JMod Gone Wrong

[raginglunatic77]

I know this is a long read, but please read through it and help out a desperate mustang owner.

I just installed a valve body that I modified to the specs in Jerry's thesis on TCCoAforums.com. The valve body came from a 1996 car, which model I don't know, and my car is a 1996. The valve body came with a wiring harness so I installed that thinking that valve body needs to match harness, now that I look closer the original harness and the one that came with the valve body, they appear to be the same except the diameter of the wiring.

After I installed the modified valve body and and new 1-2 and 2-3 accumulators and springs, I put everything back together and installed an external transmission cooler. I then added 8 quarts of Mercon V and started the car allowed the temperature to rise and added another 6 quarts. When I tried to put the car in gear, the gear shifter moves but the transmission does not engage, and regardless of what position, except for park, the car acted as if it were in neutral. I then took the pan off the transmission to check for any mistakes I may have made when reassembling the transmission and I found none, however there is still a chance that I may have missed something. I ended up breaking one of the connectors on the wiring harness.

I then attempted to remove the valve body so that I could swap the wiring harnesses back. I took all 25 8mm bolts out and the valve body will not come out. I can wiggle it a very small amount, but that takes all my strength to do. So I have two questions, first: Why wont the valve body come out? and second: Why wouldn't the transmission engage any gear?

Thank you for reading this and any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
-Brennan

 

[nyuk98gt]

Brennan:

IIRC I think there are 26 bolts, lol!! Really, I think there are 26 bolts (11 long and 15 short??). Look for the remaining bolt.

**edit: Nope, there are 25 bolts. Sorry *blush*. But make sure you've got them all out. A-Train's "A-Train's Shift Kit Install" at TCCoA.com/Tech Articles/Transmissions has a diagram showing the location of the 25 bolts.
**end of edit

The fork over the manual valve probably is not in the correct spot -- my guess as to the what the problem is. I'll see if I can find a picture.

**edit: Could not find a decent picture but you can see if the fork is in the correct spot by having a buddy shift through the gears and watch the manual valve. Obviously, it should move with every "click" of the shifter.
**end of edit

Watch your fluid level, too. 14 quarts sounds a bit high but maybe your cooler is bigger than the little FRPP one that I have. If the trans is overfilled, it will foam and cause some shifting troubles (and may barf out of the dipstick tube and/or the vent near the rear of the transmission). This is not the reason for your shift problems, just a watch-out.

HTH,

Chris

 

[simplyme0484]

I would check the oil level too, cause it's suppost to be 12 quarts, and over filling it is a bad thing. Also check what Chris talked about with the tranny cooler. I went with a 12-1/2" x 7-1/2" x 3/4" Hayden Cooler, MID TO FULL SIZE CARS & TRUCKS, TOWING UP TO 2,500 LBS. This was what they recommended me, nothing higher.

Hope U get that fixed man :thumb:

 

[SnakedMark8]

I'm suspecting the same, manual valve not positioned correctly. Here's a pic to help you out

 

[nyuk98gt]

SnakedMark8:

You're a good man! Thanks for getting a picture -- much better than a verbal description. :thumb:

Chris

 

[Jrgunn5150]

To resolve it, since he hasn't been back, it turned out he had a truck VB with different dowel sizes.

I suspected the manual valve myself, easy enough to overlook, I know I've done it.