I have installed a Ramjet 350 with a 700R4 in my 89 Bird. I am having
problems with 1-2 shift at 10-15 MPH, 2-3 at 25-30, 3-4 about 40
regardless of throttle position. All shifts feel solid. Downshift occurs
between half to 3/4 throttle all the time. The trans worked great with the
305 but I am having this problem since I put the RJ in. I was told by
Bowtie Overdrives that the throttle body linkage on the RJ was
engineered for a non-overdrive trans and the OD trans needs different throttle quadrant geometry. It sounds reasonable and motor swap was the only change when I noticed the problem.

My question is on the RJ350 is the TV cable geometry at the throttle body different from what it would have been with the TBI 305 I swapped or could I have other issues? I know there are differences between carb and TBI, are there differences between TBI and PFI? I just would like to know if Bowtie overdrives is correct or are they telling me a line of stuff to get me to spend 200 for their correction kit. I am not sure if it could be a valid answer to my issue or I need to look elsewhere.


I have Superiors 700R4-V shift correction kit to calibrate the VB for the bigger servo, 1/2 and 3/4 pinless accumulators with a Sonnax brown 1/2 spring and white 3/4 spring, Oversized low/reverse boost valve, .500 mega valve, Fairbanks billet overdrive and intermediate servo, code 94 upgraded TV plunger and sleeve. The TV cable at WOT contacts the TV valve housing and depresses the plunger about 4mm at closed throttle. The separator plate has been replaced with Transgo 700P and modified per the shift correction kit directions and correct gaskets verified and installed. A corvette governor has also been installed. All valves in the valve body have been checked for sticking and all are free.

 

the tbi cable will be different that a tpi. i believe the ramjet uses the tpi cable.

 

- if it is fully extended at WOT and part throttle shift points are too low, you should look into superior's tv correction kit. - Little spring and retaining tab that goes onto the tv cable between the throttle linkage clip and the cable end crimp, cost is like $7 from patc. Bowtie is trying to burn you as they have done to many before you. Yes, proper TV setting is critical to a 700's life, but it is not that hard to achieve.

 

Drop the pan, check its motion and that it fully seats at WOT. If you do the proper 'reset' procedure and it doesnt ratchet back out when you go WOT, then you have the wrong cable. If the correct cable isnt availible, there is a universal one that may do the trick.
But you need to verify whats going on inside the trans first.
BTW, the TV Cable is NOT designed to adjust shift points. The Governor and calibration kits for the VBody do that.
Read these 3 pages on this ink. This should clear up the operation and setting of the TV Cable, http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php

 

I already have the universal TV cable, it was adjusted by visually looking at the TV plunger. At WOT the plunger contacts the housing and is depressed a couple mm at closed throttle with a code 94 plunger and housing assy. According to the tvmadeez article it should be adjusted right. The Superior shift correction kit is installed, with several other things I posted in the original post. The trans shifted right with the TBI 305 but after I swapped in the Ramjet I started having these issues. I have talked to Don at PATC, he said most likely a throttle valve is stinging or stuck or re calibrate the governor. All the valves in the VB have been double and triple checked to make sure they aren't sticking and the corvette governor hasn't made a difference.

The only thing left, unless someone has a better idea, it the geometry of the linkage on the throttle body. I admit a fair but limited knowledge of automatics, but I have a tough time believing that the throttle linkage is different between a non-overdrive trans and an overdrive trans like Bowtie tells me. I know cables are different lengths for different power plants, but shouldn't the amount of travel the TV valve needs be the same for all TV cable equipped trans', whether it is a carb, TBI or PFI? If that's the case I would think each different fuel system would need a specific trans valve body and I don't remember anybody posting problems with a fuel setup swap.

If I am off track maybe someone can help me back to the right place.