How to install a Tranny Valve Body

Factory_Tech Valve Body Complete Install And Review
by David Wilson

Sorry about some of the blurry pictures

Looking to buy a Factory_Tech valve body? Go here - PowerSurgePerformance. Click on a thumbnail picture below for a larger image.

Before I start this article I would like to thank Gregg Evans (Factory_Tech) for the valve body and Sal from Power Surge Performance for the 4x4-tranny pan and filter.

The Factory_Tech valve body is a very straightforward installation. You will need a wrench, torque wrench (80-100inch lbs, 13-14ft lbs), 8mm socket, 10mm socket, a hole punch (optional), a hammer (optional), drain pan, floor jack, jack stands, Mercon tranny fluid (8+ quarts), not Mercon V, 4x4 tranny pan (optional), and a little patients.

   

Start off with jacking the truck up from the front of the truck and jack stands. Never get under the truck without jack stands. Removed the negative on the battery. Take the transmission dipstick out for proper draining.

Position your old fluid catching pan under the tranny pan.

Take the punch and the hammer and punch a hole into the old pan, as seen in the picture below.

The fluid will drain for a long time, be patient. If the truck is hot this will be a good time to let it cool off.

After all the fluid has drained out of the transmission, take your wrench and the 10mm socket and start removing the bolts. After most of the bolts are off the pan will start to fall on you, hold it up with your free hand. Once all the bolts are out lower the pan into the drain pan, some fluid will get on you so be quick. Now the stock valve body will be exposed.

Take your wrench and remove the two 10mm bolts, then switch sockets to the 8mm and removed the rest. Fluid will pour out of the stock valve body, again be quick about putting it on the drain pan. Get some rags and clean your hands off, so that you won’t slip the bolts.

Now take your new factory_tech valve body and slide it onto the two studs.

Hand tighten the two 10mm stud bolts on. Then take all the 8mm bolts and hand tighten them down. After you have completed this take your inch lbs torque wrench and tighten all the valve body bolts, going from the outside in, to 80-100inch lbs. Take the new tranny filter spray some wd-40 on the rubber gasket and install it into the only hole it will fit into. Remember to get it all the way in.

Now take your tranny pan and reuse the stock gasket. edit: switch over the magnet from the stock pan to the new one. Also its a good idea to clean the magnet.

Hands tighten all of the bolts and then take your torque wrench and tighten to 13-14ft lbs.

Fill the transmission with Mercon tranny fluid, not Mercon V. Use some sort of funnel so you don’t get fluid all over the place. With the 4x4-tranny pan it will be 8+ quarts.

Replace the dipstick and reconnect the negative battery cable.

Start the truck and slowly shift through all the gears, do this twice, wait 30 seconds and check the fluid levels, add if needed. Now go out and drive the truck going through all the gears, re-check the fluid levels, and add again if needed. Do not over fill; look at the level check on the dipstick.

You’re Finished!!!

The Factory_tech valve body is one great mod, it saves your transmissions life and it also gives you that performance kick in the butt you get from manual transmissions. From first gear it response better, but then when it shifts into second the wheels will bark at you, you’ve got to love that sound. All the way through the gears at Wide Open Throttle, you’ll feel like somebody is kicking you in the butt. Even when down shift it hits a little harder then back into forth it hits you so hard; it’s almost scary. It makes the truck so much more fun to drive. I hope you enjoy it too.