A solenoid assembly for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The solenoid assembly includes a housing having a core opening passing vertically therethrough. A valve is mounted within the housing. The valve is operative in a vented state and a non-vented state. The valve includes a plunger movable between a first position for establishing the vented state and a second position for establishing the non-vented state. An armature is associated with the valve and is movable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for selectively moving the plunger between the first and second positions. An electromagnetic arrangement for creating the magnetic field includes a core and an energizable coil. The core is inserted into the core opening from an underside of the housing. A first retaining member retains a portion of the core against the underside of the housing. A variable transducer is used to establish a reference plane including two upper surfaces of the coil. The transducer is used to adjust the armature relative to an associated valve such that a predetermined air gap is established between one of the upper surfaces of the coil and the armature.