ruff ro raggy, little balls everywhere - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lutzTD · #1 03-10-2008, 09:37 PM

word of advice on the Superior spring kit directions. when it says keep the middle plate on the big side, it means it. what they should tell you is, when you remove the 2 screws to seperate the valve body halves, flip it over then seprate it. I have little bearings bouncing everywhere. so much for a leisurely 3 hour job. I think I have them all, and I have a picture showing where they should go, but it is a serious pain that they werent a little more forthcoming with the warning. I replaced all of the springs with the kit springs, guess Ill finish tomorrow......

vstech · #2 03-10-2008, 10:52 PM

... I just love your lineup...

... um, what's a spring kit? in the tranny? in the vacuum pump? details... please?

I think you are discussing the spring for the shift firm/stable section of the tranny. never having worked on any tranny, I do not know...

did you install the LS in the c2?
which one? stock? iron? 5.7/6.1? pics?

lutzTD · #3 03-10-2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... I just love your lineup...

... um, what's a spring kit? in the tranny? in the vacuum pump? details... please?

I think you are discussing the spring for the shift firm/stable section of the tranny. never having worked on any tranny, I do not know...

did you install the LS in the c2?
which one? stock? iron? 5.7/6.1? pics?

yeh superior shift kit for the trans. i dumped all the little pieces first thing

its a stock 99 vette LS1 in the C2, along with the entire suspension. not a lot to see but heres a link

dieseldan44 · #4 03-10-2008, 11:53 PM

other than your mishap, how was the job in general? Im looking to do the same thing. Some have said its an 11 out of 10 difficulty, others seem to open it and put the superior kit like its nothing. ive never opened a valve body so im trying to gauge what im getting into.

lutzTD · #5 03-11-2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldan44

other than your mishap, how was the job in general? Im looking to do the same thing. Some have said its an 11 out of 10 difficulty, others seem to open it and put the superior kit like its nothing. ive never opened a valve body so im trying to gauge what im getting into.

the first one is quite intimidating. i had a lot of trouble following the pictures in the instructions. they need to add assembly lines. once I figured out that the little picture to the side was a continuation of another picture it made it easier. there was one valve I just couldnt get to come out. I will try again today in daylight and see. If I were to do it again I think the second one would be a lot easier, but Ill hold off judgement until I have this one back together and working.

vstech · #6 03-11-2008, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

yeh superior shift kit for the trans. i dumped all the little pieces first thing

its a stock 99 vette LS1 in the C2, along with the entire suspension. not a lot to see but heres a link

I thought I read something about a superior shift kit somewhere on here... now about those pics of your mishap...

and I made a mistake... the 62 was the last year of the C1 lineup... the pics on your site gave it away... I can't believe I messed that one up... I have followed vetts since the 70's... oh well, can't be perfect on everything...

lutzTD · #7 03-11-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I thought I read something about a superior shift kit somewhere on here... now about those pics of your mishap...

and I made a mistake... the 62 was the last year of the C1 lineup... the pics on your site gave it away... I can't believe I messed that one up... I have followed vetts since the 70's... oh well, can't be perfect on everything...

i was thinking C1 was the code but I have been away from the vette for 4 years so I wasnt 100%. I grew up with first gen and mid years so C1,C2 etc was new to me when I started building the 62.

Mister Byrnzoil · #8 03-11-2008, 09:17 AM

I'm REALLY glad you posted this, I was actually reading the intructions yesterday on my superior spring kit, and it wasn't terribly clear... add to that the fact that the chiltons manual has virtually no auto tranny related info. All I need to do is replace the K2, but it appears in order to do that, the valve body has to come off.

Johnhef · #9 03-11-2008, 10:44 PM

just to confirm, which do I want for a 2-3 flare? K1 right?

theo3000 · #10 03-11-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnhef

just to confirm, which do I want for a 2-3 flare? K1 right?

Yes.
K1 = 2 to 3
K2 = 3 to 4

Mustang_man298 · #11 03-11-2008, 11:27 PM

Ok, though not experienced with any MB units, I do have trans experience. To those looking to do the job, intimidation is a big factor if you've never been there before. Take it slow, if you're not familiar with the innards of the trans, very carefully remove the bolts holding the VB to the trans, leave a center bolt in until last to hold the sandwich together. Prep an area under the trans with a clean rag or such. Support the VB (and be ready for possible springloaded parts against it), take out the last bolt, and carefully slowly lower the VB to the rag, keeping it flat and level and watching to make sure the case to plate gasket stays on one side or the other(it is very important to make sure you keep the gaskets as intact as possible for comparison to new gaskets), and making sure to keep the plate with the VB, this is to be careful of any balls that may be on top of the plate, they will sit in their holes if you keep things flat. If there are balls on top of the plate & you have a diagram, compare it now and note any differences you see, if you don't, take a picture of it now. Remove those balls being sure to check they are all the same size, note any differences you find. Leaving the VB laying as it was in the trans, you can now carefully remove the plate from the VB, again watch gasket and be ready for springloaded parts. Now again compare ball diagrams or take a picture of all balls under the plate.
These are generic instructions for the average typical trans job. I prefer servicing them upside down on a bench but use this method when not pulling it for an overhaul.

Lutztd, since this is an older higher mileage unit, you may find it worthwhile to pull the VB and plate, and carefully look at the holes in the plate, there should be shinier rounded looking wear edges around the holes where the balls have worn against it over the years, this could be helpful in properly relocating them. Ther may also be shiny marks in the case and VB passages from where the balls "rode".

lutzTD · #12 03-11-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang_man298

Lutztd, since this is an older higher mileage unit, you may find it worthwhile to pull the VB and plate, and carefully look at the holes in the plate, there should be shinier rounded looking wear edges around the holes where the balls have worn against it over the years, this could be helpful in properly relocating them. Ther may also be shiny marks in the case and VB passages from where the balls "rode".

problem for me was not dropping the valve body, that was ok. it was when I split the assembly to get to the retainer for one valve set. I removed the 2 screws holding the halves together and lifted the large side. when I did that the seperator plate slipped and it dumped all of the check balls and small parts before I had a chance to take a picture. At this point I am relegated to diagrams only the diagram says 18-19 check balls depending on model and 2 of the valves shown are not even on my assembly. So either I have the 18 model or I lost a ball. I have an extra shiny spot but I cant for the life of me find the other ball and my worktop should have caught everything. S I either am missing one or have one in the wrong place, so i tried the shiny, shadow method and it wasnt enough detail to figure it out. I am going to pull a valve body from a pic-n-pull and split it with the big half down and compare them. Hopefully I can find one that is like mine and not the diagram. Im not really sweating it. The trans was on its last leg anyway as I have been manually shifting it and babying it since I bought the car.

theo3000 · #13 03-12-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang_man298

Ok, though not experienced with any MB units, I do have trans experience. To those looking to do the job, intimidation is a big factor if you've never been there before. Take it slow, if you're not familiar with the innards of the trans, very carefully remove the bolts holding the VB to the trans, leave a center bolt in until last to hold the sandwich together. Prep an area under the trans with a clean rag or such. Support the VB (and be ready for possible springloaded parts against it), take out the last bolt, and carefully slowly lower the VB to the rag, keeping it flat and level and watching to make sure the case to plate gasket stays on one side or the other(it is very important to make sure you keep the gaskets as intact as possible for comparison to new gaskets), and making sure to keep the plate with the VB, this is to be careful of any balls that may be on top of the plate, they will sit in their holes if you keep things flat. If there are balls on top of the plate & you have a diagram, compare it now and note any differences you see, if you don't, take a picture of it now. Remove those balls being sure to check they are all the same size, note any differences you find. Leaving the VB laying as it was in the trans, you can now carefully remove the plate from the VB, again watch gasket and be ready for springloaded parts. Now again compare ball diagrams or take a picture of all balls under the plate.
These are generic instructions for the average typical trans job. I prefer servicing them upside down on a bench but use this method when not pulling it for an overhaul.

That's some scary stuff. My car isn't only my daily driver - it's my only driver. If I spilled the balls out of there, I'd be walking! "A man's got to know his limitations." - and this is way beyond mine.

lutzTD · #14 03-12-2008, 04:21 PM

does any one have any different pictures of the check ball valve arrangments on the big half of the valve body? mine is quite different than the one shown in the previous post. if you have a junk 722.315 valve body i could copy then send back that would also be very helpful. even if someone has a picture of thiers if they split it? Im grasping for straws here......

lutzTD · #15 03-14-2008, 11:26 AM

i took inventory of the 4 spd swap parts I have and it looks like i will only need a few things to make this happen. yesterday I yanked the auto trans and shifter and all auto related items out. I dropped off my flywheels to have them match balanced today and I will drop off the 240 drive shaft for shortening and rebuild tonight. This weekedn I plan to swap the pedal assemblies and have a new slave hydraulic line made as they are no longer available from MB. will post with progress.