1978 2wd auto transmission troubles

[crazyemory]

for some reason the valve on the outside of the housing in the rear FELL OUT. I found it to be held in by an o ring and suspect it is the vaccum kickdown. I replaced the o ring, and went on to change the trans filter. on removal a spring accompanied the filter. a small one. how bad is this? or do I try to put it up in the hole that's round and does it belong there? or am I in big troubles?

[fordman]

The vacuum modulator is held in by a clamp. Not just an o ring. Do you have pic of spring or hole. http://www.fordification.com/tech/schematics_g.htm

[crazyemory]

the spring is a small coil spring about 1/4" across and about 1 1/2 " long. and I haven't seen any evidence of a clamp or where one would mount

[crazyemory]

7a-377 was the part I thought to be a vacuum advance. I don't see a clip on the schematic

[crazyemory]

the spring looks like the one in the front servo band schematic. I don't know how to get into that without dropping the trans or how the truck could have moved with it rolling around in there. maybe it is a "big trouble" situation

[fordman]

Post a link to the pages you were looking at. Im guessing you have a c6. But maybe you have a c4.

[crazyemory]

http://www.fordification.com/tech/schematics_g.htm
I was looking at the cruise o matic diagrams. they are from a '72 and I have a '78. I was really hoping the spring was gonna be a small deal. maybe it is, but from what I see it is a biggie.

[fordman]

I dont thonk you have that trans in a 78 originally. Although c4 c6 are of the com cruise o matic family. Which pan shape do u have. http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... nsID07.gif

[crazyemory]

the pan is rectangular on the bottom. the top has only 2 small places it is beveled out, one on the shallow end and one halfway down the opposite side from the line hole. the one on the end is on the side nearest the side with the other slight depression. overall the top where the gasket sits is rectangular, and a rectangular gasket will fit. the truck has a 5.0, or 302ci for us americans