Beginning at the start of production in 2001, Ford Motor Co. redesigned the valve body for the 4R70W.

Note: This change also carries over to the 4R70E and 4R75E models.

For improved durability.

Valve-body casting (lower side) –

The lower side of the valve body had casting changes to connect the 2-3 back-out valve to the shift solenoid 2 hydraulic circuit, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows the previous-design casting and identifies the EPC circuit that was connected to the 2-3 back-out valve on the earlier models.

Spacer-plate gaskets –

The upper and lower spacer-plate gaskets in the 2001-up design had numerous hole-configuration changes to accommodate the hydraulic changes with the valve body. The most-obvious change is the elimination of the plate over the direct-clutch accumulator (see Figure 3).

Spacer plate –

The spacer plate in the 2001-up design had hole changes to connect the added over-drive-servo regulator-valve boost valve and sleeve to the EPC-solenoid circuit, and to accommodate the changes in the 3-4 capacity modulator valve. Figure 4 shows that a change also was made to the cover plate connecting the forward-clutch circuit to the 3-4 capacity modulator valve. The bolt holes were eliminated from the spacer plate, along with the plate over the direct-clutch accumulator.

Refer to Figure 5 for a view of the previous-design spacer plate.

Retainer for direct-clutch accumulator spring –

The retainer for the accumulator spring had a dimensional change to accommodate the elimination of the plate over the direct-clutch accumulator. See Figure 6.

Main valve body –

The main valve body had casting changes to accommodate the elimination of the orifice-control valve and the 2-3 capacity modulator valve (see figures 7 and 8).

Case –

As shown in Figure 9, the overdrive-servo bleed orifice was eliminated to accommodate the hydraulic-circuit changes in the overdrive-servo regulator valve.

See Figure 10 for a partial hydraulic-circuit diagram identifying the 2001-and-up hydraulic circuit.

• Spacer-plate-to-case gasket . . . . . . . . . . . . 1L3Z-7C155-AA
• Spacer-plate-to-valve-body gasket. . . . . . . 1W7Z-7D100-AB

July 2008 Issue
Volume 25, No. 7

• 2001 & Up Ford 4R70W Family: Valve-Body Change