I've been doing some searching and saw that a B&M KickDown valve, part # 70237, allows WOT/pedal to the metal, in OD without the 700
R4 downshifting into Drive.

Has anyone tried this mod and, if so, what were the results/opinion?

Thanks and Happy New Year to All.

Jake

 

I put it in; and love it! It's a great mod. It does allow WOT cruising in 4th without a kickdown. In fact the faster you go, the less the car will want to kickdown into 4th.

I like this feature: If I'm doing 55-60 on a highway, and want to speed up, I either have to floor the pedal (for a downshift), or move the stick into Drive. I prefer moving the stick. I also sometimes need to shift into D (3rd) because the trans will hold 4th so well, it sometimes "lugs" the engine at a low RPM.

I hear the GM 3-4 WOT Upshift valve does the same thing; but don't quote me, I don't have it. The GM valve's supposed to be only $20 as opposed to B&M's $35.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Thanks for the info Tom. Did I get the part number correct - 70237?

What's involved in the installation? Would I have to drop the valve body again?

Jake


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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

You're welcome, and yes, that part # sounds very familar. You won't have to drop the valve body, but you'll have to drop the TV linkage (that funny looking gizmo on the passenger side of the valve body). All you're replacing is the sleeve the TV plunger slides in, and you can get at the roll pin with the valve body installed.

There's a peculiar thing with the modified TV sleeve and the TV plunger; the B&M instructions say this, but the TV plunger must have an "89" stamped into the end. They say it's rare to find a different stamping, but if you do, you can't use the sleeve. You'd have to source the correct plunger thru a trans shop.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Thanks for all the info, Tom. I'm going to try to find it and order it.

This mod sounds like what I'm looking for to get some serious top end out of the car.

I've looked through Mid America, Ecklers, JEGS, Summit and Performance Automotive Warehouse and none of them list it by the part number I posted. I'm going to call each of them to see if perhaps they have it but it's just not listed in their catalogs.

If you have a phone number of a company that carrys it I'd appreciate it.

Take care,

Jake


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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

I got mine through Summit... maybe the guy you talked to looked for the wrong thing? Summit tags their part #'s with a manufacturer code before the actual #, so the part # (to Summit Racing) is really:

BMM-70237

In fact if you go to http://www.summitracing.com , at the top, choose B&M, and put 70237 in the part # box. They want $33.95 for it.

Jegs' does the same thing, they call it part number 130-70237. They want more for it; $33.99.

Hope that helps!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

TomP, at what RPM does you 3-4 shift occur at WOT?

 

I have the same B & M kickdown sleeve in my car's tranny, along with a Transgo shift kit and though the kit works as intended for firming up the shifts, the sleeve doesn't. I'm just curious though, what year transmission do you guys have your sleeve in? I think there are other things to consider in the tranny's performance such as the oil pump. Wish I knew more about tranny's.

 

The car won't do a 3-4 WOT upshift with the B&M sleeve installed. The B&M sleeve just lets you "hold" 4th gear- as in, I have to push the gas almost to the floorboard to get it to downshift to pass someone.

GM makes a 3-4 WOT upshift valve. I'd give you the part # but I always seem to lose the damn thing!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

I've been some more research on this mod and I find that in order for the trans to shift from third to fourth, you need to lift off the pedal briefly to allow the shift to occur.

Once in OD, the trans is supposed to remain there even at WOT. In order to go back to third you'd either have to slow down by lifting or manually shift back into Drive (3rd) gear.

Is this the way it's working for you guys that have it installed?

What I'm looking for is for the trans to remain in OD (4th) gear at WOT to take advantage of the add'l rpms that OD provides.

Thanks,

Jake

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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

Yup Jake, that's how it works!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

I was told that the B&M part is the exact same thing as the GM part (8673948) and the Gm part includes a pan gasket and valve body gaskets in case you need them. So save your money and get the GM part.

 

No, it's not the same part. The GM allows for a 3-4 WOT upshift, the B&M doesn't. You're right though that the GM one seems to be the one to go after; and thanks for the part #!

I don't see why the GM part would include valve body gaskets; you don't drop the valve body. I bought valve body gaskets from GM and they were about $12-$15...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

According to Kevin91Z's dad (DynoDon) who builds trannys the valves are exactly the same.

 

i put one in and it made the 3dr to 4th shift very spongy. in fact it started reving up between the shift, like the clutch wasn't even engaging. then 3dr and 4th went out completely. could have nothing to do with it. in fact it probably had nothing to do with it.

the trans go shift kit alows you to do the same thing, if you so desire.

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"Why StockBastard?" you might ask. Well...
84 Berlinetta body w/custom paint.
92 front/rear bumper and ground affects.
89 IROC 350tpi engine w/lots of mods.
87 3.73 possi rear w/disk brakes.
86 interior w/IROC dash.
And finally, stock Vet rims from the early 70s.(same ones used on the 69ss)
ALL IN ONE CAR!!!

 

Hello

GMPart # 8673948 is a kit that does include the valve body gaskets. However, it is nowhere near the same as the B&M kit. I know because I bought both kits. First the B&M kit for about $33, installed easily in my TA. Then I heard from this board a while back, oh say just about a 4 months ago, that the GM kit was only about 20 bucks. I decided to buy the kit for my 88 1500 pickup. I removed the valve body but I didn't exactly know where the new valve installed. There were only two places where it could fit and I had 2 left over parts. I didn't take a chance so I just used the supplied valve body gaskets to put it back together. Hopefully someone knows how to correctly install GM part # 8673948.
Thanks.

 

Well, I had hoped to have to buy just one of these suckas. Now I don't know which one to go with.

They're the same, they're not the same, they allow up shifts to 4th, they don't allow up shifts to 4th, if you floor the pedal the trans downshifts to 3rd, . . . Man, is this confusing. (As if I wasn't confused enough already.)

I don't want my trans to downshift to 3rd when I floor the pedal in 4th; I want it to stay in OD (4th) with the converter locked.

Will either of these two do that?

Thanks to everyone for all the responses; I'm just trying to get to the bottom line on this.

Jake



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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

The B&M valve will do what you want. Now, if you're doing an all-out *****-to-the-wall 1st-4th WOT blast, you'll have to let up a bit on the pedal to get a 3-4 shift, but once the trans gets into 4th, it'll stay.

The GM one "might" do that. The GM one does guarantee a 3-4 WOT upshift.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Thanks, Tom. That's the info I was looking for.

Jake



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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

You can do the modifications yourself by taking out the TV plunger & sleeve. You will want to block the part throttle 4-3 downshift
passages using a small allen set screw in each hole (2). Grind the outside of plug flush, blow off with air make sure plunger moves freely in sleeve, and sleeve goes into the valve body freely. Cost of two allen screws? about .36 cents.
Hope This Helps!!!

 

Didn't Iroc's with z rated tires have the ability to shift into fourth and hold it at wot? Mine shifts to fourth at about 5k and will hold it until you get scared and lift.

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1989 Iroc-Z TPI 350 auto 4-spd Removed MAF screens K & N filters, stock other than that.

 

How are these passages identified in the GM Service Manual or can I identify them by their location, size, etc.?

Thanks,

Jake



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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

ihave a 700-r4 and when i floor it it goes into 3rd and i have let up just a bit and it'll go into overdrive with one of those sleeves instaled what will change??? will it not kick down? if so that would suck! but if it kicked down you let off a bit and it stayed in o.d. after that at wot that would be great! so what's the deal?????

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1989 firebird formula

Mods: converted from T.B.I. to a carburator 305 to a 350. Flowmater exhaust,hedman shortie hedders,202 heads,350 horse cam,bored.40 over, Edlebrock torker2 intake.

Future mods 400 performer rpm intake (polished) and 600 edlebrock carb, comp roller cam, and way better heads. orpossibly a 383 stroker?