North American Turbocoupe Organization



adjusting an automatic.
Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#1
Does anyone have any good tips on getting an automatic to downshift and upshift better?
Until I get the 5 speed in this thing, I'd like to get it to downshift into 2nd when I floor it on the freeway and wait longer to upshift - currently shifts at a mind-bogging 4k rpm ALWAYS. Shifts from 1st to 2nd at 2500!! And is really mushy upshifting.
I suspect that considering my crazy shifter (with no 2) might lead to someone "tuning down" the trans to keep it alive longer.

Alldata mentions adusting some band screws, and vacuum diaphragm; and last year someone told me about the modulator. And I suppose the kickdown cable has something to do with it. But alldata and haynes are very vague; and I couldn't find any posts on the board specifically.

I personally don't care if it blows, I never drive it outside of the AAA 100 mile towing zone.
Thanks in a HUGE way in advance.
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bigred Offline
Member
#2
Matt
Try jegs or summit catologs sometimes they have a listing for a shift improvment gismo that fits the a4ld .I think its made by B&M or Tci usually listed with the shift kits
You could try just shifting manually other than that get the 5 speed ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a difference
Scott
1988 TC T-5 swap,New Head,Wiseco .030 pistons ,5.5 Crower rods ,balanced ,24x12x3 intercooler,T-3 .60
Ranger Roller Cam,New brown tops.
New 3"cat and 3"single SS exhaust
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revamp Offline
Member
#3
Yea I've been looking for a shifter kit as well for one of my auto's. For jegs it says that it will fit the 87-93 2.3L stangs.. I'm guessing it will fit an 88 TC then, what do you think?

Andrew
88 TC W/ 87K:
K&N in custom sanded airbox||Gillis Valve||Stereo Sytem: Pioneer 8400, Infinity Ref. Series & Polk Audio Speakers Powered by 4 Channel Pioneer Amps||Performance Radiator & Cooling System||Custom Interior Converion||Gutted Cat & Dynamax Ultra Flow Muffler||Indiglo Gauges ||and more to come!
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Hawk Offline
Senior Member
#4
Transgo makes a shift kit for the A4LD. They run $50. That is the only way you are going to get an A4LD to shift any better than it does stock. You can also get an adjustable modulator valve that will allow you to adjust the part throttle upshift points.

Hawk
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Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#5
Well, my deal is that I'm puttin' a 5 speed in it some time in the next year. Fall and winter are coming, and with everyone's studded tires smoothing out the always wet roads and icy mornings I don't really drive it much after September.
I'm mostly looking for how to tweak the kickdown cable (?) so it'll shift where I want it. How to check the modulator, adjustments that sort of thing. Don't want to spend money since I'm pulling it in a bit.
Thanks!
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gddevil1 Offline
Member
#6
If the auto is set up with a kickdown cable, you could just shorten it. Some older cars even had adjustable kickdown cables...that would be the easiest way to make it downshift when you romped on it. I havn't seen an auto up close though.

------------------
1988 tc-
3" atr downpipe
2.5" atr duals
k&n cone
Gillist Boost valve
centerforce clutch
3G alt. from Pa- performance
all else stock..
for now
NATO member
1988 tc-
3" atr downpipe
2.5" atr duals
k&n cone
Gillist Boost valve
centerforce clutch
3G alt. from Pa- performance
all else stock..
for now
NATO member
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Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#7
Yeah, but where is the kickdown cable? Sorry, I'm an idiot when it comes to automatics.
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#8
The A4LD uses a vacuum modulator to control the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts... there is no "kickdown" or TV cable as far as I know. 3-4 shifts are controlled by the EEC. An adjustable modulator will help some... you can usually increase the shift points by 3 to 5 mph, but that is about it. A typical shift kit will firm up the shifts, but will not increase shift RPM.

Your problem sounds like a bad or incorrectly calibrated governer (located on the output shaft of the tranny). I know you can buy different weights / springs in kits to adjust shift points for various GM trannys like the TH350, TH400, but I cant recall ever seeing similar kits for the A4LD. Maybe talk to a tranny shop.

------------------
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#9
The A4LD uses a vacuum modulator to control the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts... there is no "kickdown" or TV cable as far as I know. 3-4 shifts are controlled by the EEC. An adjustable modulator will help some... you can usually increase the shift points by 3 to 5 mph, but that is about it. A typical shift kit will firm up the shifts, but will not increase shift RPM.

Your problem sounds like a bad or incorrectly calibrated governer (located on the output shaft of the tranny). I know you can buy different weights / springs in kits to adjust shift points for various GM trannys like the TH350, TH400, but I cant recall ever seeing similar kits for the A4LD. Maybe talk to a tranny shop.

------------------
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#10
Sounds to me there isn't Sh%T I can do to adjust the tranny. Oh well. Maybe it wouldn't be so much of a dog if it shifted AFTER 4,000 rpm, instead of before!

But I guess if the incorrectly calibrated govorner is to blame, that would make sense, as I think that this transmission was worked on to keep it that way - from blowing up. If I had the factory shifter, and not the AOD type shifter I would not think so.

I'll try to fool with the band screws as mentioned on alldata and see if it does anything (after I get my other car back together, that is..) Any other ideas?

BTW, it WILL downshift into 2nd but only when in D (not OD) and only below 50mph.
ARF!! ARF!!


[This message has been edited by Matt S (edited 07-20-2002).]
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