I was just checking out IPT's site and saw they had a valve body with the shift kit already installed. This seems like a good idea and it should cut down alot on the install time. The shift kit itself sells for $79 I believe so why is the valve body almost $400? Does this include anything extra? Maybe new solenoids or something? Just wondering why it's $300 more than the shift kit alone. Anybody know???
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You sure? $300 sounds a bit steep to just install the shift kit. It still has to be put in the tranny by the owner and to me that would seem harder than installing the shift kit into the VB. I think I'll call Jon today if he doesn't reply here to make sure.
As the vendor who’s selling these products, perhaps I could better answer this question.
A part of the price is, of course, for labor. Just as the person who stocks the shelves at your local supermarket, a plastic surgeon, the guy who glues the tiles onto the space shuttle or anyone else that works- we need to get paid to do our job.
That being said, here’s some of what’s involved with our rebuilding of a valve body by us.
First we need to get rebuildable cores. At this point, we have over $5000 invested in this. Keep in mind that about 25% of the cores that we buy need to go in the scrap bin because there is something that we don’t like about them- worn bores, warpage, scored valves, etc.
Next we need to disassemble, clean and inspect the cores. This involves completely stripping down the valve body and giving it a half hour in a hot soap and water spray cabinet then on to an ultrasonic aqueous cleaning machine and finally to a System One hand parts washer which distills down mineral spirits to be “gin clear” at all times.
Once the valve body is pretty close to operating room clean, the inspection process begins.
All of the valves are visually inspected for scoring and micrometer checked for wear. The valve body is straight edge checked, flat sanded on a lapping plate, cleaned again and the bores are then checked with a ball gauge.
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The separator plate is then inspected- they usually go in the garbage and get replaced with new ones because the check ball seats are worn out and don’t seal correctly.
Essentially, if anything looks questionable, it gets trashed.
Next, the solenoids are ultra-sound cleaned, demagnetized and placed on a solenoid dyno. The solenoids are checked for resistance, oil flow and current draw when applied.
Again, they get replaced with new if they fail any of the above tests.
Finally, the shift kit is installed in conjunction with a few “trick” things that we do that go beyond the basic kit.
The valve body is then tested for proper pressures and correct function on an Answermatic VBT 4000 valve body dyno. Then it’s on to get packaged.
I pretty sure that we have more experience with these valve bodies and transmissions than any other company. This is not to say that the shift kit can’t be successfully installed by the do it yourselfer or the local shop, we are just providing another option for the purchaser who wants to buy a completely done valve body that is going to work for sure when it’s installed.
We are also the largest reseller of TransLab Shift kits, so many people choose to go that route as well. Nobody’s arm is being twisted to buy one or the other, it just about providing a choice based on customer preference.
By the way, also included with the valve body from us is an aftermarket manual valve, a pan gasket and a filter.
Looks like I'll be buying your valve body instead of the shift kit. Sounds like it's worth it to me. One more question, how do I know that my VB core will be good? I mean it's working now and shifting fine in my car. It should be fine for rebuilding then right?
Looks like I'll be buying your valve body instead of the shift kit. Sounds like it's worth it to me. One more question, how do I know that my VB core will be good? I mean it's working now and shifting fine in my car. It should be fine for rebuilding then right?
In all likelihood you will be getting a different valve body back unless you want your original reworked, which we can also do at your request.
There is a core deposit required, but as long as we get one back that isn't broken in half or has the solenoid wires ripped out of it, we refund the deposit.
In all likelihood you will be getting a different valve body back unless you want your original reworked, which we can also do at your request.
There is a core deposit required, but as long as we get one back that isn't broken in half or has the solenoid wires ripped out of it, we refund the deposit.
-John
Hi John, I don't quite understand what you and that other gentleman were discussing. Could you please explain what you mean about "getting back" and what you would be sending in. Do I have to send you my valve body to get it serviced and installed or do I get a brand new VB in the mail to install and discard my old one?
You get a refurbished valve body with all of their goods already installed. Once you swap it out you send them back your old valve body and as long as everything checks out with it you get your refund from the core back. This way there is no downtime.
If your skilled enough to drop the valve body and able to assemble it back into your tranny you are skilled enough to install the Translab shift kit yourself! Follow the directions on the plymouthlaser.com. It's better that you can do it yourself so you know how to adjust the firmness yourself. Or just send them your entire trans to get done. Because seriously if you have the skills to be able to drop the valve body yourself and can reinstall it then you can do the shift kit yourself.
If your skilled enough to drop the valve body and able to assemble it back into your tranny you are skilled enough to install the Translab shift kit yourself! Follow the directions on the plymouthlaser.com. It's better that you can do it yourself so you know how to adjust the firmness yourself. Or just send them your entire trans to get done. Because seriously if you have the skills to be able to drop the valve body yourself and can reinstall it then you can do the shift kit yourself.
That is very untrue. Dropping the the valve body is not a hard procedure. Simply remove the oil pan, remove the filter, undo about 8 bolts, disconnect the solenoids from the top of the tranny, drop it out. Reverse the procedure putting it back in. Have you ever disassembled a valve body? There are about a million and one little things to get misplaced, lost, or stuck with the question "Where does this go?" inside there. Springs, check balls, plates, bolts, you name it. Not to mention you need to drill new holes. I highly recommend you don't try to install the shift kit unless you are very confident in your auto tranny knowledge. I speak from experience, you get that valve body apart and you are like " what the F have I done!" HaHa. Let a tried and true company like IPT do it right the first time. I dealt with John first hand and will continue to turn to him for all my tranny needs.
When I did mine there was a hell of a lot more than just 8 bolts! If your not skilled at all with the auto tranny I say not to drop the valve body at all unless you can remember where every little thing goes. That's why I was saying you mine as well send the entire trans in then. In my opinion...... If you can drop the valve body you are capable enough to do the shift kit if you followed the directions on plymouthlaser.com. It tells you exactly where you drill and what size drill bit to use. How hard is that? It tells you exactly what to replace step by step. I actually found it a lot easier installing the shift kit than taking the valve body in and out. Remembering where every little bolt went and making sure to remember what went where. There was so much crap that it made me nervous and I had to make myself a diagram to remember.
Oh I'm sorry, there are 9 bolt that hold the valve body in place. Still far less difficult then totally disassembling the valve body. Seriously, the hardest part of installing the VB is making sure the manual valve is hooked up right. That isn't a rocket science there. If you have 2 arms and can turn a ratchet you can install a VB. You start tearing into the heart of the VB and things get alot more complex. Look for your self in the write up if you don't believe me. It still isn't that hard for people with experience but for the average joe, it can turn into a nightmare. If people are asking how hard it is to install a shift kit, they definitely shouldn't be trying it.
Another idea might be to purchase a refurbished VB and do the install inside of your garage in a cleaner enviornment, the only problem with that would be if you got it installed and it didn't work you can't tell if it was the VB of your install =)
Just an idea, I'm installing my kit myself, the tutorials on plymouthlaser.com are really good + the instructions that come with the product.
And I don't quite understand why you would put a core deposit down and then send your VB to them. Then they are basically getting a free VB that you had to put a deposit down for, I don't think I understand that, ### it doesn't sound right. I've gotta be mistaken.
what the F have I done!" HaHa. Let a tried and true company like IPT do it right the first time. I dealt with John first hand and will continue to turn to him for all my tranny needs.
