Prado URD Kit Transmission Valve Body Upgrade

[iniazy]

I've ordered a valve body upgrade from LevelTen.com for a customer from Kuwait with a Toyota Prado that is fitted with a URD supercharger kit. I'm excited to lay my eyes on a URD kit for the first time. Not sure which version or stage he's got. The Prado is the International version of the 4Runner, shares underpinnings and drive train. It is slightly larger and wider than my Fortuner.

The kit rendered his engine too powerful for the automatic transmission and damaged it, so he replaced the whole tranny. Now I'm getting him the valve body upgrade. Should be here sometime next week. Once it's here he will drive to my town in Saudi Arabia (about 250 miles south from Kuwait).

I will keep this thread posted with how it goes, and pictures.

I've done this upgrade on my Fortuner with beautiful results; here's a link to the kit I ordered:
http://www.levelten.com/750E_F_VALVE_BODY_KIT_p/toy-ja210-5000sk.htm

When I first installed the supercharger on my engine, my transmission second gear started slipping and taking a long time to shift. I installed this kit hoping that the transmission is not completely gone; although the second gear clutch was already worn, the upgrade kit eliminated the affects of the wear and I've been driving it like that for almost two years without any problems at all, with and without a supercharger. The gears hold so strong and shifts are so crisp. Only drawback is that the downshifts, unlike the up-shifts, are a bit slow. In the rare event, when I slow down suddenly and the transmission would still be in the middle of a down-shift as I accelerate again, it can cause an awkward punch. But that only happens really rarely. Probably happened only three or four times since I did the upgrade.

 

[Torspd]

Install it and do a ride along! Get some videos if you guys have any "races".

 

[iniazy]

Sure will, but my Fortuner still has to wait some time till parts from South Africa come in.

 

[iniazy]

Finaly got to see the URD kit on a Prado. The guy opted to use his own ECU management system a Haltek, and it seems to be working really well. He had to do some custom piping because of his bullbar; apparently it did not fit perfectly.

Here's my new Kuwaity friend's selfie, with his car and mine, face to face:

Installed the valve body kit for him, and now he (and I) is very happy with his transmission shifts. It transformed the way the Prado drives.

More pictures and videos to come, stay tuned.

 

[Redlantern]

Wow awesome. I just ordered my Valvebody upgrade from Levelten. will be here soon. Can you explain how it shifts now as opposed to stock? Cant wait for the videos!

 

[iniazy]

The shifts are instant and firm, there's no elasticity between gear shifts anymore. Feels like the shifting of a Lexus IS-F.

Here's a video of my car when I first did the upgrade:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpV5MRKjMJA[/ame]

There's a small side-effect, which I experience really rarely, and that is when you suddenly brake, then get on the gas pedal again. The downshift is not fast-enough and you catch the transmission between gears, causing a bit of an unpleasant jerking. But it is really rare, and you just need to keep it in mind and give it some time to downshift when you brake suddenly.

 

[Redlantern]

Your Shifting sounds really good! When i would go from a Dig, the shift from 1st to 2nd and into 3rd gear, it would just hang there for a good second. can't wait to get mine in. Any tips you could mention during the install?

 

[iniazy]

Did you send in your valve body to be upgraded, or are you upgrading it yourself? I assume the latter.

You will freak out at one point or another when you find parts falling apart, but you'll always find excellent instructions on how to put things back together in the instructions manual.

- Keep a pound.inch torque wrench handy; you must torque the bolts to specs.
- Be careful not to lose the three O rings that go between the valve body and the transmission housing.
- Working with the auto transmission is VERY messy; you will have a LOT of fluid spilled on your floor. Use the box of the kit to catch spilled fluid under your oil drainage pan.

Everything else is straight forward.

Here are some pictures of my work on my car, because I still don't have the pictures of the Prado work:

This is what the kit comprises of: four springs, two drill bits, and instructions.

Valve body exposed after removing the oil pan:

Valve body:

Upper body removed:

Upper body gasket plate, with locations where holes are drilled out:

 

[Redlantern]

I did the core exchange program. Couldn't afford having the truck down since it's my daily. I guess it'll be easier for me since I just need to switch the valvebody.

 

[iniazy]

Actually, to me the most difficult part is removing and installing the valve body. Installing the kit into the valve body is a piece of cake, very easy and fun, and takes only an hour at most, if you are doing it for the first time. The removal, re-installation, and filling up the fluid, is the boring and difficult part.

But still, all three points I mentioned above are applicable to you.

 

[Redlantern]

Awesome. Thanks for the tips. Btw...Get more videos on here! Lol

 

[Super Werty]

everything you need to know about the install


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1XdzmjdsPo&spfreload=10

 

[Torspd]

:top: :top: :top:

When great minds come together, anything is possible.

 

[iniazy]

Wow! Thanks for pinning the post.

When I searched for a solution for the automatic transmission, I found several vendors who offer a complete replacement of the valve body for rediculous amounts of money, and require a core exchange; an Aussie vendor was asking more than AU$ 1000, and a US vendor around US$ 800. Core exchange and shipping a heavy valve body back and forth from and to Saudi Arabia was going to be way too expensive for me. When I found this kit at level 10, for only $200, and weighs less than 1 pound, it was a no brainer. Instructions are so detailed and clear, with high resolution photos of all parts. Really really well done by Level 10, kudos to them, I applaud them for it. They deserve all the credit.

 

[whippersnapper02]

I wonder how this compares to the IPT worked valvebody. My reason to go with Level 10 is the simple fact that they offer a core exchange.

 

[iniazy]

everything you need to know about the install


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1XdzmjdsPo&spfreload=10

Just saw this video. This video is a bit misleading in the end. Removing the valve body will result in draining out almost all the fluid, including that in the torque converter. When you fill up the transmission with fluid after removing and re-installing the valve body, the torque converter will not have any fluid in it until you start the car and warm it up. The level plug will start leaking before the torque converter sucks up any fluid.

Once the engine runs and torque converter spins and pulls the fluid, your oil pan will completely empty, and you have to top it off again with fluid. And you may need to top it off a third time even. All in all, the transmission will use up about 6.5 to 7 liters of fluid. If you didn't use that much, then your transmission is still not full.

The video only mentions filling up once, and that isn't true.

This caused me to freak out when I did it both times. First time, I filled it once and it took only four liters. I started the car and warmed it up, then attempted to drive, and the car wouldn't move. I removed the drainage plug, and nothing poured out, so I topped it off again, and then it worked well.

Second time, I did the same and topped it off again, then we took the car for a spin. The car seemed so weak and underpowered, and woulnd't shift to fifth gear. I really freaked out this time, afraid that I did something wrong. we took it back in and checked the oil leve, and truned out it still needed more oil. So I topped it off a third time and then it was perfect.

 

[autobodyX]

I like to jack the side of the vehicle with the fill level check plug when I fill a system. I might have the system slightly overfilled but I always check it again after a test drive and set the level again.

 

[Super Werty]

Just saw this video. This video is a bit misleading in the end. Removing the valve body will result in draining out almost all the fluid, including that in the torque converter. When you fill up the transmission with fluid after removing and re-installing the valve body, the torque converter will not have any fluid in it until you start the car and warm it up. The level plug will start leaking before the torque converter sucks up any fluid.

Once the engine runs and torque converter spins and pulls the fluid, your oil pan will completely empty, and you have to top it off again with fluid. And you may need to top it off a third time even. All in all, the transmission will use up about 6.5 to 7 liters of fluid. If you didn't use that much, then your transmission is still not full.

The video only mentions filling up once, and that isn't true.

This caused me to freak out when I did it both times. First time, I filled it once and it took only four liters. I started the car and warmed it up, then attempted to drive, and the car wouldn't move. I removed the drainage plug, and nothing poured out, so I topped it off again, and then it worked well.

Second time, I did the same and topped it off again, then we took the car for a spin. The car seemed so weak and underpowered, and woulnd't shift to fifth gear. I really freaked out this time, afraid that I did something wrong. we took it back in and checked the oil leve, and truned out it still needed more oil. So I topped it off a third time and then it was perfect.

When I did it I measured everything that had poured/dripped out and put the same amount back in. (It was 2 gallons) Never had one issue with it. That was 5 or 6 years ago

 

[iniazy]

When I did it I measured everything that had poured/dripped out and put the same amount back in. (It was 2 gallons) Never had one issue with it. That was 5 or 6 years ago

Yeah so you didn't rely on the level plug. 2 Gallons is just about the right amount.

 

[iniazy]

Here's a video of the said Prado's accleration after the valve body upgrade. 7.3 seconds is really good, considering the 33" tires he's got and all the off-road gear (bumper, winch, etc):

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXDHgjRjFW4[/ame]