Step-by-Step 4R70W Automatic Transmission Installation

[chuzie]

Twin Sticks!

JB sticks may require you to trim the tunnel cover all the way to where the angled plate and the horizontal plate meet. This was still not enough. I did not want to continue to trim so bending the sticks was my next step. I think these sticks were made based on zero body lift as the outboard bend was at the base of the stick instead of a couple inches higher where it would be more ideal.

I straightened this stick and moved the bend up a couple inches. This was about 2 hours of trial and error fitting but finally got it to work.

Sadly, all I have is a propane torch so I had to resort to this method to bend the sticks. ;D



Also had to bend the sticks forward as I trimmed the tunnel cover back all the way to where the aft angled portion meets the horizontal portion and was not willing to trim any more.

Long story short, the j-shift sticks are installed after a LOT of work. I am hopeful that JB will use the notes I sent him today to iron out the kinks and possibly have a bolt on 4R70W / ZF / D20 J-shift twin stick setup available for purchase in the very near future.

Next I installed the Lokar transmission dipstick (XTD-3AODFM). The beauty of this flexible setup is I can mount it anywhere.

I chose the firewall cubbie area so as to keep it off the headers and still easily accessible. Had to use a couple of nuts as spacers to move it slightly forward off the firewall so I could remove the stick without hitting the upper ledge of the firewall.

There is so much crap in my engine bay that it took a bit of doing just to drill the self tapping screws into the firewall. Sadly, this was the easiest thing I did all day and it took about an hour. :-X



The Lokar column shift linkage (ACA-180 was lots of fun too. When I purchased this item I failed to realize that it is designed for a GM column NOT a Ford column. This created my first issue with this install below.

This shows the column shifter and the bolt that came with the kit. The hole in my Ford shifter is way too big!



Lokar includes special bushings to adapt this bolt for a GM application so I had to ditch the bushings and come up with a solution.

My solution was to use the bushing that was originally used with the C4 shifter linkage. I would recommend obtaining a new one from one of the vendors though.

Had to drill it out with 21/64" to get enough meat out of the bushing to allow the 5/16" bolt to fit.



Reinstalled the bushing on the shifter and installed the Lokar hardware. Make sure you install the heim on the back side of the column shifter or your angle will be bad going to the 4R70W.



Now down to the 4R side of the shifter linkage. I had to re-clock the adjustable Lokar arm that was originally clocked to the 8 o'clock position to the next position clockwise (approximately 9 o'clock).



In the process of finding the right position, I cut about 3/8" off the rod. I think I could have gotten away with not cutting it at all.

Unfortunately, I stripped one of the set screws holes so Lokar is sending me a replacement.

Once connected, I ran the shifter through the full range with the key on to observe the position indication in the display window of the computer.