TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Hello all. As most know, I burned up the first turbo 350 I had for my M/SA Malibu wagon. Since then, I bought another to get back going for a really good deal with the agreement that I'd give the burned up one back to the guy who sold me the new one. Anyway, that's not important.

The new trans has a built-in auto 1-2 which is really handy for my combo given that first gear has a 2.74 ratio and comes on very quick. I like using the auto 1-2 but the shift is way late. According to my motor man (Mark Lewis) I need to be hitting the 1-2 somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000-6200, but the auto 1-2 has it shifting at 6700. It's definitely slowing the car down shifting so late. From what I understand, I can adjust the governor on the side of the trans to get the shift in sooner. I've found some spring and weight kits on summit that I think would help me adjust it to where it needs to be.

Does anyone have any good resources on what combo of springs and weights would get me close to my desired shift point? I'm sure that all transmissions and valve bodies are not created equal, so I don't know if what works for one guy will work for another, I'd just like somebody to ball park it for me so maybe I don't have to have it apart 89 times trying every combination. I don't know what the trans has in it at the moment, hoping to get it apart and examined tonight. Maybe there's a chart somewhere that shows what weights/springs get you what shift point, or maybe there's a particular governor kit I need that a stock one won't suffice. Honestly I do not know but hoping to learn. If anybody can point me in the right direction, that'd be great.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

If I recall correctly, the B&M kit includes a chart with weights/springs and how it affects shift timing. It will just be a matter of seeing what you currently have prior to making a change. It may take a couple of tries to get it where you want it.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Examine the governor you have now. There is probably just one of the weights that has been changed. I ran this type of trans for decades. You will need a heavier weight than the one you now have. The aftermarket weights are usually numbered. for example number 1 being the heaviest and number 5 being very light. I have several of them here that are left over if you want to PM me. Jim

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

I figured as much. I'll look into the B&M kits first.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Good morning to all,
Didn't Paul Forte from Turbo Action pioneer that set up the 90's?
You might just want to do some research on that. You'll probably have to get under there a couple of times. Also as you make more power you'll have to adjust it some more in the future, but its all good. You should take a look at what's in there. Maybe ask the racer you borrowed the trans from if he's got some guidance for you.
Good luck on you journey.

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

This link may help you.
https://www.jegs.com/InstallationIns.../555-62070.pdf

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

On 350's . I'd probably put the two heaviest stock springs you can find in it and see what happens. If too low, take one heavy spring out and replace it with one soft one.
Sometimes I would trim a weight or add a bit of weld to one or two.
400 springs and weights are the same, but not the whole governor. The top and drive gears are different.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

i would find a STOCK gov put it in see what happens since you don't know what you have in there now- then depending on what the results are you can play with springs and or weights to achieve your goal--- also make sure the spool valve moves freely and the valve passages the valve and the governor body are CLEAN also-FED 387

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Question for the 1/2 auto shift guys.
When using this function do you start your burnout in 1st and it shifts itself at gov speed or can it be shifted earlier manually?

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

I always started in 1st and shifted it manually in the burnout, that way you can get it out of low gear without having to go to the shift point.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Got the governor out of the car last night, it currently has a #2 weight along with another that is not stamped with any marking. Had an orange spring on the #2 and a green spring on the unmarked weight. See images.

https://i.imgur.com/s6Mh6qU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aaZYNOp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZqW4XBo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Vf6Bz7o.jpg

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Just me but I would have obtained a couple of governors to experiment with and left that one alone and tag it with it's shift points.
Someone asked about a burnout with the auto shift. When I ran a T350 I never came out of a burnout in 2nd as that shocks the weak link in a T350, the intermediate overrun sprag on the direct drum.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

In your case, I'd probably put a full , unmodified weight in there to match the other one, and try that first.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Maybe this will help, according to my B&M instruction sheet the weights go from 1 to 6. 1 being the heaviest 6 being the lightest. the springs go purple blue green yellow orange red in that order. purple is the stiffest spring and red is the lightest.
First gear late shift excessively light spring on weight.
High gear to soon excessively heavy weight.
the plain steel unmarked spring looks like a stock factory weight. Dan

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Could you post the sheet B&M sends with the kit? I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I think I'll do what Mark suggested and just put a heavier or stock weight in it and see. Might have to grab a lighter spring too

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

I tried to last night but the file format of my laptop or whatever is to large to upload to this site. The instruction don't go into much more detail other than if it shifts to early go to lighter weights and/or springs if it shifts to late go to heavier weights and or springs. The stock weights and springs on the governor will shift around 4200-4300 rpm this was a safety factor is if the unaware driver left the shift lever in 1st or low it would automatically fail safe shift before the redline of the stock engine so they didn't have loads of warranty replacement engines. Shift kits were developed to bypass this safety so you could hold any gear till you manually moved the lever . I tried weighing a few spare weighs I have from my kit to give you an idea of what they are put my 14 year old grams scale is DOA .

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

I would try the yellow spring with the #2 weight and leave the other alone. then test if to low try orange spring.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Number 1 weight and a purple spring! Should get you down about 600 rpm. Looks like one of springs is green. Change it with a purple and if you need more change the other spring if you can tell what color it is. According to chart the heavier weight will change shift approx 400 rpm Springs move approx 100 per color up to 600 total. There are 6 colors in the kits.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

This may help you also with the B&M chart...
https://www.jegs.com/InstallationIns.../130-20248.pdf

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

About the burn out when I ran a coan xlt full manual ( no auto shift ) I was told start in 2nd go and go to 3rd.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Is there anyone coming to Reynolds this week for the D2 race at silver dollar that might have some stock or #1 weights/lighter springs I can try? I pulled my governor out to see what it had, but the kit I ordered from B&M isn't going to be here in time for me to make a change before the race this weekend, so I've already put everything back together. I wouldn't mind making a change on Thursday or Friday if someone has the parts I can borrow for the weekend. If not, it's not show stopper, I'll just wait until I get back home on Sunday and try to get it dialed in before the national event next week.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Maybe head to a local transmission shop and grab a completely stock one to try/use for parts?

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Working in the shop I came across some T350 governor springs. There's different weights left over from when I built some manual shift T350's using different kits. PM me an address and I'll send them to you if you want them.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

If u need lighter or heavier u can grind some off or weld a little on.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

JP1738 what is the latest on your adventure with TH350 weights and shifting rpm ?

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

I ordered the B&M shift weight kit a few weeks ago and have it sitting in my shop. I have not had time to work on changing it since then. I left it as is for the national at charlotte as it was very consistent the way it was and I didn't get the kit in until the Wednesday before I left. I'm going to work on changing it and experimenting with shift points next week. I'm taking my bracket car out this weekend to see if I can win a second consecutive 6.0 index race. Might get to change it out Sunday or whenever it finally gets dry around here again. I'll have it dialed in to the shift point I'm looking for before the next time I have it out. I'm going to try to go to the CCRA race at Rockingham in 2 weeks, should have it dialed in by then and I'll update the thread with whatever the process ends up being like.

Thanks for not forgetting about me!!!

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

Got it dialed in best I can!

The car started out with a #2 weight+orange spring and stock weight+green spring, which shifted at 6750 rpm.

Then tried to make a big swing to see where that put me, left the stock weight side alone and changed the #2 weight to a #1+purple spring (heaviest spring and weight) to see how much that would change the shift point. It made a huge difference and moved the shift down to 5500 rpm.

It seems counter intuitive but a stiffer spring quickens the shift point, I decided to leave the weight alone this time and go to the lightest spring. #1 weight+red spring. That got me right where I wanted to be at 6200 on the button. In the future I may try a slightly stiffer spring, maybe one step up to bring the shift in just a touch sooner, but I think that's good for now.

Final combo for any who might reference this later:
stock weight+green spring and #1 weight+red spring got me 6200rpm.

Sorry to all my neighbors who heard me making test passes at 11pm Tuesday while testing the shifts. Can only test it at WOT...
Also shoutout to the guy who saw me testing again Thursday who yelled "DO A BURNOUT" which I promptly did. I couldn't resist.

*All testing was done in a closed environment and all safety measures were taken (helmet and seatbelts utilized)

I'll include an image of the weight and spring chart for everyone's reference and I'm going to repost this in my class racer build thread as well.
https://i.imgur.com/ZC5BVGV.jpg

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

@ junior barns post #18 seems to be pretty much bang on with your results.

Re: TH350 Governor/Shift weights
 

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