700R4 Govenor Calibration

[6772owner]

Ok everyone, I need some help, I searched for an answer but came up short... I have been trying to recalibrate my governor and am lost. After 6 attempts, Im finally down to purple/green springs and #2/#3.... I thought I was good, 1/2 shift is @ 5,500, but 2/3 is above 6,000 (over the limiter) This is all from a B&M kit, any thoughts how I lower the shift for 2/3 & 3/4? while keeping my 1/2 shift the same???
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[LEEVON]

I have no idea about swapping the weights themselves but I did swap a 700r4 once that apparently had a car or light truck "diamond weight" governor because it would shift out of 1st at 4000rpms. I swapped the whole thing with a '91 1/2 ton truck governor and it shifted like butter (but firmer).

[Murphy IRE]

As I read on transmissions, I realized it's not an easy task and little mistakes can lead to expensive repairs. I had a lot of problems with my old tranny. I took it to a local shop in Denver and they have done a great job. If your interested, I'll send you a PM. I know he walked Coloradosean through some stuff on the phone. Drop my name, he likes me (He's in the minority)

[6772owner]

Well the trans is from a 90' 1/2 ton pickup, so im unsure of which governor I have.

Murphy, thank you, ill PM you if I can't figure it out soon...
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[Boog]

Have you looked into a replacement gov like these with specific shift points?

http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...UBCAT&CATID=ZE

[6772owner]

Boog: I have been all over the Bowtie's site for various items and never noticed these before. My worry is that they still wont help me much, let me explain... From what little research I have done, it seems that many factors affect the shift point, torque convertor stall speed, gear ratio, tire size, even TFT's, etc. I had looked up some calibrations for 93' F-bodies (only year of non-comp controlled) and they were waay off. I suspect I will have the same problem with the "pre-made" govenors. Unless, of course, they will do a "custom" calibration, but from what I have read there is no way to tell what to run without trial and eror.

I did find a better combo lastnight, it gave me a low 1/2 shift (apx 4K), but was about 5,500 at the 2/3. So I think I just need to tweak on this setup for awhile to get it right, I am/was just frustrated with this process. I have to say this the most time consuming, no right answer experience I've had in a long time.

[LEEVON]

I hate to ask an obvious question because you sound like you know what you're doing. Tell me to shut up if you like...just wondering how you set your TV cable? I had another that I thought was a governor issue but it was a result of too much line pressure. I always set them with a pressure guage to be 100% sure. Just curious if you have elimitated that possibility.

[6772owner]

Leevon,

I completely appreciate any input at this point.

When I installed the LT1 I went through the complete TV set up per the Bowtie Overdrives site (using a gauge and the whole bit) and the trans has seemed to be fine ever since then. Honestly I assume its just the govenor because I dont not have any shift firmness, shift timing or other TV symptoms. I believe that I just have a mis matched govenor because this trans came out of a pick up w/a TBI SBC that would shift at 4,500 and the LT1 is just starting to pull hard at this RPM.

I will double check the TV settings though, because I dont know if playing with the govenor can/does affect the TV settings as well??

[Indyuke]

I have the opposite problem. No matter how hard I try, I can never seem to get the trans to shift less than in a neck snapping way or at higher rpms than is necessary. I might need to change my gov.

[s_nova69]

Changing the tv adjustment changes shift points too. I had a lot of trouble with mine becuase it was a high torque small block with large tires (35") etc. My trans wizard said keep playing with the govenor and heavier weights until you get what you want. There are things that can be adjusted in valve body but only a really experienced trans guy knows which to springs to change etc. I ended up with the heaviest springs and weights and it shifted pretty good. Seems like it had a normal 1/2 a little higher 2/3 and I had to get it up to 3200 rpm on the freeway to get 4th. Keep messing with the heavier weights as I think that is the solution.
Also if you tighten up the tv just a little it will help the line pressure build earlier and can help get that govenor to behave. It is just a combination of the two.

my .02$

[6772owner]

Indy Duke,
I would say that is your TV adjustment, I have had that problem before, very long part throttle shifts and then violent up shift. I would go through your adjustment again to be sure. It is usually too tight when I get these symptoms. My shift points are only too high on WOT, my part throttle shifts are fine.

s_nova,

Ok thanks for the input, I will just keep playing with then, when I had the "heavy" weights and springs it would shift waay early (like 3,500 +/-)
so Im still not there yet.... I feel like its closer this time though, Ill report my final combo for future reference.

[Indyuke]

That's what I thought at first, however when I adjusted the TV cable to just start to build prx when the throttle is cracked, the trans wouldn't shift until about 2000 rpm with extremely light throttle. With heavy medium/throttle it would shift at redline.

So I adjusted the TV and backed off the cam so that the prx doesn't eve start to rise until about I've got about 1/8 throttle and minimal line rise after that. Now max prx I EVER see is about 90 psi. Still a neck snapper though, and I've got over 30k on it now. So we'll see.

[6772owner]

Well depending on your exact combo (tire size, gear ratio, etc) my first gear holds out longer than the others under extremely light throttle (I think due to the low first gear) I didnt get a whole lot out of reading the pressure gauge. I mostly did it by the travel and feel of the trans functions....

Hope this helps, I guess if the TV was off that bad, you would've burned it up by 30K. Let me know the specs of your set up and ill try to reccomend at least a starting point for the govenor based on my experience.

[clinebarger]

The gear ratios are kinda wacky on a 700R4, So getting the 1-2 shift & 2-3 shift to happen at the same RPM IS NOT going to happen, But you can get close.

Originally Posted by 6772owner

from what I have read there is no way to tell what to run without trial and eror.
So I think I just need to tweak on this setup for awhile to get it right, I am/was just frustrated with this process. I have to say this the most time consuming, no right answer experience I've had in a long time.

Thats correct, no one will be able to tell you exactly what to do with the governor. Sometimes using a heavy spring & a light spring/weight together can help (Example.... heavy Purple & light red spring) or a #5 & #6 weight with heavy Purple & Blue springs)

Earlier Shifts………………………………………… Later Shifts
Heavy 1—-2-—3—-4—5—6 Light

Low RPM Quick Shifts……….. …… Shift Points Spread Apart
Heavy Purple - Blue- Green - Yellow - Orange - Red Light

Be thankfull its not a 2004R, You got to pull the pan to access the governor.

[6772owner]

Clinebarger,

Thanks for the info, Ill just keep playing with it then.

Oh im thankful its not a 200R4... I am trying to help my bro with his C6 and its a real nightmare, no good info on it, no "kit" available and you have to pull the tailshaft housing to access it.

Ill keep my 700R4 thanks!

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by 6772owner

Clinebarger,

Thanks for the info, Ill just keep playing with it then.

Oh im thankful its not a 200R4... I am trying to help my bro with his C6 and its a real nightmare, no good info on it, no "kit" available and you have to pull the tailshaft housing to access it.

Ill keep my 700R4 thanks!

On a C6, suspect a "stuck governor". Wrong modulator valve pin length can cause shifting problems also.

[6772owner]

Clinebarger,

Thanks for the tip, I know NOTHING about the C6! I dont think its necessarily a shifting problem, it will always up shift, just way too fast. The trans has VERY low miles, only has run one summer basically, and only to local car shows, its my bro's "toy" it is not a driver. The problem is the truck (54' F100) has a 429 BBF, a high stall convertor, 4.30 gears and supposedly a shift kit. The trans was built before the truck was completed and before the convertor was purchased... therefore the trans could not be "calibrated" for the vehicle by the builder. So now Im trying to set the kick down, vac mod, and governor all at once with no knowledge of wth Im doing. Can you elaborate on this pin length? I have read that the vac mod to get is a black stripe or something? Supposed to be "truck specific" because this trans did come out of a Ford car (cant recall year/make/model since its not mine )

[clinebarger]

A "car" governor will be WAY off, Especially when running 4:30 gears. You can "modify" the governor yourself.....

Earlier shifts....Add weight to the governor weights.

Later shifts....Take weight off the governor weights.

You can also adjust shift timing under light throttle via the vacuum modulator using 2 methods:

Easy method: Adjust the pre-load on the spring inside the vacuum modulator. Turn it clockwise to increase tension = later shift. (Not always enough adjustment)

The pin between the modulator and the valve inside the transmission can be modified if there is not enough adjustment on the modulator.... longer pin = later, firmer shifts. Shorter pin = softer, earlier shifts. Change length no more than 1/16 inch at a time for testing.

[6772owner]

Yes, he's pretty sure it came out of a car (73' ish), thank you for the info, ill get on this and see how it goes.... much appreciated.
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[scum1]

id like to jump in here with a question too...ive been messing with my governor and the bm calibration kit. i took apart the current governor and weighed the weights to see what my base was. turns out the weights im currently running are .5g heavier than the number 1 (heaviest) weight. my shifting is waay high 1/2 - 4500 about same for 2/3.. i thought heavier weights made early shifts. so what do i do? go to heavier springs? any help appreciated.

[72MARIO]

Heavy springs also bring in a early shift. If your outer weights have 1/2" holes in them there is a factory weight with out the hole which will bring the shifts in sooner.

I have to say this the most time consuming, no right answer experience I've had in a long time

My dad and I spent a whole day playing with omost every combo in his 400 tranny 3:73 31 tire. The 1-2 shif is in way too soon spread it out and WOT will not shift in 2-3

[edhtrd71]

Nice info here I know what you are going through, its tough to want everything perfect. Right now my 1-2 is 5900 which I like but the 2-3 is pushing 6400 which is higher than I want. My combo isnt very good past 6000. It is true that no setup will be the same, because every one will accelerate the govenor at different speeds. I dont know about you guys but the governor cover is a pain to deal with so mine has been this way for longer than I want to admit. Should have left it the way it was upshifting a little to early because I could always rev it out by dropping the shifter down.

[6772owner]

I completely agree, after taking that stupid cover off about a million times I was just fed up with it.

I have mine pretty close now, I currently have it shifting at apx 5,600 1-2 and fairly close to that for 2-3... I havent really messed with it again because I was just happy it was shifting and not bouncing off the limiter again.

[dfarr67]

I know this is an old post- but tv vs governor issues are hard to research. My first gear is hanging in there to long under light throttle with a newly installed f body governor. I was under the impression you set the tv (eztv) separately and left it- I too have set it to bump pressure instantly off idle, I wonder if this is too tight....

[6772owner]

If you have issues with first gear not shifting I think the TV is set too loose if I remember correctly...

I used the video(s) from Bowtie Overdrives to set mine, but you basically set it so that is stretching pretty good at full throttle. My Lokar bracket would start to flex when the TV cable was at WOT.