[MightyMouse61]

I've been trying to search for old threads on adjusting the governor, but just want to reconfirm...

The car is a 70 Malibu with 383, 3000 stall, 308/318duration-488/510 lift cam, and a rebuilt 12 bolt that hasn't been broken in yet. I swapped 2.73 gears for 4.11's with posi. At the same time I swapped in a TH400 out of a 73 Grand Prix with a B&M shift kit

Leaving it in drive, 1/4 throttle, the 1-2 shift is around 3200. The 2-3 shift is similar, around 3000. I have yet to try WOT, since the gears have not been broken in. The old threads say to lighten to shift higher, how would I add weight to shift lower, with out buying a governor calibration kit?

Are my only options to get a calibration kit or a full manual valve body?

BTW, finally got my denny's shaft after blowing my last driveshaft a few months ago. I must say, it was well worth the wait. Looks flawless.

 

[slingslingbinks]

Heres my 2 cents worth. Gather some extra governors and try and find some with heaver weight's. TH350's will work and If you can find some 700R4's that have heaver weight's, Just change out the plastic gear to a TH350-TH400 gear.

 

[mr 4 speed]

Some of the Pontiac TH400 governors I have come across shift WOT at 5000 rpms.
You might have a good one there if thats what it is and it will only require minimum mods if you want it to shift higher than 5000
Calibrating governors is a lost art and takes alot of patience.
But once you get it right there is nothing like it.

 

[MightyMouse61]

*correction*
1-2 shift is @4200rpm with part throttle/ not 3200rpm
I'm starting to get used to it but I think I may get pulled over for it. Its loud and sounds like I'm about to romp on it. The tires chirp and everyone stares as it goes into second.

I have two th350's so, that'll be my project this weekend.
thanks guys.

 

[Rokker]

Not an expert but here´s my 2 norwegian krones.

Your´re at part throttle ? Part throttle shifting is mainly done by the vacuum modulator. There´s a screw inside the hose, take the hose off an adjust one way for earlier smoother shifts, the other for later and harder. You probably have less vacuum now than stock, causing the tranny to shift later and harder. Also, of course make sure you don´t have a leak, your car sounds like it drives like mine did when I had a cracked hose for vacuum to the tranny.

The governor plays a role in determing part throttle to, but get the weight kit for it and use it to adjust full throttle shifting and try to get by with part throttle shifting by using the modulator screw and fixing the crack in your hose

 

[oldzy]

I had a somewhat similar problem as well... turned out to be a vacuum leak in the hose from engine to the vacuum modulator on the trans.

 

[mr]

Gather some extra governors and try and find some with heaver weight's ...

The larger "ink stamped numbers" on TH-400 govenors, indicate the higher RPM-WOT shift points.

Use a Govenor with the highest inkstamp number you can find. ["quotes from a Pontiac website"]

Good numbers are 21 23 25 27 31 33.

Bad numbers are 9, 11, 13, 15 ...

11 is the worst, 13 is bad, 17 is good, 23 is great, larger numbers indicate higher-RPM shift points .

Something you might consider using, "if you have access to some used TH-400 govenors", is to USE a larger numbered govenor, for higher RPM-WOT shifts. This could be easier, just a thought.

 

[Rokker]

@ Mr
His problems are at 1/4 throttle not WOT. I don´t think the governor would be the easiest fix for his problems, as the modulator plays the main role in controlling part throttle shifts.
They do work in harmony though, and changes to one will have a small affect on the other.

As for WOT shifts, I bought this B&M governor kit:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-20248/

With a scale I weighed the old weights, tried a little lighter weights and found the springs in the kit closest to the old. After a few tries I was in the ballpark with my 1-2 shift, the 2-3 I do manually as one have better time to do it right.

Started with a 5200 rpm 1-2 shift, first try I got 5600, second I let go at 6300 while losing my fan belt and revving to valve float - not funny, third try I got 6000 rpm, which is 1-200 rpms more than I was aiming for. But the hit when it shifts to second is almost scary compared to earlier shifting at 5200.. I love it, it was the best performance tweak I´ve done in my car.
Gonna try some more and get it down to 5900 when snow breaks and I get the engine, rear end, suspension bolted to frame etc... LOL

 

[slingslingbinks]

Are u using a red stripe modge.? If not get one and adj the screw inside the hose connection for fine tuning the shift's

 

[Rokker]

Are u using a red stripe modge.? If not get one and adj the screw inside the hose connection for fine tuning the shift's

Ah important point ! I assumed everyone were using those :thumbsup: