govenor kit
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
govenor kit
Looking for opinions on the governor modification kits. First, how hard is it to r & r the governor with the transmission in place? I would like to raise the shift points from the factory 5700 to about 6300 or so.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,836
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From: Database Error Indiana
Its easy, if you can get to the cover. My exhaust is in the way a bit, so that makes it hard to get the cover back on. Took me about 6 tries to get mine to shift at 6k. If your exhaust is close you probably need to drop it down. I didnt but you have an LT with big cats under there. Anyway, if you access to the cover, the weight changing part is easy. Remove the pins, the spring will fall out, change the weights, put the spring back in and reinstall. I think the whole thing takes 15 minutes. Depending on exhaust.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Hey Jack,
Thanks for the advise. I don't have cats. Just headers feeding into the stock pipes. But I do have the cross brace to work around (vert) Everything I read said to change 1 weight and not 2 at a time. The big key is going to be getting it out without having to take too much off the car it seems.
My cover is a press in type. I have seen the ones advertised that use a clip to hold it in. I need to check and see if the transmission is drilled to hold the clip. I think that would help making it easier to change.
Thanks for the advise. I don't have cats. Just headers feeding into the stock pipes. But I do have the cross brace to work around (vert) Everything I read said to change 1 weight and not 2 at a time. The big key is going to be getting it out without having to take too much off the car it seems.
My cover is a press in type. I have seen the ones advertised that use a clip to hold it in. I need to check and see if the transmission is drilled to hold the clip. I think that would help making it easier to change.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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Hey Jack,
Thanks for the advise. I don't have cats. Just headers feeding into the stock pipes. But I do have the cross brace to work around (vert) Everything I read said to change 1 weight and not 2 at a time. The big key is going to be getting it out without having to take too much off the car it seems.
My cover is a press in type. I have seen the ones advertised that use a clip to hold it in. I need to check and see if the transmission is drilled to hold the clip. I think that would help making it easier to change.
Thanks for the advise. I don't have cats. Just headers feeding into the stock pipes. But I do have the cross brace to work around (vert) Everything I read said to change 1 weight and not 2 at a time. The big key is going to be getting it out without having to take too much off the car it seems.
My cover is a press in type. I have seen the ones advertised that use a clip to hold it in. I need to check and see if the transmission is drilled to hold the clip. I think that would help making it easier to change.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: moraga ca
I bought 2 B&M kits and mixed and matched weights and springs. When I had it close, I actually ground corners off some of the weights to lighten them and added solder to increase the weight of others. I was pretty good at making quick changes. I would jack up just the driver's side and place a jackstand under the rail. I was able to pop the cap off with the exhaust in place. After the governor was modified, I would use an old bar type torque wrench with an 11/16 socket on the end to tap the rim of the cap to seat it. I must have had the cap off 20 or 30 times and got it pretty close to what I wanted. It's a challange getting part throttle and full throttle shift points dialed in.
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Team Owner
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44681-4K which is in all of the various transmission parts catalogs. A local shop might have several loose weights if you're acquainted with any. eBay is your friend here I think, less than $52 shipped free. The transmission warehouse that I've bought from recently isn't less expensive and that's unusual.
Pro
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 533
Likes: 6
From: Poinciana Florida
With the gears your running does the car see the street very often? Mileage must be about 9mpg. Prior to playing with the governor consider installing a "Corrector spring, T V cable" from www.transmissioncenter.com. Shipping costs more than the spring. Then begin to play with the weights on the governor. Unless you have a lift available it's a real pain in the rear. Perhaps a dozen times before you find what you may want, maybe more.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
With the gears your running does the car see the street very often? Mileage must be about 9mpg. Prior to playing with the governor consider installing a "Corrector spring, T V cable" from www.transmissioncenter.com. Shipping costs more than the spring. Then begin to play with the weights on the governor. Unless you have a lift available it's a real pain in the rear. Perhaps a dozen times before you find what you may want, maybe more.
I couldn't find anything on their web site called a corrector spring. Maybe you could give me a direct link?
I did find this in their 700r4 faq section. (#6. Do not attempt to adjust the shift timing with the throttle valve cable. The shift timing is controlled by the governor springs. For higher shift points at wide-open throttle, install lighter springs or remove one of the springs. For lower shift points at wide-open throttle, install stronger springs.)
The gears are actually 3.73 now. When the car had the hotcam and ported heads, 350, I liked the 4.09. They really are not that bad with overdrive. In reality it is about like running a 3.07 with with a turbo 350 transmission.
BTW the reason I did not go back with them was, when I blew the rear, I was in a hurry to get it together and WVZR1 had the 3.73's local so we used them to get it back on the road.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
I believe everyone actually just repackages this Superior package:
44681-4K which is in all of the various transmission parts catalogs. A local shop might have several loose weights if you're acquainted with any. eBay is your friend here I think, less than $52 shipped free. The transmission warehouse that I've bought from recently isn't less expensive and that's unusual.
44681-4K which is in all of the various transmission parts catalogs. A local shop might have several loose weights if you're acquainted with any. eBay is your friend here I think, less than $52 shipped free. The transmission warehouse that I've bought from recently isn't less expensive and that's unusual.
Dave, thanks for the advise. I have a call into Walter to see if he has any. If not I am going to order a new one off of ebay.
Team Owner
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Pass a "hello" on to Walter! You could disassemble a couple used governors and just do the weigh and grind/drill for weight reduction. Only thing needed is a very accurate scale that will do grams.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
I bought 2 B&M kits and mixed and matched weights and springs. When I had it close, I actually ground corners off some of the weights to lighten them and added solder to increase the weight of others. I was pretty good at making quick changes. I would jack up just the driver's side and place a jackstand under the rail. I was able to pop the cap off with the exhaust in place. After the governor was modified, I would use an old bar type torque wrench with an 11/16 socket on the end to tap the rim of the cap to seat it. I must have had the cap off 20 or 30 times and got it pretty close to what I wanted. It's a challange getting part throttle and full throttle shift points dialed in.
Hey Willie, thanks for the tips. Im going to get under it tomorrow and look at it. I worry about poping it off and then not being able to get it back on without dropping the transmission
Pro
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 533
Likes: 6
From: Poinciana Florida
I took a look at the web site for PATC speed shop and shook my head in amazement. It appears keep it simple stupid just no longer applies.
A phone call to 888 201 2066 will get you there. What you want is a 700R4 T V cable corrector spring. It cost $7.00 5 years ago. It preloads the tv pressure to correct the shifting point when you make a gear change.
No problem pulling and replacing the governor cap. Just time and patience required.
A phone call to 888 201 2066 will get you there. What you want is a 700R4 T V cable corrector spring. It cost $7.00 5 years ago. It preloads the tv pressure to correct the shifting point when you make a gear change.
No problem pulling and replacing the governor cap. Just time and patience required.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,339
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
I use a pry bar to pop the cover back on. I have a 3" exhaust so its pretty tight to access it all. After having it off at least 100 times I can do it by feel.
I had crappy luck with the weights in the kits. They are just stamped out and sometimes off a bit. I ended up removing a ounce or so at a time from the stock weights. Make one change at a time then document what it did. If you change too much you can chase your tail going back to base if you don't write it down!
I had crappy luck with the weights in the kits. They are just stamped out and sometimes off a bit. I ended up removing a ounce or so at a time from the stock weights. Make one change at a time then document what it did. If you change too much you can chase your tail going back to base if you don't write it down!
