DIY - Transgo Valve Body Upgrade

[Adrians07Z]

I'm going to start off with saying this "kit" is not for someone who has never worked on cars ..

I AM NOT responsible if you mess up your car, tranny, fingers, etc

this is just a tool to help someone decide if they want to do this mod themselves or pay someone

and if you do decide to do it yourself, this should help make the install go smoothly

............................................................ ......................................

Tools -

10mm, 14mm, 19mm sockets / 14mm wrench
drain pan
torque wrenches (ft lb for drain plug .. inch lb for everything else) - I had to buy inch lb torque wrench .. $40 @ napa
funnel
5mm allen head socket
stiff wire (use to help get shims out valve body)
dikes / pliers
flat screwdriver
punch or 1/4" drive extension (drive in tapered orfice)
light hammer

Supplies -

8 quarts NISSAN S-MATIC ATF (do not use anything else) $8.12 / quart with discount (work at dodge dealer) .. they wanted $18
two rolls of paper towel or shop towels
Transgo Valve Body Upgrade Kit $295 (really fast free shipping from forged performance .. also avail. @ GTM)
Vaseline or suitable assembly lube / grease (hold balls in place)


Instructions -

Download both VB Removal and Transgo Install pdf files off GTM website

Start One Day Trial with transgo website and download three more files

(Study all and become familiar with the parts, bolts, etc before starting)


1) Jack car up and set on jack stands, then drain tranny fluid (4 quarts), re-install drain plug at 35 ft lb





2) Remove two bolts holding the bracket that 02 sensor wires mount to .. one on passenger side with 14mm wrench .. drivers side with socket .. then remove wire clip from bracket for easy install

unclip o2 sensor wires and push everything out of the way







3) Take 10mm bolts out of tranny pan and drop, drain, and put to the side (wont need it for a while)

there will be another quart or so in the pan

then you see this



4) Get out the instructions .. unhook the wires on the bottom .. then take out and label bolts according to the diagram (A, B, C, ETC) ... I used paper with letters on them to organize the bolts (or you could use bags)

get organized b/c there are ALOT of pieces to keep up with




NOTE - Unclip the two things circled in red before unbolting .. clip on side of the VB sucks when your holding the vb up .. haha

5) BE CAREFUL dropping the valve body .. there are wires you have to disconnect on top (around 6" of slack in them)

put a glove on or paper towel between your hand and the valve body .. this is where I cut my finger .. the pickup is razor sharp

after that little struggle .. you get this




go ahead and take a break b/c that was the "easy part" ..the harder part is next

6) Following the instructions for removing electronics / solenoids .. remove / label bolts and keep solenoids in order



7) Remove / Label filter bolts .. then remove the manual valve body and watch for the spring and ball inside







8) Remove Temp Sensor and Relief Ball & Spring



Around now you should have something that looks like this



9) Again follow the instructions to remove the upper to lower vb bolts .. and lower to upper

then lift the upper vb off WITH the separator plate so the balls don't fall out of the upper .. flip over as an assembly and set down (no mods to upper)

only lower vb and separator plate get worked on

also .. take note where the balls are in the lower vb section (yours may differ by VB)





10) The fun part begins .. installing the kit .. take out the transgo vb install instructions and follow them for location and color of springs

DO ONE AT A TIME and double check everything

I used a piece of thick wire with a hook on the end to help push out the shims .. installing springs on left side is easy, right side are stiffer / harder
















and your organized mess of parts should look like this now



11) Measure each drill bit in the kit and / or order them from small to large .. then carefully drill out the seperator plate holes according to the instructions

BE VERY CAREFUL AND DOUBLE CHECK THE LOCATIONS BEFORE DRILLING

I noticed the holes are shiny that need to be drilled out .. if you locate a hole and it isnt shiny .. dont drill it out and check it again



12) Make sure the separator plate is clean of metal shavings, check all of the balls in upper and lower VB (I put Vaseline on them to be safe and hold them) .. then Vaseline the filters onto the separator plate

carefully flip upper vb / separator plate over onto lower and make sure the filters stay in place and aligned

Torque to - 65 to 70 inch pounds

then start assembling reversal of the instructions .. make sure to put the bolts in the correct holes





13) Re-Install manual valve body, vb filter, temp sensor and relief ball / spring

NOTE - Everything torques to 65 to 70 INCH lb


Vaseline the ball to help keep it in place




14) Re-Install Electronics board, Soleniods (in order), and wiring








15) Tap the "tapered orfice" into the hole in the transmission before putting the valve body back in .. make sure it is below the surface

I used a 1/4" drive extension .. book says punch .. but either works



16) INSTALL VB

I got my brother to help since it is awkward to hold, hook up wires, align and bolt up

follow instructions for bolts, but make sure you get this metal stud in the little clip up in the tranny




17) bolt up the pan .. torque to 95 inch lb (service manual says 7.9 ft lb) .. then bolt the bracket for the o2 sensor wires back up



18) lower the car down and fill up the transmission (mine took just over 7 quarts) .. start engine, run through each gear P, R, N, D ... after 5 minutes check cold side of dipstick ..

once you get it right .. bolt the dipstick down and

DONE !!!

just hope it works .. take it for a drive .. be easy for a few miles and shifting through all gears a few times (get air out of vb)

then let it rip .. just watch out for telephone poles and ditches .. haha

it was raining when I finished .. every shift over 4K threw the car sideways and tires spinning

If anyone has any questions just shoot me a PM ..


EDIT - I reset the computer after the install .. just disconnect the battery cables for a minute or so .. after 100 miles the kit has seemed and I like it alot

[migz_0320]

how much was teh kit?? and how much lower did ur car get when u installed teins?? good luck bro.. and great job!!!

[Adrians07Z]

the transgo kit was $295 w/ free shipping from forged performance

guess I need to add the prices .. real quick

gotta go through and check stuff too b/c I just finished the diy

the tein s-techs are around .5 to .75 inch drop .. looks good, but not too low to hit stuff

[johndoesdamage]

damn it looks complicated might have to ask you to do mine if I shipped it you ha

[Adrians07Z]

Originally Posted by johndoesdamage

damn it looks complicated might have to ask you to do mine if I shipped it you ha

I don't have a problem with that .. little short on cash and possibly about to go back to college ..

[CeBrwn5454]

Good work!! Congrats on the successful install.

[tollboothwilley]

is that the same transmission as the 5AT from 2003-2006?

[Adrians07Z]

yes .. the transgo kit will work on every 5AT 350z (03-08)

the only difference will be slight differences in locations of check balls and some other things .. they are covered in the instructions ..


my 07 vb was slightly different with the two check balls in the lower vb sections, and the relief ball location

I believe there are 3 different vb's .. 03-04, 05-06, 07-08

all use same kit and instructions (major differences are covered in the instructions)

[viva la spam]

wow, nice this diy. you should do this on the side. had i waited to get my vb upgrade i would be contacting you.

[Adrians07Z]

I got off work early today .. so made a short video on the way home .. traffic sucked or I would of got a longer one


but for now this should help a little .. this is after 100 miles with the kit .. computer was reset with the kit .. that reminds me I need to add that to the DIY

this is turning right onto a highway .. rolled out then got in it .. if you turn the volume up you can hear the tires chirp

stock 07 HR w/ good stock rear tires .. only mod would be k&n filters .. but doubt they did anything

[Adrians07Z]

Originally Posted by viva la spam

wow, nice this diy. you should do this on the side. had i waited to get my vb upgrade i would be contacting you.

you got the stillen vb?

how does it compare to the video? .. I read it was not as strong as the transgo (gtm / forged) kit

[Midas78]

How long did it take?

[Adrians07Z]

7 hours ..

took my time following each step and organizing all the bolts / parts

[viva la spam]

Originally Posted by Adrians07Z

you got the stillen vb?

how does it compare to the video? .. I read it was not as strong as the transgo (gtm / forged) kit

someone else had mentioned that to me after i had purchase the kit. to be honest im not sure yet. i had my vb upgrade for like 50 miles? my car was overheating and im away from home at this moment. i know the price range for the transgo kit is better.... how does the upgrade work? do you have to rebuild it yourself or is it optional to send it in? i never really push it to the like you did in your video. now im tempted to try it

[Adrians07Z]

stillens upgrade .. they only do it


the transgo .. you can either buy the kit and do it yourself ($295)

or pay Forged Performance or GTM around $800 to install it

[aloh]

though it looks pretty involving, Im pretty sure I could ahve done it myself now that i have seen this. Too late now since I already had a shop do it... Ohhhh well

But this is definitely an excellent upgrade! Man...I really want to take it apart and check my VB though. My 4-5 shift is very sluggish... All the others are lightning quick.

[Adrians07Z]

.. dont know if the 4-5 shift is changed .. really never get the chance to be on it hard enough to go that fast .. haha

I'm lucky to be in it long enough to bark 3rd

[kha4079]

u didnt need to remove any electronics, just leave that side of the vb on an old pillow and careful not to ding the solenoids. saves u at least 30 mins of work. heres the installationon my truck, we have the same transmission

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzHFSh1zfQQ

from 1st to 2nd it barks the tire (turn upthe volume also on 3rd it hits hard as well but since im too heavy it wont chirp lol

[Adrians07Z]

yea .. figured I didn't "have" to

but really all it was is a few allen head bolts .. the electronics "board" then the solenoids pull out

didn't take long to take the electronics off .. most of the time was spent jacking the car up, installing the kit (springs and drilling holes), then filling it all back up

[SexyRob]

nice, this gives me faith that I can do it myself.

thanks for the great write up.