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How to tell if shift kit is installed?

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2.6K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  texasprd  
#1 ·
I am rebuilding my 47rh transmission, for which I don't really know the history, and in the teardown I have found, among the frictions that look darn near brand new, some things that look like they've been upgraded. I'm getting ready to take apart the valve body for a thorough cleaning and inspection, and I had planned on installing a shift kit. However, before I order the shift kit, and since I have been finding upgraded parts all through this thing, I wonder if a shift kit is already installed?

I doubt that it is, because I had trouble with hard shifts into overdrive during the winter months, prior to the truck warming up fully. This wouldn't be an issue if I allowed the truck to warm up in neutral instead of park. This leads me to believe that a shift kit, which would allow fluid circulation while in park, was not installed.

However, I do want to make certain. So are there any telltale signs of a shift kit being installed? I know what the stock valve body will look like inside, I just don't know how to identify if the shift kit is there or not. Any tips?
 
#3 ·
Years back, I found the content of ATSG 47RH manual online - I don't remember where, though. It's 24MB, so bigger than most email accounts will allow for attachments. You might be able to find it online with some good googling. Alternatively, if you haven't already done so, download the Factory Service Manual (FSM) from the link in the stickies at the top of the forum. Neither of these will have spring colors or lengths specified, but if you tear apart the valve body and find valves, plugs, holes, etc. that don't match the drawings in the manuals or checkballs missing - that would be an indicator to me that the valve body has been modified. There is a well-regarded member named Dynamic who has a transmission business (parts & performance builds) - I mostly see him in the later-generation forums, but you could try PMing him and see if he can help.
 
#4 ·
I have the ATSG manual for the A618, as well as the one for the 47RE (they're two different manuals, and I bought the 47RE manual before finding the A618 online, go figure). I guess what I'm looking for is somewhat close to what you mentioned... "this spring is green and longer instead of black and shorter like a stock spring" would be a pretty good giveaway. I guess I'll find out more when I tear into it. Might get that done tonight.
 
#5 ·
Spring colors would be a great clue - I thought of that and that's why I mentioned that the ATSG manual and FSM don't mention colors.

If you really want to go by spring color, you could try finding the various manufacturers of shift kits and try to find their instruction sheets (Transgo and Pioneer are two, probably also Sonnax - maybe check TranStar's website and see who's kits they offer). Maybe someone knows of a less potentially frustrating way to do that.
 
#6 ·
I got the whole thing tore down, cleaned, and put back together with bolts finger tight. No springs were colored and it looked stock throughout. I did notice on one of the plates (separator plate) there was a "48" cut out, and a "19" on another. On the Transmission Bench video I was watching, I think the demonstration transmission had a "96" cut out on the separator plate. None of these numbers matched up to transmission models or years, and the stock image of the Transgo kit doesn't have any number cut out on the separator plate, so I didn't think anything of it.
 
#7 ·
Here's an article about what happened when someone unwittingly put a 47RE plate into a 48RE valve body. Maybe someone put an incorrect plate into your valve body. As much as I hate going to a dealer parts counter for anything, I'd consider seeing if you can get separator plates from the dealer - or at least compare to them. Also, Transgo sells replacement plates - maybe you can contact a place that sells them and get some info on numbers stamped on them. If you haven't already, take a look at some of the trans-overhaul threads in this forum - maybe there'll be some plate pics that will shed some light on the plates you have.

Maybe call Sonnax or Transgo and see if they can confirm those numbers. From what I saw on Sonnax, the plate with "19" likely has some identification value. In the article I read, they were discussing a 48RE valve body and 27 was an identifying code...

Hope this helps