a stock plate, will this make my trans shift soft like when it was stock? Or is it a different arrangement on a C4?
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