Replacing Shift Solenoids and have a question

[Grandpa's Aurora]

I'm following Sweet_Williams post for replacing the shift solenoids. I've taken the valve body out of the trans and have it sitting on the bench. His post say's to remove the clips holding the solenoids; is there a special tool to do this? The clips are in a slot and appear to be like the clips on old GM window crank handles. If I can spread the clip far enough apart wouldn't it be possible to just slide the old solenoid out and then slide the new one in? In case you can't tell I'm a little nervous about taking the valve body apart, especially if those check balls are loose and can roll around!! Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[parts68]

just grab it and pull up.
Be sure and push in and hold solenoid when you do,or it will go flying
along with spring behind it.
I use a hook shape dental tool to remove but you could bend a large paperclip and make a tool.

[Grandpa's Aurora]

Can I then insert the new Solenoids without opening the valve body? Or do the old ones have to be out to open the valve body? Thanks for the hint on the paper clips, I'll let you know how that works.

[Grandpa's Aurora]

Minor point for others who may follow the instructions that I followed are below but you will need to reverse steps F and G. You need to remove the large section of the valve body before you can remove the solenoid clips. I spent over an hour trying to figure that one out. Car has beem shifting fine for the last two weeks.

a) drop the pan, and careful removing the tranny gasket, it is steel and re-usable. Once you clean the pan, you can reset it with gasket sealer.
c) disconnect the solenoid electrical connectors and the mechanical linkage. The linkage has a metal clip you lift and slide.
d) remove the valve body screws, and drop the valve body.
e) place the valve body where you can afford a mess, it will continually leak. Best thing is to set it on cardboard on a bench. There is a valve spool that can be removed as well, careful it can slip out, you don't want to damage it.
f) remove the two clips holding the solenoids, careful they are spring-loaded and will fly
g) remove the screws holding the "large" portion of the valve body split, this is where the solenoids are incased. Remember the screw locations, there are about four different screw length
There is more but in the interest of space I did not include those steps

[tjm]

Great write-up here with pics
http://aurorah.proboards47.com/index...ead=1139486581