Methods and systems for improving the operation of transmissions for motor vehicles

A method of modifying a factory installed automotive transmission having a clutch regulator valve, means for applying oil pressure to a first end of said clutch regulator valve to move said clutch regulator valve in a first direction, means for applying oil pressure to a second end of said clutch regulator valve to move said clutch regulator valve in a second direction opposite to said first direction, and a factory installed spring for applying a resilient force to the second end of the clutch regulator valve, said factory installed automotive transmission arranged to complete a shift of the clutch regulator valve in a predetermined time range, the steps of said method including:

• limiting the oil pressure applied to the second end of said clutch regulator valve to a predetermined maximum oil pressure for reducing the time for completing a shift by:
• replacing the factory installed spring with a replacement spring, providing a check ball seated in a check ball seat proximate to said second end of said clutch regulator valve, arranging said replacement spring to cooperate with said check ball to maintain said check ball seated in said check ball seat when the oil pressure applied to said second end of said clutch regulator valve does not exceed said predetermined maximum oil pressure, selecting said replacement spring having a spring characteristic to move a sufficient distance in said second direction for unseating said check ball from said check ball seat when the oil pressure applied to the second end of said clutch regulator valve exceeds said predetermined maximum oil pressure, and exhausting oil applied to said second end of said clutch regulator valve when the oil pressure applied thereto exceeds said predetermined maximum oil pressure, wherein the time range for completing a shift by said clutch regulator valve is less than the predetermined time range for completing a shift of the clutch regulator valve of said factory installed automotive transmission.