ok guys, heres the deal. when i installed the BM shiftkit, my tranny fluid started to foam, even when i know it was underfilled. now, after i changed the vacuum modulator, it seems the tranny is going neutralling on its own when the truck is pointed downhill or when i lift off the gas before the 1-2 shift! anything you can tell me would help out a lot. the only part of the b&m kit that is installed is the separator plate, since all the holes matched with the stock one, and the shifts were too harsh with the other springs and ***** were out. thanks guys
dave

 

A tranny will foam when underfilled because the front pump is sucking air with the oil thus making foam. Put oil in it and maybe the other problem will go away also.

 

You write>> the only part of the b&m kit that is installed is the separator plate, since all the holes matched with the stock one, and the shifts were too harsh with the other springs and ***** were out. thanks guys
dave <<<

Dave...
1. Did you use the stock gasket with the B&M seporator plate?

2. on mine i had to drill one hole in the b&m plate to match the stock one. But all of yours matched ?

3. Did you reinstall the stock plungers and springs yet use the b&m plate?





__JOHN__ô¿õ
1972 F-250
ICQ# 6030753

 

1. yes i drilled one hole in the b&m plate to match stock

2. No i didn't use the stock gasket with the new plate

3. yes i used all the springs and check ***** from stock with the new plate.

it's an early 70's c4. and i will try to put more fluid in tonight, to see if it works better. it's very hard to get an accurate level when the fluid is so foamy it climbs the dipstick.

dave

 

well, i put more fluid in... in half pint increments, and continued to drive and check the condition. It still foams AND neutrals, but not as badly. now tho, after the fluid has had time to settle the foam, it appears to be overfilled. i am hesitant to remove any fluid, lest the problems recur. i am going to do more research in the area. thanks
dave

 

Just for the heck of it... Are you following the procedure in the owners manual to check fluid level? If you do not follow the procedure you may not get accurate readings. They can be off enoguh that you can be seriously underfilled or overfilled.

Each tranny type may have a different procedure to follow so it is important to follow the manual.

A generic procedure and the one my 94 F250 with E4OD requires is to run the truck for maybe 10 minutes. Then find a level place to park. let it idle a minute or two and then shift to Drive and then all the forward gears and then to Reverse and then park, stop in each gear for a second or two. Then quickly measure the fluid level with the engine running in park. take the dipstick out, wipe it clean, push it all the way in till it seats and then pull out and measure. I recommend doing it a couple times to be safe.

My speculation since I have not read an official explanation ...The reason the fluid level can change a lot especially running or engine stopped is that the torque converter drains to about half when stopped. That means you will see maybe 2-5 quarts of extra fluid when stopped versus running. Also the level will change but not so drastically when the fluid is cold(ie no bubbles) or hot(some very tiny bubbles in it). Also the internal passages will change volume a little when hot versus cold. Plus the fluid may not be in a passage unless you shifted through that gear recently. All these variables add up to a different fluid level.

My guess is that maybe you are measuring the fluid while cold or engine off. If so, then the fluid might appear to be at the right level, but in actuallity my be several quarts too low, which could result in foaming.

Purely a guess, but I have made this mistake in the past.

Some trannies like it cold, some hot, some specify the time and speed to warm up, some with dipstick in all the way, some just till the plug contacts, the shift sequence may be different, you might not leave it in park. Lots of stuff may be different, I have had cars that had one or the other of these things mentioned that is differnt from the others.

Bottom line it is very important to follow the procedure called out in the manual.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

>the torque converter
>drains to about half when stopped.

Jim,

If the converter is draining the transmission needs to be repaired. There is a check valve to keep the torque converter from draining. They can stick, and need to be fixed. If the converter is only half full it won't transmit torque very well for up to a mnute while it fills.

I agree that it is important to follow the correct procedure to check the fluid.

Mark