Would it be possible to modify the valve body without doing a level ten upgrade

[AZ94Q]

Can we accomplish what these lexus guys did, without doing a full leven ten rebuild?

The Soarer auto transmission is a typical Lexus luxury item - very smooth. The ECU retards the engine timing during a shift so that there is less torque going through the trans as is glides between shifts - you can hardly feel them.

The disadvantage for performance driving is that the change is quite slow - especially the 1st to 2nd change when under full power. The trans slurs from gear to gear. For a hotted up twin turbo the engine can pop while waiting for the trans to change as the engine winds back the timing during the change. No problems in the V8 like this but the change is still slow and time is lost during the change.

Not so with a shift kit.

A shift kit is a modified valve body that lives inside the transmission. It is an hydraulic item that makes the transmission shift much quicker and as a result the engine timing is not retarded nearly as long. Rather than slurring through gears smoothly, the shift kit changes hard and fast. Even on my V8 the change is now hard enough to chirp the wheels or send the back of the car sideways momentarily during a change. Now during a change the car leaps forward, not sagging back.

Now that all sounds very aggressive, but for normal driving the trans is still acceptably smooth - the harshness of the shifts can be tuned somewhat by changing the line pressure - a simple cable adjustment.

If you have never thought your transmission changed too slow then don't sweat a shift kit. If you want a sportier change, a more dynamic driving experience then perhaps a shift kit is for you.

The Shift KitI got mine from MV Automatics (only $385 fitted! - available as complete valve body change over with DIY instructions too) also got myself a trans cooler - no more slurring between gear changes - trans changes very quick. If you want to fit it yourself and keep your old valve body then that is also available.

[MiniMan]

Ryan, this would truely be an AWESOME upgrade. Well worth the money if it's possible (especially if it truely is 1/10th the cost of the L10 upgrade)! Great post!

Unfortunately you don't get the torque converter (IMO not worth $800 bucks) nor do you get a transmission capable of reliably sustaining as much hp as the L10... but you could easily by 6 used JDM trannies in case yours ever buckles under the stress :pface .

MV Automatics is located in Australia unfortunately, but maybe we'd be able to find someone in NA who'd be able to do it?

MV AutomaticsContact: Michael Vidau Address: Unit 3/1 Stirling Road, Blackwood, SA, 5051. Phone: (08) 8370 0430

Corey

[AZ94Q]

Mini,

I totally hear what you're saying. I would much rather have the level ten, but at $3,500 dollars, I have other priorities.. It would be nice if in the meantime, we could do like these lexus guys did, and make our shifts firmer/quicker...

I don't have any mods that would take blow the OEM transmission anyway yet...

I think our TCUs work the same way.. I'm sure we could notice a nice gain, by just doing this alone..

I definetely want the level ten, but wouldn't mind improving shifts in the meantime.. I don't care if I blow a transmission, that means I have a reason to get the level ten.. it's hard to justify it, when I have a basically brand new OEM unit..

This mod gets the main advantages I want from the level ten.. it doesn't imrporve reliability or hp advantages or TC advantages, but it would be a nice and relative cheap add on to the OEm transmission.

[AZ94Q]

Looks as though MV automatics doesn't have a website, nor email address... I was hoping to avoid calling australia..

[Need4Speed]

Snail mail..........

[MiniMan]

Ryan,

The quicker shifts will actually improve/extend transmission life (possibly even doubling). By minimizing overlap between two gears and reducing slipping (which is what makes the shifts smooth) you are increasing transmission life and performance. As far as I know, there shouldn't be any downsides to this mod... that is, besides the slight cost.

Corey

Found one possible company to do the upgrade for us... more to come.

[Need4Speed]

Really?......Keep us posted as it looks like I'm about replace my transmission.

-Andy

[MiniMan]

Andy,

This would be something you can do once you buy your new transmission. It should also be able to be done with your transmission mounted in your car. Don't quote me on that though.

Corey

[Need4Speed]

Yeah.....you can drop the valve body out while the transmission is still in the car. I will probably have to do this to my current transmission in order to check some shift solenoids.....NOT looking forward to this.......... :rolleyes

-Andy

[MiniMan]

Ahhh, have fun with that for me Andy! :pface *watches my transmission burst into flames... shatter*

Quicker shifts also decrease heat build up in your transmission. Does this mod ever stop getting better?

Corey

[Q45tech]

Why not observe the current waveform on solenoids that will tell you if they move ----- as the piston movement changes their inductance.

Hopefully you are very familiar with JATCO trannies. Think twice even a dozen times before you drop the valve body.

[Need4Speed]

I'm assuming a consult will be able to diagnose the solenoids proper function?

Oh, how I wish I had one of those......

[AZ94Q]

Well I wouldn't do it myself

[MiniMan]

I'm not suggesting I start drilling random holes into my valve body. I am talking about a professionally made and designed kit.

I understand you may need to purchase higher quality lines as pressure can be raised a substantial amount via using a shift kit. Is there anything else you'd warn us about Dennis?

Corey

[AZ94Q]

My car is coming with a blown OEM transmission.. Perhaps I can send it to this Austrialian guy, if he hasn't made one for our trannys already..

[MiniMan]

I'm calling the highly recommended TransGo later today to see what they can do for us.

I have managed to find another transmission shop which has a kit specifically for the RE4R03A. I sent them an e-mail... waiting to hear back now...

Anywho, it's 5:20 in the morning... I've gotta be up in a few hours... medic.

Corey

[AZ94Q]

Excellent corey.

[AZ94Q]

I found these guys as well.. Maybe this is who you were talking about

http://www.importperformancetr...shtml

[AZ94Q]

Hmm these guys seem to offer valve body modifications independently.. maybe this is the way to go

"We are able to modify your existing valve body for high performance operation. These are the same modifications that are included in our line of performance transmissions. Experience the change from mild to wild! Please note that this is a modification service- you must ship your valve body to: IPT 244 Rt. 23 South Hamburg, NJ 07419 Normal turnaround time is 24-48 hours at our shop. For all Nissan units we highly recommend installation of our modified solenoid assembly- Call for package pricing."

Price: $495

[AZ94Q]

These guys appear to do something as well

http://www.txchange.com/sk.htm

"SK® RE4R01A

Nissan RE4R01A, RL4R01A Mazda R4AX-EL, Subaru 4 speed ECAT, Nissan – Infinity – Truck - SUV V8 RE4R03A, Isuzu Diesel JR403

1988up 4 speed with or without lockupCorrects/Prevents/Reduces: Planetary burnup; 3rd clutch failure; forward clutch burnup Soft 1-2 shift; 2-3 cutloose; Band burnout and low lube flow causing overheating and total burnup"

[AZ94Q]

These guys seem to offer a kit as well. Thank god we have the 300zx auto, one of the few good aftermarket components we have..

http://www.aceomatic.com/partscat/partsearch.asp

478 14 NI Shift Kit - ( RL4R01A, RE4R01A ) Electronic or Gov. Shift 1 1987-UP 4780902 NA T73165A 478 14 NI RE4R01A Shift Correction Package - Superior 1 1988-98 4780911 NA S73165A

[AZ94Q]

This one looks like the best one I found so far..

http://www.importperformancetr...#main

We would need the..

Valve Bodies Qty Price ea. IPT Valve Body Modification Service $495.00

Electronics Qty Price ea. Modified Solenoid Assembly $189.00

Total- $684..

They sell them as a package, so we could probably get a package discount for both items...

If we could get the RE4R03A shifting as fast as the level ten (or close to it) I wouldn't mind missing the other advantages of the level ten, given the steep price increase....

Corey, let me know what you find out.. It looks as though we had this alternative in front of us, the entire time.

[fxjackso]

You can send your valve body to Level 10, and they will do the same modifications. We know the quality of their work.

[AZ94Q]

I suppose that's true...

These guys are also R34 specialists..

The valve body mod is $495 and the solenoid assembly is $189.

I usually do a package at $625, which is a savings of $59.

As far as the valve body modification, we are able to reduce shift times byaround 500%, as a minimum setting. If even firmer shift are desired, at thecustomer's request, we are able to go beyond that.

In addition, lube flow through the converter, cooler and transmission lubecircuit is increased 2-3 fold.

The torque handling capacity of the clutches and band is increased by over50% at the minimum firmness setting.

You can expect the car to feel like a whole different animal with a properlymodified valve body. You will notice firm, crisp, performance shifts thatwill greatly increase the durability of the transmission.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like any other questionsanswered.