John Wood Valve Body or Sonnax Kit...Which One?

i bought the sonnax parts myself,valves,springs,line press mod valve,about an hour of work and a nice firm shift.if you use the sonnax get the .427 line press mod valve and only use one shim on the valves.GOOD LUCK

I have a FTVB and love the way it shifts, very quick and firm, but not too firm.

What do you mean by this? I'm unfamiliar with it.

tattoocharlie said:

if you use the sonnax get the .427 line press mod valve and only use one shim on the valves.GOOD LUCK

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Sonnax. Thats what i use.

indystroker said:

What do you mean by this? I'm unfamiliar with it.

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In the accumulator body sonnax uses different accumulator valves and you can fine tune each shift for desired shift firmness with little round shims. Dont use over 3 shims, i dont even recommend using 3 shims, ive done it before. :jester: Gave me whip lash!

And the line modulator valve is in the accumulator body as well. I cant remember what the stock ratio is, but upgrading to the .427 is a good step, even if you have a .427 stock, the sonnax one is steel. Ive seen the oem valves wear out BAD, because the oem is a steel valve with an aluminum sleeve.

I've looked at the kits from Diesel Innovation and other places, but haven't seen anything about shims or .427 modulator valve. Its just listed as Sonnax Valve - Tricumulator Springs Kit. Where are the shims and the .427 valve obtained?

Thanks

I put a JWVB in when I replaced the transmission. I have no experience with the sonnax kit and can only comment on the valve body, but I love it. Shifts are quick, firm and seems to work well with my converter and F5.

i got everything for mine at a local tranny supply shop

We do some light, but tough towing, seems like always in the mountains. John put my valve body together with a combination of Sonnax parts and parts from a Trans-go tugger kit. I have no idea which parts were Sonnax, other than some springs and a hydraulic piston/valve. I just know it works very well.

sonnax

indystroker said:

I've looked at the kits from Diesel Innovation and other places, but haven't seen anything about shims or .427 modulator valve. Its just listed as Sonnax Valve - Tricumulator Springs Kit. Where are the shims and the .427 valve obtained?

Thanks

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ok,youll need the tricumulator spring kit,1-2 shift valve,2-3 shift valve,3-4 shift valve(shims come with valves)and the line press mod valve .427,i was told by a ford tranny guy that the .427 is what to use,there is a .500 but that seems to be too much.also the toque on the valve body is 100 inch pounds,i did say inch.

tattoocharlie said:

ok,youll need the tricumulator spring kit,1-2 shift valve,2-3 shift valve,3-4 shift valve(shims come with valves)and the line press mod valve .427,i was told by a ford tranny guy that the .427 is what to use,there is a .500 but that seems to be too much.also the toque on the valve body is 100 inch pounds,i did say inch.

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I like to use the .500 in tow trucks or for crazy people who love extra firm shifts and plan to beat on the truck hard.

I'm a big John Wood advocate. I'm makin' big power, towin' big stuff, and I've broken 2 trannys in the past. I Mean BROKEN (Snapped the input shaft clean, like butter), grenaded some other stuff too. After John Wood built a trans for my specific purpose, NO PROBLEMS. And, I've got bigger tires and makin' more boost than before. Rock Solid Products. Give him a call. He'll give ya the right info. He's a former Ford Engineer. (760)356-9421 or jwtt.com. Check it out........

P.S. The trans shifts nice. Not too hard, just right!!!

I have an exhuast and a intake and im getting a PHP Custom chip. Right now i have a Bullydog shift kit in it and the trans was just rebuilt. I dont tow very much but do like to step on it haha. What would you guys suggest.? Also dont care about how hard it shifts

the bullydog kit is basically a copy of the sonnax kit.

you could get a transgo kit it has more parts in it to modify the valve body than the sonnax/bully dog kit.

but if you have firm shifts and its not sloppy just leave it alone.

Ok old Blue, I like the idea of the John Wood valve body. What's the deal there if I get that?
What part in my tranny am I going to make weak and go? Or no, it will make it better period.

I know bts uses the transgo tugger kit when they modify the valve body, but they also do more too it as well.

A bigger cooler is the first thing that should be done, but you already have a 6.0 cooler right?

The valve body controls the shifting, it helps firm up shifts, so the trans spends less time between shifts.

i would say the torque converter would be next on my list after that.

how many miles are on your truck nick?

138k
Have the OEM 6.0 cooler WITH Derale 180 degree bypass thermostat before the oil to coolant and oil to air, routed that way per Rt., Mark and a tech at Derale.
BTS? I had been referring to $245 valve body on John Wood Automotive web site. Are you familiar with that Rascal?
Is it a pretty easy job?

It's an easy job. You need a inch pound tq wrench.

John wood is one of the best in the biz. His valve body is a good product.

So if I unbolt it springs and shims won't fly?