Which spring gives the firmest shifts in the C6 pressure regulator circuit?

The kit's orange spring replacing the stock outer spring gives the firmest shifts; the blue spring yields firmer-than-stock but not as firm. Reuse the inner spring if present.

How many check balls does a C6 valvebody have?

All C6 check balls are ¼-inch diameter. 1976-and-earlier valvebodies use only the top ball; 1977-and-later also have a lower ball. Reuse the originals in their original locations.

What replaces the stock accumulator-valve spring?

Remove the stock accumulator-valve spring and replace it with the kit's white spring inserted inside the kit's pink spring.

What is the optional 1/16-inch drilled hole for?

Drilling a 1/16-inch hole with the kit's supplied drill bit in the highlighted yellow area prevents loss of converter lubrication during heavy throttle.

What does adding the cut-back valve spring do?

Installing the kit's black spring into the orifice ahead of the cut-back valve prevents the valve's movement, yielding extremely firm shifts. If the spring holds the cover-plate out, grind or clip two coils off it.

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Ford C6 Transmission Valvebody Shift Kit Install Guide - Hot Rod April 2019

Ford C6 shift kit install photo steps 08-16: valvebody plates, pressure regulator springs, check balls

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Step-by-step photo guide for a Ford C6 valvebody shift kit: removing seven-orifice and two-bolt cover plates, swapping pressure-regulator springs (orange firmest, blue firmer) and reusing 1/4 in check balls.

AI caption February 2019 · Photo 310 of 363

This is page 80 from the April 2019 issue of Hot Rod magazine (HOTROD.COM/2019/APRIL), from the "Wrenchin' @ Random" section. It is one page of a step-by-step service procedure (steps 08–16) covering the installation of a shift-improvement kit in a Ford C6 automatic transmission valvebody. Step 08 shows an exploded photo of the valvebody top half with numbered callouts identifying spring and valve locations, noting that only two cover-plates (an eight-bolt seven-orifice plate and a two-bolt single-orifice plate) need removal. Steps 09–12 explain replacing the pressure regulator outer spring (orange for firmest shifts, blue for firmer-than-stock), the servo modulator-valve spring (yellow), the accumulator-valve spring (white inside pink), and adding a black cut-back valve spring. Steps 13–15 cover reuse of the ¼-inch check balls (noting 1976-and-earlier bodies use one ball and 1977-and-later use two), the torque converter pressure relief valve and spring, and the throttle pressure relief check ball and spring. Step 16 describes an optional 1/16-inch drilled hole to prevent loss of converter lubrication under heavy throttle. Readers learn which kit springs go where and which original parts to reuse when firming up C6 shifts.

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Frequently asked questions

Which spring gives the firmest shifts in the C6 pressure regulator circuit?: The kit's orange spring replacing the stock outer spring gives the firmest shifts; the blue spring yields firmer-than-stock but not as firm. Reuse the inner spring if present.
How many check balls does a C6 valvebody have?: All C6 check balls are ¼-inch diameter. 1976-and-earlier valvebodies use only the top ball; 1977-and-later also have a lower ball. Reuse the originals in their original locations.
What replaces the stock accumulator-valve spring?: Remove the stock accumulator-valve spring and replace it with the kit's white spring inserted inside the kit's pink spring.
What is the optional 1/16-inch drilled hole for?: Drilling a 1/16-inch hole with the kit's supplied drill bit in the highlighted yellow area prevents loss of converter lubrication during heavy throttle.
What does adding the cut-back valve spring do?: Installing the kit's black spring into the orifice ahead of the cut-back valve prevents the valve's movement, yielding extremely firm shifts. If the spring holds the cover-plate out, grind or clip two coils off it.