Proper shifting with a manual valve body trans

[dodge freak 2]

Well got my tranny rebuilt finally and only driven it home 30 miles (with mostly 2 lane heavy traffic roads) but the limited amount I did push it a bit seemed much better than when the other shop dude rebuilt it years ago.Driving lightly 2 to 3 shift is  hard most times but found if I shift while still accelerating its better and once was able to time it so it was pretty soft, so I likely get the feel for it after a bit.

1st to 2nd light throttle is great, not very hard but firm and go go pedal half way down chips tires nicely....haven't tried full throttle shifts yet and then the rain came later that day. I'm busy the rest of the week so its next week til I can play with it but them clutches should  be all lube up good from the long drive home.

Now I was told to NEVER take off from a stop in 3rd gear, no matter how slow and easy. Not even 2nd gear but always use first from a stop or I burn the main clutch up. (the trans was wasted through out, pump, drum, everything I was told)  I does have 3.91 gears with 26 inch tires. Guess I can do it but is that 100% correct? Even using 2nd gear from a dead stop isn't good, always use 1st gear?

[tactransman]

Taking off in a higher gear than 1st will put more stress on the forward clutch. It can stress the teeth on the clutches also and eventually wear them to the point that they could strip off.
With the gears and short 26 inch tires,it would be OK for second every once in a while,but why would you? 

[dodge freak 2]

Cause dumb butt traffic moves so slow its a waste just about to shift to a lower gear when the car has enough pick up to stay with traffic.....but I guess i be shifting lower from not on.

Yeah he was showing me some pointed teeth and saying how they should be flat....but nobody told me I was streesing the trans, duh.

[challydust]

im chasing a very similiar problem...my shift in traffic from 2nd to 3rd (high gear) is hard...dont like it...under accerlation,,it is fine...but any thing under say 2500 rpm...sucks....any help....ive mentioned this on another post with out much reply....ive been told...tranny issue, mount, pinion angle, clutch packs in rear.....uu joint....rear pinion play.......everything mentioned here, is new with less than 500 miles on it....so im really lost.....im thinkin pinion angle But!..i get 10 diff answers on how to measure it....so im really lost right now...

[tactransman]

What brand of VB do you have?

[challydust]

hey man thanks for the quick response....honestly, i had the tranny built from scratch , i just provided the cohen conv, and the core....abruzzio trannys in ohio did it.....i bought the car in 95 with a reverse valve, diff conv...and 440....as far back as i can remember the car always clunked from 2nd to high in town , slow..ect....under load fine...thats why i think its my  pinion angle ....just seems odd to have a whole new set up, and it still clunks...nature of the beast in a reverse valve body?...BUT when i just recently changed the ride height..now the clunk is even worse!...so thats what pointing me towards the rear of the car....let me know ur input...im lost right now...specially on the whole pinion anglemeasuring deal

[tactransman]

Pinion angle should be slightly down at rest and then twist up to zero under acceleration. Did you ever make sure the snubber isn't banging the floor? Also,is it a 2-3 bang "bind up" or a sharp ,crisp,clean snap?

[challydust]

well here the scoop....car always had ss spring...and a adjustable snubber....i had it adjusted so that it was about 1 inch off the floor....now with still using the ss springs.....and the 2 inch lowering blocks of course it was wedge up in there...so i took it off completely...even at its lowest setting its too close now.....so i put a original snubbber on...its really low...and not adjustable so i dont know now..if that would even do its job...its a thuddy, bang noise....

[oldkimmer]

................U dont need a snubber with ss springs...........u need proper clearance in the trans 2 have a clean 2-3 shift......loosen the front band 1/4 turn............kim.......... .............anybody can rebuild a 727 or 904, but as soon as there is a shift kit/valve body swap, thats a whole nuther story......

[dodge freak 2]

Its the tight converter or the manual valve body. You can get a feel for it. Try shifting with 50% throttle if you can. Maybe a little early.

I have 3.91 gears and in traffic shift up to 3rd by 45mph--sooner many times. Still it hits hard sometimes.

A good trans shop can do some adjustments.

[challydust]

thanks for the input...the cars always done that...im wonderring when i took my ole tranny to him...the guts of it ....if he just put it all together...and really didnt do anything different to it...thats why i still have the clunk....i had a fairly mild converter in the car before he rebuilt it....and its still clunking...so im leaning towards my valve body....what would a shop do to fix that may i ask?.....and yes it only clunk if u short shift it in traffic ,...out on the road under accerleration its fine...no clunk