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DIY BB Stage II valve body install

11350 Views 22 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  meeper
Hey all, has anyone installed Bill's valve body on their own? I just received a new Stage II VB from Builder Bill and may I add, he is a champion. The best service and advice. Problem is it is now so close to Christmas I cant get anyone to install it as everyone is booked solid. I won't be able to get this installed by a transmission shop until after new years.

Can I do it myself? I am not a noob when it comes to mechanical repairs but I have never played with auto transmissions. I have downloaded BB's installation guide on his website and it looks pretty straightforward.
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These two threads should help you, they are for installing blue top solenoids on the stock VB but they both explain how to remove & reinstall the VB. You will just be putting Bills back in instead .

http://www.cherokeesrt8.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57949
http://www.cherokeesrt8.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57950

Jim
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It really is a pretty easy job.
One customer rated it a 8 of 10 on messy and 2 of 10 on complexity.
You do need a decent size drain pan or it will be messy.

Call me if you need any help.
Bill
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builder bills site i believe has the install instructions.
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Pretty easy to do in your garage with a jack and drain pan, but doing it on a lift with a standing - tank style drain will be easiest. Like Bill said, it's just sloppy no matter how you do it.
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I did it a couple of months back and no prob...And love the VB...Hugh difference.
i just installed this tonight and wow it couldn't be easier and less messy, i had a small drain pain and let the back side of the pan down first and let it all drain out then lowered the pan completely and dumped it out.... although i do have some concerns after the drive...

the jeep feels exactly like stock. shifts are identical.... any thoughts? i drove it easy and hard, checked fluid with tool and still feels like stock, very bummed about the results

are there any exterior visual differences between the stock and BB valve body? i compared them before installation and they do look similar
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i just installed this tonight and wow it couldn't be easier and less messy, i had a small drain pain and let the back side of the pan down first and let it all drain out then lowered the pan completely and dumped it out.... although i do have some concerns after the drive...

the jeep feels exactly like stock. shifts are identical.... any thoughts? i drove it easy and hard, checked fluid with tool and still feels like stock, very bummed about the results

are there any exterior visual differences between the stock and BB valve body? i compared them before installation and they do look similar
Beat on it a little....its designed to drive like stock until you jump on it, then everything firms up.
i just installed this tonight and wow it couldn't be easier and less messy, i had a small drain pain and let the back side of the pan down first and let it all drain out then lowered the pan completely and dumped it out.... although i do have some concerns after the drive...

the jeep feels exactly like stock. shifts are identical.... any thoughts? i drove it easy and hard, checked fluid with tool and still feels like stock, very bummed about the results

are there any exterior visual differences between the stock and BB valve body? i compared them before installation and they do look similar
No visual differences that I could see. When I had mine the only differences in mine were on the down shift.
Beat on it a little....its designed to drive like stock until you jump on it, then everything firms up.
How does something thats been modified mechanically essentially "break in" as your saying??
I could be wrong but I think it has more to do with the tcm relearning as you have increased the line pressure in the tranny from the modified valve body. Hopefully Bill will chime in later when he gets to MIR with a better explanation.

Jim
How does something thats been modified mechanically essentially "break in" as your saying??
I could be wrong but I think it has more to do with the tcm relearning as you have increased the line pressure in the tranny from the modified valve body. Hopefully Bill will chime in later when he gets to MIR with a better explanation.

Jim
That's what I was thinking...sorry for the bad wording..
well ive been driving this thing a littler harder and faster each day and nothing seems to be changing??

Bill i hope you see this soon, any ideas?
well ive been driving this thing a littler harder and faster each day and nothing seems to be changing??

Bill i hope you see this soon, any ideas?
The valve body is designed to drive like stock, as somebody said, but its when under hard load, that's when it downshifts better than it would stock, or if you had blue tops. Blue tops are supposed to be a harder downshift and not as crisp. There is no break in per se, I think he was referring to the different shifts at different loads. It also might be more evident if you had a built tranny. Not sure how much just the valve body does on its own, but I know people love em. Bill will respond and let you know, I'm sure.
I installed mine a couple weeks after I put the SC on and I saw an immediate difference in how it shifted at WOT. It rolls so smooth through each gear.
There is no difference visual just internal machine work from what I gathered.
well ive been driving this thing a littler harder and faster each day and nothing seems to be changing??

Bill i hope you see this soon, any ideas?
Why don't you PM him your concerns instead of hoping he sees this thread?
Why don't you PM him your concerns instead of hoping he sees this thread?
i have tried to PM him
I installed mine a couple weeks after I put the SC on and I saw an immediate difference in how it shifted at WOT.
this is exactly why im concerned, i see lots of ppl saying "holy shit" what a difference it made, but i can honestly not say that....

are there any other 2010 models that have installed one? and noticed any differences
this is exactly why im concerned, i see lots of ppl saying "holy shit" what a difference it made, but i can honestly not say that....

are there any other 2010 models that have installed one? and noticed any differences
I had a friend of mine install it and there is definitely a difference. Even if I'm not slamming on the gas, the Jeep shifts into gear quicker/harder. At WOT, it's a freaking animal. Did you reset your TCM adaptives after the install?
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