Just curious if there is any major difference between a 4L60E shift kit (for my '97 LT1) of a PCM tune (like madZ28 or PCMforLess) where they can set shift points and make it shift firmer.

 

Its completely different. He'll adjust torque management while a trans go will improve fluid flow etc. You actully enlarge a few holes on your valve body with the trans go.

 

The main differences are that through tuning you manipulate the tranny into thinking it has more flow by increasing pressure inside the tranny. With a shift kit you actually open up the tranny and install parts and drill holes to give it more flow.

The shift kit on the 4l60e however cannot do shift timing and that would still need to go through a tuner. Some shift kits out there are a little hard on factory parts, and due to their weaknesses the tranny will some times go out quicker when a shift kit is installed.

You can imagine it similar to increasing motor power without building the motor. As an example, throwing a 200 shot on the factory block, it will last a little while unless it is already weak then it will go out quickly, but either way will not last forever. I would really recommend a rebuild of the tranny and maybe even find a builder that puts in their own shift kit to complement how the tranny is built.

 

I have a 95 with a Corvette servo, longer accumulator pin, brown spring and tuning, its shifts very nice and firm when needed and just like stock when putt'n around. IMO the tuning is better cuz you can have a smooth shift for cruising and a hard shift for racing, my tranny has alot of passes on it like this with no problems so far.

 

So is tuning with or adding a shift kit safe?