Seeking some advice
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 68
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From: washington!
Seeking some advice
I recently bought a 78 F-150 that has about 215,000 miles on it with a 302 and a C-6 behind it. The engine has been rebuilt and has been built for the 1500-6000 RPM range; the truck also has 3.5s in the rear end. Now then my problem is that the tranny short shifts, it is in third by the time I am doing 15mph under normal acceleration and usually under hard accel its in third by the time I am doing 35mph, but I can still shift it into the proper gear manually. I know its a problem in the governer or governer circuit and I am planning on ripping into the tranny to take a look but I am not sure if I should just pick up a rebuild kit/converter and go the whole 9 yards. I am planning on putting in a mild shift kit/tranny cooler because I do tow a 23' fifth wheel and don't want to fry my tranny (the 91 chevy 1500 I had before this truck lost 3 rear ends and 3 clutches). I am looking for input on this because I have little experience in transmission issues and would like to save time and money if possible 
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Bryan, Before you get too carried away with rebuilding your tranny, I suggest that you take a look at the modulator valve. It is on the passenger side of the tranny at the rear. There is a rubber vac hose connected to it. Pull the hose and see if you see a screw inside of the hole, and if it is dry in there. If yes to both of those, try turning the screw clock wise a couple of rounds, and test drive. Keep notes of your adjustments, keep adjusting by full or half turns until you are satisfied with the shift.
Should you find tranny fluid in the opening, replace the valve and adjust it till you are happy.
John
Should you find tranny fluid in the opening, replace the valve and adjust it till you are happy.
John
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 68
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From: washington!
Thanks for the reply, nope no oil in there, actually I should have mentioned that I disconnected the modulator and drove the truck and it made no difference. I expected that to boost my shift points up a thousand rpm or so like my old 73 bronco but nada. I shall mess around with it some more drop the pan and take a gander at things, maybe do an airpressure test on the circuits in the valve body, although I am hesitant to drop the pan since I know a tranny thats about to croak can go **** up if its drained and refilled. I could also pressure tap into the gov circuit but I don't have a gauge 
Its been 3 or so years since i last did auto trans stuff, hehe I am needing a serious refresher course 
Anyway being my first (and somewhat rambly post) I would like to complement everyone here on this board, this is quite a collection of knowledge that I could spend days searching over, people are also very helpful here I have noticed 
Anyhew I shall keep ye posted on what I find
Its been 3 or so years since i last did auto trans stuff, hehe I am needing a serious refresher course Anyway being my first (and somewhat rambly post) I would like to complement everyone here on this board, this is quite a collection of knowledge that I could spend days searching over, people are also very helpful here I have noticed Anyhew I shall keep ye posted on what I find
