I was considering a shift kit for my 85-z and realized I don't even know what I'm looking at/for. I know I want the trans to be more responsive and have harder shifts and such, but what does a shift kit REALLY do? Are they worth the $40 or so? Is there a noticible difference? How does it work?
I was considering a B&M type, such as:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...0002_747997_-1
Or should I get something more extensive?

 

When I was approx 22 years old I installed my first b&m shift kit and I loved it.
Now that I am pushing 40, I hate the way it bangs. Even at part throttle.
Now that I know how a trans works, I will not use them. Way too hard on the drivetrain. Especially the back 1/2 of the trans. I eventually broke a rear planetary gearset. I have installed quite a few transgo kits and everyone seems to prefer them over the b&m.

 

With the modified version of the TransGo Shift kit that I have used over the last 13 years, you will get smooth quick part throttle shifts, and the shifts getting firmer with more throttle. This will give you excellent durability, no part throttle bang shifts (women hate it), much easier on the driveline, quicker downshifts, etc.

 

Thanks guys. Where can I get a trans-go kit? Is it pretty straight-forward on the install?
I don't know if I mis-interpreted someones post or maybe it was something totally different but I thought that the B&M kits made the trans. more durable.
My car is mostly a stock 85-z with the 305, but I was also considering Nitrous sometime in the future, how would the trans-go kit react to that or any other mod.?

 

Either the B&M or a Superior (Shift Technologies) 700HP kit.
If you install a Trans Go kit, budget a rebuild in for the near future. They tear everything up.

Frank
CPT

 

What do they tear up ??? and why??? Why don't B&M or Superior tear things up?

I guess before we can answer that we need to know what it is that transgo tears up.

Like Dana I've used transgo for many years,B&m and superior as well.I haven't seen any of the Kits "tear up" anything, however I have seen these kits mis installed; then they will tear stuff up. You sure you've been installing them correctly?? Hope this helps .... Dave

 

I've had no problems with a Trans Go I got from Dana. There were quite a few do's and don'ts involved with installing the kit. Talking with the mechanic (Another transmission specialist) who put the kit in he said that the settings Dana recommened all made sense to him. He also pointed out that setting a certain "thing" to contain more spacers would mean some sorta bands were too tight and thus cause the bands to wear out premature (thats the best I could explain it .. im not a transmission specialist - and most of what he was talking about was way over my head). He had the transmission out even and showed me what he was talking about. Made sense to me.. based on this i'm sure a transgo or any shift kit could tear things up if installed wrong or way too aggressivly.

Anyhow, I've had a lot of work done with the guy and I have a transmission thats been daily driven and beat on hard for 4 years that was rebuilt by him so I do trust his knowledge. I've had the Transgo from Dana in for almost a year now with no problems whatsoever.

I think there is some truth in 12SCDNZ's statment, but I think its also possible he's put in a little bit of embelishment too

 

Oh look..Dave's back. Didn't you recently go "out of buisness"? Maybe it was all those vacuum modulators and Trans Go shift kits that put you there?

Frank
CPT

 

Here's what I recommend. If you have any questions about where to buy this kit, give me a call. 302-250-1202

We've seen too many failures from Trans Go kits. Mainly the 2-4 band and 3-4 clutches. As many already know, I'm not a big fan of anything from Trans Go. Gil Younger (Trans Go) has some very off the wall ideas that have been PROVEN to be destructive in an automatic transmission. TG's thoughts about accumulator modification is absurd, as is the vacuum modulator for the 4L60E. We've tried and researched just about every transmission part available for the 700/4L60E.
The ONLY reason anyone ever buys a TG kit is because it's became a "buzz word". Everyone is disillusioned into believing they're the best, when in reality they're the worst. I still can't believe anyone calling themselves a "professional transmission builder" would ever think about using one. Most good builders realized years ago that they were junk. We don't use a prepackaged shift kit, and our units work better and last longer than anyone elses out there. If anyone is looking into buying an automatic, and the builder uses or suggests a TG kit, I'd seriously question their knowledge. Instead of just jumping in this and using what people think SHOULD work, we've researched enough to know what DOES work.

Frank
CPT

 

OK... I didn't mean to start an arguement here, but I think I can understand both sides of the arguments.
The B&M kits make pretty snappy shifts even under gradual acceleration, but shouldn't be too bad in my low-power scenario.
The trans-go kit has equal snappy shifting depending on acceleration, but seems a little more complex.
1. Since servos come into conversation here, what do they control?
2. Should I be considering one of those instead/also?
3. How much is a trans-go kit?
4. And how much is the Servo kit?

 

My TransGo experience is as follows:

When I first installed my Vigi 2800 about August 2002 / 25k miles ago, the trans turned into a slushbox. I installed a TransGo following their instructions carefully and the transmission performed pretty much flawlessly under a cam only setup with nice crisp shifts until now that I increased the power. With the LE3 cam'd LE2 head 355 combo I'm running the 2-3 shift just isn't holding anymore, granted, it is a stock 4L60E. No more though, she's on her way to Frank for a full pro race rebuild.

 

Frank, Didn't go out of business...your not that lucky...Had nothing to do with vac.mods or transgo shift kits.....Quite frankly Frank, why I've been off is really none of your business. And like you... had nothing to do with a woman, or an uncle that threw me out.

What’s amazing about your research is you never provide any facts. Offering opinions and blanket statements is far from fact, again you alleged, that Gil Younger's off the wall ideas have been proven to destruct an automatic transmission. Having made that statement, what idea and why was it destructive?

Not trying to start anything…just trying to understand why I shouldn’t use transgo products, I haven’t had the same results as you….Are you absolutely sure you were installing them properly? Hope this helps Dave

 

1. Since servos come into conversation here, what do they control?
2. Should I be considering one of those instead/also?
3. How much is a trans-go kit?
4. And how much is the Servo kit?

 

Hey Xdamagedx, Good question...Servo's in the 700R4/4L60E, controll the 2-4 band. They come on in 2nd and fourth. Seems to be alot opinion on weather to run a super servo or a corvett servo...hummm what to run...

Generally I recommand that if your running stock pressures you can run a super servo effectively. However, when you run elivated (line) pressure, theses servo tend to be too much (larger surface + increased pressure = broken band).In that case a corvett servo will do just fine.

The cost of a transgo kit varies from 89.00 to 129.00 depending on the supplier, a vett servo will run you 29.00, because your building this unit up ... It is a must have. Hope this helps Dave

 

Dave,
I've provided proof on several occassions as to why TG kits are junk. Do you ever actually read any of the posts? I've given detailed explanations as to why they tear stuff up.
My Uncle threw me out? Obviously you've got some bad information. Atleast when I took a few months off, it had nothing to do with my products.
Why would you use the term "I'm not that lucky"? Dave I've redid a couple of your units. Trust me, after seeing what you build, I'm certainly not worried.
See, Dave, I'm not just here to sell transmissions. I was a member of this forum long before becoming an advertiser. The reason I was here is because I also own an F-Body. My main objective when becoming a vendor here was to help other F-Body owners by providing the best 700/4L60E's available, for a reasonable price. My other objective was to keep other F-Body enthusiasts from wasting money on Junk.
BTW, when was the last time you answered a tech post on here? The only times you ever post is to defend Trans-Go. When was the last time you gave advice or tried to help any of the other members? I actually offer tech tips and help people try to fix transmission related (and other) problems.

Frank
CPT