hey guys....im thinking about putting a shift kit in my 95 z28 A4. it has 116k on the motor and tranny now. i want something that will make hard and snappy shifts and still preserve my tranny. any input will be greatly appreciated. thanks!

 

B&M or Superior (shift technologies). Stay away from Trans Go, unless you want your transmission to expire shortly.

Frank
CPT

 

You made the statement, "i want something that will make hard and snappy shifts and still preserve my tranny" This is not the way to make the transmission stay alive. You want the shifts to be smooth at part throttle and with them getting firmer with more throttle, not firm or hard all the time. I would recommend that you install the modified TransGo Perfomance Shift kit. This will upgrade the main boost valve for more main line pressure when needed, smoother part throttle shifts, better stabilized line pressure, slightly quicker 3-2 downshift, & firmer WOT shifts. This modified TransGo Performance Shift kit has been installed by hundreds of people successfully. I would not recommend B&M or Superior unless you want very firm part throttle shifts, which are not good for the gear train. Remember, whatever valve body kit you use, if it is misinstalled, it can shorten the transmission life.

 

...And even when the Trans-Go kit is installed CORRECTLY (according to their instructions) it will still shorten transmission life.

Frank
CPT

 

I don't see how the B&M kit is any better, they both use the same methods, but TransGo just implements the 'right' parts to do the job, and not only relying on washers to put into the accumulator to get firmer shifts.

 

thanks for all the info everyone i think im gonna go with the trans go shift kits becaus i want to retain nomal drivability and still have hard wot shifts.

 

Good decision. The video alone is probably worth the extra money you'd spend on a cheaper kit. It makes the install virtually fool proof. Just watch it 2-3 times beforehand and really know what you are doing before you start.

Oh, and I might add, when you get to the part with taking the rollpins out of the valve body: If they don't come out the way that they tell you to in the manual, don't be afraid to get some pliers and yank them out. Just make sure that you have the valve body secured and the springs and valves inside don't go shooting out.

 

Its gonna be real cool when the snappier shifts yank the anchor out of your band.
Transgo killed my transmission within a few yrs.

 

Do not add the spacers to the 2nd gear accumulator, that way you will not have firm part throttle shifts, I don't when I build them. How long was a few years?

 

So, Dana, I've got a question. I had a 4L60E show up at my shop about a month ago. It had 500 miles on a rebuild, with a Trans Go kit, and vacuum modulator. The 3-4 clutches and the band were both toast. My customer told me the transmission had never shifted correctly (as most don't with vacuum modulators). He instructed me to remove anything that the previous builder had installed, and build it my way. Well, to make a long story short, I have another happy customer.
So, if it wasn't the Trans Go shift kit or the vacuum modulator, could it have been builder error? I suppose all these other TG shift kits are installed wrong?

Frank
CPT

 

Dana??? I was also just thinking. This particular transmission also had lower quality (stock "high energy") 3-4 frictions and band. Obviously not the superior Z-Pak 3-4 clutches, and Alto "wide" band like we use. It also retained the stock "Corvette" servo and stock 4th servo. Could lesser quality parts cause the 3-4's and the band to burn up? I know many builders choose not to use billet servos because of the cost, but we only use the best.

So, do you believe it was the shift kit, vacuum modulator, lower quality clutches and band, the stock servos, or a bad build?

Frank
CPT

 

Go to shoebox's site and look for the wiring schematic for "Performance Transmission Button". It will work with 94/95 camaro's. I've got one in mine. It's not noticeably huge, but it's something, and its free/easy.

 

Ok, I have had transmissions come in over time that have had the Superior 2nd gear apply servo, and the Sonnax 4th gear apply servo, Alto wide band, every combination of 3-4 clutch setup imaginable, etc. These units had lost the 3-4 clutch pack, the 2-4 band, typical 4L60E problems, etc., but I did not assume that these parts (Superior 2nd gear apply servo, and the Sonnax 4th gear apply servo, Alto wide band) caused the problem, (as you assume that is the case with TransGo's parts causing the problem) as I know others have used these parts successfully, just as many others have used TransGo successfully. I found that the vast majority of time it is the builder mismatching components trying to acheive a certain end, because he does not understand how to make this transmission work, and/or does not know how to install the upgrades correctly. 19 out of 20 transmission builders (remember the bell curve) are not experts on these units. I rarely have 3-4 clutch problems, and I will stick with what works for me, the Borg Warner Hi-Energy 3-4 clutches. As far as the Z-pak, if that works for you, good. I choose not to use the billet Superior servo, as I have found the Corvette servo to do everything that I want, without the side effects, breaking the band anchor, very firm part throttle shifts, etc. The 2-4 Borg Warner Hi-Energy band does well for my needs, the Alto did no better, so I see no need for the Alto wide band. So the "best" for you is the billet servo, (and now the Alto 2-4 wide band becomes necessary, reinforced band anchor), but what works for me is the Corvette servo (no 2-4 band anchor breakage), besides how firm do you need the 2nd gearshift to be? I have had the same story as you, the customer has had his transmission built numerous times without success. I now build it my way, and well, (as you said) to make a long story short, I have another happy customer. Your question was "So, do you believe it was the shift kit, vacuum modulator, lower quality clutches and band, the stock servos, or a bad build?" From your description, there is only one answer, bad build. Frank, "I have always done more with less", as is evident with Greg Whitaker's 9 second 2000 Firebird, he has well over 175 runs in the nines, and he is just one of my customers using "so called" lesser quality parts. I believe that the parts combination is paramount to making a good working unit (and I have proved that time & again with my rebuild kits), and the builder is secondary, but the builder still has to be good and have an understanding of this transmission, or at the least, very good at following instructions/directions.

 

On a side note why would you use a vac. modulator? I'm not being a a$$ I just don't know. Most cars that came with one don't work well in Hi rpm's or with big cams.....How do you make them work and what is the purpose?

Just curious, thanks

 

Thank you. Don't you even want to know whos transmission only lasted 500 miles? Just so we're clear, you're definitely saying it was a bad build with a bunch of "good" parts? You claim all this stuff you use is "so successful". I've seen first hand proof that it's not.

Frank
CPT