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Installing Shift Kit issues

nickolaughagus

New member
Hey guys!

I finally got around to installing my Transgo shift kit, and I had some issues when I took apart my accumulator.

My 1-2 portion of the accumulator has a broken spring. It's the spring that gets re-used in the rebuild.

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I need to put something in its place, so I am putting in the red and yellow Springs that are meant for the 3-4 rebuild, which I'm not doing. This basically makes for slightly less spring resistance, but it's more or less the same IMO.

I'm also switching this damaged/modified piston to the 2-3 slot, because then I can use that extra 'medium' spacer, to take away any additional possibility for issues. That way the piston will be a little more limited in its movement.

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There is only one problem I can forsee- the slightly variance in spring resistance will mean that given a fluid pressure, the accumulator will be more inclined to slide up than before. I don't know how accumulators work, so I figured I would ask, how do you guys think this will affect the transmission? My own assumption is that the only thing that matters is the amount of pressure required to force the spacer against the accumulator housing, and thus causing flow to be blocked, so basically, all that matters is that the springs be about the same resistance as the old spring that they're replacing. So we're probably good...?

I'm not going to drive my car tomorrow in the event that someone has an input, as I don't want to damage the tranny. (Also because I am in the middle of a CV axle replacement and didn't get the Supercharged version which has a wider shaft, so I gotta drop by autozone)

Thanks ahead for any inputs, I know grandprixforums people always have my back ;)

EDIT:

After doing some heavy reading on accumulators,
They control the firmness of shifting by briefly dampening the pressure to the clutch. This dampening occurs by allowing changing quantities of fluid to enter the piston bore, which acts as a temporary reservoir during shifts to lower the stream pressure and flow rate. This slows down the clutch engagement, letting the transmission slip comfortably into gear.

9d84cf9d308ff5362bb03492d06e4c43.jpg


( According to this picture, the stock Springs will be located above this piston, and all the colored/modifying Springs will be located on the bottom of the piston, where the picture shows a spring. In our tranny, this picture would be represented upside down.)

The accumulator works with the throttle position, in that the opposite side of the piston has a fluid pressure that is in line with the throttle position. On hard throttle, the pressure rises, so the piston travels up to lessen the allowed volume for the clutch dampening. This makes for a firmer, higher performance shift. On low throttle, there is more volume allowed, which increases the dampening factor/slip.

What does this mean for me?
I'm going to say that my spring was there to calibrate the throttle pressures with the shift pressure. If it's a little bit softer, then there will be a normally higher give in the piston, which means it will provide less dampening in the shifts. Because the spacer is in there, I don't think I need to worry too much, however, because there will be a required minimum volume in the accumulator. In other words, unless someone has a definite answer, I'm going to run with my solution.
 
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Can you replace the broken spring with an OEM piece?

I'm also lost on accumulators, but I vaguely remembered this and had to look it up ~
Pressure and volume are inversely proportional to each other. This means that as the pressure decreases, the volume increases, and as the pressure increases, the volume decreases.
So, I guess that whatever the variance, there could be significant change.
 
A brief search led me nowhere online, so I will say that the only way I can get one of these is to hit the Junkyards and search for my transmission, then take it apart and get the spring.


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That spring is kinda important, yeah... Also you could do the same spring placement that I did, which was copied off of Brandon's rebuild thread...



all of the red and white springs I put into the accumulators for 1-2 and 2-3, saved all of the yellow for the 3-4 when I get to it. Also might want to clean up the piston bores with a scotch-brite pad, if you haven't already... helps with preventing chatter after reassembly.

Good luck with the search, I think I might be able to get you one if you can't find one.
 


I realized I searched wrong, but still found the part. Used "t465e" all late last night.

I can agree with the logic behind using whatever spring you have there. Personally, I wouldn't run it. There's really no way (for me) to know whether having the piston up more will make a tiny bit of difference, or if it'll slip/slam so bad somethings breaks. They put little shims with the Intense shift kit, which I think might do the same thing - raise the piston in the pot. That's unclear to me.

Someone will probably have had one apart more than once and chime in. GL man. Hope you get it sorted!
 
There's two people that I can think of that might have an extra one lying around, Bill (BillBoost37) and Greg (GMRBadass).

Hit one or both of them up, hopefully they can help you out, if not with the spring you need, a way to get it back up and running. Lol
 


Alright guys,

I ran my car last night and it was a little bit full of the new tranny fluid. I put in Lucas stop slip, but it was slipping pretty bad on all shifts. Then I threw it in reverse to go back home, and the engine was bogging.... I gave it a tad bit of gas to go, and then something BANGED. then all my gears wouldn't shift through at all, and running through the shifter made no sounds in all gears. So I when to put it in park, but then there was a LOUD rubbing sound like one set of gears was clattering against another stationary set, but not able to engage because of the speed differential. Opinions? Be nice by the way... I'm not super thrilled about my situation 😢

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I believe this is the spring you will need. if not follow the parts diagram. Rock auto should have it. Also make sure the lines are seated properly. http://www.w-body.com/topic/32115-4t65e-do-it-yourself-shift-kit-instructions-and-install-guide/

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[TD="class: listing-border-top-line"]ACDELCO 24203977 GM Original Equipment Info
Category: Accumulator Spring


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[TD="class: listing-border-top-line listing-float-box-cell-shared listing-float-box-cell-more-padding, colspan: 3, align: center"]$5.46[/TD]
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5. Reinstall the cover to the accumulator. Bolt it back into the transmission, using extreme care to reinstall and reseat the hard metal lines. Make absolute certain the lines are reseated properly. If they're not, you'll be left with a slipping transaxle that burns up clutches.. In case you forgot where the lines go, here's a picture:
3.jpg
 
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I was careful when I reseated those lines; I inspected them and wiggled until the wear line was butted up against the housing (basically I knew I had the line in as much as it could go) but it is possible that the one line with flex hosing, that went to the differential I believe came out.

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If it popped loose, I'm still possibly screwed though, correct? I mean, if it popped out, is it simply a matter of putting it back in? Or has the tranny likely burnt through the clutches based on what I've told you?



Edit:

There's no way it's just an accumulator hose... Maybe it caused this issue but that's not the only issue any more Haha.

I just called a tow and will be hearing from my local transmission shop tonight.
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As long as you didn't keep driving it you should be ok. If it was not doing this before the shift kit then something went south when going back together. Just take it back apart and inspect. You can save the trans fluid if you use a clean drain pan and filter the fluid if you do not want to buy another 7 quarts. I would buy the correct spring for the accumulator. You can buy the 2-3 spring for use in the 1-2 for a more firm shift.
 
BTW>>>> DO NOT USE AUTOZONE AXLES!!! I had a popping noise I couldn't figure out for the life of me. I replaced both cv axles under warranty and the noise still existed. Finally I was talking with Tim at ZZP (i have a ZZP trans) and he said it sounded like a cv axle. I bought a new $200 ac delco axle and no more noise. just my experience with them.
 
If it popped loose, I'm still possibly screwed though, correct? I mean, if it popped out, is it simply a matter of putting it back in? Or has the tranny likely burnt through the clutches based on what I've told you?



Edit:

There's no way it's just an accumulator hose... Maybe it caused this issue but that's not the only issue any more Haha.

I just called a tow and will be hearing from my local transmission shop tonight.
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If it didn't do it before then its something related to the shift kit install. hopefully you did not do any major damage.. fingers crossed
 
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