Hi Everyone,
I recently purchased a 2001 Ford F-150. Having a little transmission trouble. I already changed the filter and fluid attempting to start with the simplest thing first this did not help. While in there i popped out the 1-2 accumultor spring and piston no damage or anything. Im looking at the valve body next. Anyway the truck has trouble from 2-3 it starts shuddering then when you left off the gas it will upshift to third. When shifting manually it has 0 issues. I'm thinking shift solenoid/valve and if a valve body doesn't fix it I'd assume it's clutches.

Anyway I have sourced 2 different valve bodies but not sure on compatability. One is from a 2001 mustang gt (4.6l) and another is from a 2003 f 150 (4.2l) not changing transmissions but valve bodies. Would either of those two listed above work in my truck. Also forgot to mention my truck is 2wd and so is the other truck. I read someone doing a quick search that the 4.6 and 5.4 have the same bell housings where as the 4.2 does not. The shop foreman where I work and I went out to monitor some data on ym truck and he was being pretty hard on it and got the s.e.s. light to come on once. This is the only time it came on and had a 1-2 shift error code I had a picture of the code but don't have it anymore

 

I am not a transmission expert but I have rebuilt two 4R75E transmissions. You have 4R70W or 4R75W transmission but the internals of the valve body are generally the same and may be identical.
Just some things to consider.
Valve bodies themselves do not generally fail but the check ***** and gaskets can. If I were you and you have already seen what's inside I would remove the valve body and look for problems with the check valves. The check valves are actually small plastic ***** about the size of a BB. These BB can sometimes get stuck and cause issues. They can also wear which reduces their diameter and causes them to not seal or stick.
You are already considering changing the valve body and these issues may exist in the used replacements you are considering. The cost of this inspection is a couple of gaskets and some check *****. Its educational as well.
I have attached a video series that has a section on valve body inspection.

AODE / 4R70W rebuild class introduction

 

Thanks for your respond Jimboy. I was only in it far enough to change the filter and inspect the 1-2 shift accumulator piston and springs. I did not remove the valve body at least yet. I just bought the truck from the dealership I work at as with prices now days that was the cheapest truck I could afford it only has 98k miles. I looked on youtube to see if similar concerns have happened with other people and from the videos I watched my truck is doing the same thing as others that have broken accumulator springs. To be honest with you I believe its a shift solenoid. The shop foreman where I work thinks its a shift valve. I work at a Chrysler dealership but after wrenching on cars for 8 years I've totally lost the desire to spend the time to go full in depth diag mode on my own vehicles let alone replace parts after a long stressful day. I don't mean to sound whiny but I also have a 5 month old at home and would rather go home to her then sit at work diagnosing my own vehicles. I just feel like swapping valve bodies would be a quick way to tell me if its an actual deeper internal problem or if a used valve body fixes it then sweet. But I do understand what you mean that a a used valve body could have the same problem or worse not even work. The other truck mentioned to get a donor valve body was just traded in and they didn't even want an inspection done. Its a 2003 f150 with the 4.2. I was just gonna stay late with the foreman one night and swap transmissions as they are both 2wd but the bell housings are different, the truck with the possible donor valve body only has 98k as well. What really sucks is my dad has a 99 f 150 5.4 2wd with 190k on it and has never once had a transmission issue he bought it in 01 with 18k miles..

I personally just want to swap the valve bodies after i test drive the other truck to make sure it shifts okay. because its free other than the time involved to swap them and like I said above if that other valve body is working properly then I would assume it would be something deeper in the trans that's the problem. With Chrysler that 8-9 speed transmissions at least under warranty it used to be if theres a shifting concern you would check the fluid for proper level/condition, then do a quick learn, then valve body, then transmission. If the trans is actually bad I'd like to find out asap so I can find another one in the mean time. I'd keep the old one and rebuild it in the spring.

 

Jimboy, I started watching the video you linked. I'm wondering if maybe I have a 2-3 accumulator spring broken. As I mentioned my truck at the top of second gear it will start shuddering as soon as i left off the accelerator pedal it will shift into 3rd. but when you have OD off and shift manually from 1 to 2 to D there are no issues at all.

 

It seems that you can buy the springs, checkballs and even the selinoids for pretty cheap. You have to drop the valve body to start anyway. You need new gaskets anyway. It will be easier to spray things down with a can of brake clean and pop in new parts than to pull the valve body from another used transmission and hope it works.

Blue Oval has all the parts.

 

I looked into replacing just the solenoids I found a kit that comes with the internal harness and solenoids and its a little more than $100. I've found remanufactured valve bodies that come with a lifetime warranty, as much fun as it would be to tear it apart and actually fix it, it seems that replacement would be the most cost and time effective option. The truck is still drivable I drive it every day I just have to manually shift it until 3rd.

 

I was curious on this myself. I have a 4R70W in my 95 Tbird. i got a performance automatic valve body installed and it was amazing. When i look for the 97 4R70W, I only find shift kits, and at that point, I would just rather do the Jerry Mod on the valve body.

Tech Article: Ford OD Transmissions 101 - Jerry's mod | TCCoA Forums

 

You know, to switch the valve body from one truck to another you have to take out almost all the things to get the body out. You're not just dropping the pan and just pop a new one in.