Factory Tech Valve Body - Line Mod Valve (Review)
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
Factory Tech Valve Body - Line Mod Valve (Review)
I have been running a Line Mod Valve for 27,000 miles with no problems. I now have 45,000 miles on my L and was perfectly happy with the way my tranny was performing.
Gregg emailed me after one of my posts in a thread about the Line Mod Valve. You know, it was one of the occassional threads about the Line Mod Valve where a few people were telling the guy his tranny was going to puke it's guts because the LMV was within 50 feet of it. Totally untrue. I think it's 10 feet, j/k. Anywhoo, Gregg said he thought his Valve Body was better than just the Line Mod Valve and wanted to see what I thought by comparing the two. I told him I was due for a fluid change anyway so I sent him my address and he sent me a valve body. What a deal. I guess Gregg has read enough of my posts to know I give an honest, no BS, review of products with details.
The Line Mod Valve I had was the one with the bigger valve of the two that are sold. I only know of two sizes but there could be more. I have the torque reduction disabled and the shifts sped up with my chip. I also have a single blade throttle body which makes a world of difference in the acceleration at part throttle. The differences I will talk about apply to this setup and no other.
I drained the torque converter (can only be done with the 99, 00 and some 01's) and the 4x4 pan. The fluid looked good with 27,000 miles of use. It was a nice red color and not burnt looking in any way. I installed the FT Valve Body and it took 15 1/2 quarts to fill it back up. I started with 8 quarts and ran the engine for about a minute then turned it off. I added 2 more quarts each time I did this until the level quit dropping with it running in Park.
I have been driving the L for 3 days to get a good impression of the valve body in different driving conditions and to let it wear in.
My first observation was the shifts weren't quite as harsh at light throttle. I was surprised by this because I had heard the valve body shifted hard at part throttle. Don't get me wrong it is a quick firm shift at part throttle but not as harsh as the big LMV. This is a plus for the valve body.
I gave it about 1/3 of a pedal on the next take off and it answered with the usual tire chirp while shifting into second gear just like the LMV.
At WOT it roasted the tires part of the way through second and chirped the tires hitting Drive just like the LMV. 4:10's and regular Nitto 555's exagerate this condition.
Another difference I noticed at part throttle was the valve body's shifts are closer to the same firmness in all gears. The LMV second gear shift was a touch softer than the other gears. Another plus for the valve body.
I don't know if it's because of the valve body, fluid change or my imagination but it seems like the torque converter locks up sooner after the shift into drive.
So after trying the Factory Tech Valve Body, I give it a big
. The Line Mod Valve does it's job just fine but the FT Valve Body is a little better. The valve body has a more refinded feel to it's shifts.
If I were looking for something to improve my shifts and had the extra money the valve body is the best way to go. If you already have a Line Mod Valve there is nothing wrong with this but if you have the extra cash next time you change your fluid the FT Valve Body will give you a more refinded shift.
Thanks Gregg.
Gregg emailed me after one of my posts in a thread about the Line Mod Valve. You know, it was one of the occassional threads about the Line Mod Valve where a few people were telling the guy his tranny was going to puke it's guts because the LMV was within 50 feet of it. Totally untrue. I think it's 10 feet, j/k. Anywhoo, Gregg said he thought his Valve Body was better than just the Line Mod Valve and wanted to see what I thought by comparing the two. I told him I was due for a fluid change anyway so I sent him my address and he sent me a valve body. What a deal. I guess Gregg has read enough of my posts to know I give an honest, no BS, review of products with details.
The Line Mod Valve I had was the one with the bigger valve of the two that are sold. I only know of two sizes but there could be more. I have the torque reduction disabled and the shifts sped up with my chip. I also have a single blade throttle body which makes a world of difference in the acceleration at part throttle. The differences I will talk about apply to this setup and no other.
I drained the torque converter (can only be done with the 99, 00 and some 01's) and the 4x4 pan. The fluid looked good with 27,000 miles of use. It was a nice red color and not burnt looking in any way. I installed the FT Valve Body and it took 15 1/2 quarts to fill it back up. I started with 8 quarts and ran the engine for about a minute then turned it off. I added 2 more quarts each time I did this until the level quit dropping with it running in Park.
I have been driving the L for 3 days to get a good impression of the valve body in different driving conditions and to let it wear in.
My first observation was the shifts weren't quite as harsh at light throttle. I was surprised by this because I had heard the valve body shifted hard at part throttle. Don't get me wrong it is a quick firm shift at part throttle but not as harsh as the big LMV. This is a plus for the valve body.
I gave it about 1/3 of a pedal on the next take off and it answered with the usual tire chirp while shifting into second gear just like the LMV.
At WOT it roasted the tires part of the way through second and chirped the tires hitting Drive just like the LMV. 4:10's and regular Nitto 555's exagerate this condition.
Another difference I noticed at part throttle was the valve body's shifts are closer to the same firmness in all gears. The LMV second gear shift was a touch softer than the other gears. Another plus for the valve body.
I don't know if it's because of the valve body, fluid change or my imagination but it seems like the torque converter locks up sooner after the shift into drive.
So after trying the Factory Tech Valve Body, I give it a big
. The Line Mod Valve does it's job just fine but the FT Valve Body is a little better. The valve body has a more refinded feel to it's shifts.If I were looking for something to improve my shifts and had the extra money the valve body is the best way to go. If you already have a Line Mod Valve there is nothing wrong with this but if you have the extra cash next time you change your fluid the FT Valve Body will give you a more refinded shift.
Thanks Gregg.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 463
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From: KY
Good info LTNBOLT.
It will be my next mod but prob. not until
after x-mas. Currently I have my shift firmness upped a little via the chip (against my tuners advice) which I know is not good either but my mod $$ are gone.
I have heard great things about the V\B and Greg Evans. He went out on a limb by doing this. It goes to show how much he believes in his product, or shall I say knows his product.
slo-poke
It will be my next mod but prob. not until
after x-mas. Currently I have my shift firmness upped a little via the chip (against my tuners advice) which I know is not good either but my mod $$ are gone.
I have heard great things about the V\B and Greg Evans. He went out on a limb by doing this. It goes to show how much he believes in his product, or shall I say knows his product.
slo-poke
