I would like to put a shift kit in my "91" auto coupe to firm up the shifts and better the performance. Are there any bad side effects to a shift kit, and what shift kit would you buy????

 

I am thinking of doing the same thing.. I have heard that the B&M are junk, and the way to go is the Transgo shift kit.. as for bad side effects, I have no idea..

-Mark

 

I recently installed a TransGo shift kit in my 95. I was a messy job. Trans fluid was everywhere. It works great. The 1-2 shift is really great. TransGo is the kit to install. Good Luck.

 

Guys - excuse my ignorance, but what does a shift kit do?

(Edited to correct spelling of ignornace - ironic!)


[Modified by steveelsbury, 2:18 PM 6/7/2002]

 

??? I know it makes for a firmer shift but how and what are the advantages?


[Modified by York67vette, 8:16 AM 6/7/2002]

 

Basicaly, ir I understand this correctly, GM made the transmission mushy, so that the shift was nice and soft for comfort reasons. Not only does this rob performance (because there is a lag in your shift), but it also is not too good on the tranny.. This kit takes this lag away which helps performance and longevity of the tranny.. there is a much better explanation here:
http://www.drivetrain.com/transgoshiftkits.html

-Mark

 

Transgo huh, never heard of them but thanks for the info i was about to get a B&M shift kit. where is a good site to get them???

 

I have heard baaad things about the B&M Shift kit (Someone here was explaining that it just cuts fluid to your tranny to firm up the shifts: not good).. You can get the transgo from Summitracing.com, but the link that I posted (drivetrain.com) has the best price I could find ($115.00)

-Mark

 

Transgo... DEFINITELY. I have one, simply AWESOME at shifting. HUGE difference in 1-2! I chirp the tires everywhere during that shift. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

 

I don't have a lift and am pretty much a newbie when it comes to auto trannies. Has everyone put their own in or has anyone actually paid a shop to do it? Price for labor? You do have to drop the transmission, am I correct? Thanks!

Dave

 

If i remember correctly, the Transgo is all Valve Body work. Which means you would have to drop the tranny pan and then unbolt the valve body, then you could do your modifications with the valve body off the car. i don't recall anything being done to the inside of the transmission with the transgo.

 

Thanks Curtis...that definitely clears things up for me. Valve body work probably isn't too bad....

DW

 

ehh... watch what you say about a valve body :jester . Just don't drill in the wrong place :D Transgo does have an 800 number for techincal help though! :cheers:


[Modified by Glock'94, 2:36 PM 6/7/2002]

 

First off b&m doesnt make shift kits, they make shift improver kits. Why? Because the term shift kit has been registered by transgo since the 50's A shift kit doesnt give you firm tire chirping shifts, what it is, is a kit that addresses and corrects the factory flaws in the tranny. The transgo reprogramming kit, which is the one summit sells for 125 or so, includes the corrections and also includes provisions for high hp heavy duty use. By fixing the problems and reducing overlap between shifts the trannies will last longer with a shift kit. Firm quality shifts are much easier on a tranny than soft mushy clutch burning ones.

The problem with the b&m is to get firm shifts it blockes accumulators. Heres a real simple example on a fictional tranny. Basicly it works like this..fluid travels down a passage, along the passage theres a little door to say, the 2nd gear piston. When the tranny desides its time to engage second gear the door opens, and fluid rushes in. Now the fluid is high pressure and because liquids dont compress, the fluid slams into the piston and the piston engages immediatley. This is called fluid shock. And is very hard on parts. So what the engineers have done is designed whats called an accumulator. Its basicly a second piston with a spring that compresses in the same circuit as the gear piston. So when the fluid rushes in it slams into the acumulator which slowly(compared to instantaneous) sinks into its bore, and as its bore fills up with fluid it spills over and slowly engages the gear piston.

What the b&m does is disable the accumulators and use very large feed holes. So a lot of fluid slams into the piston at once, and you get your firm shift. Problem is it breaks parts..what the transgo does is change the spring rates on valves and accumulators, so there still used but with the firmer springs it doesnt take as long for the accumulator piston spring to bottom and the gear piston engages quicker.

This gives your a firm positive shift not a harsh shift. And unlike the b&m since you still have the accumulator part throttle shifts are soft, whiles the b&m's are always harsh. Another problem is on a b&m kit usually the 1-2 shift is very harsh, 2-3 is some times a little firmer and 3-4 tends to get softer as time goes on.Tthe transgo maintains firm positive shifts for all gears.


Here is the installation video included with the transgo kit. Its about 50 minutes long.

copy this to the address bar and hit enter
ftp://tranny:tranny@l83.homeip.net
then right click and select copy to folder

its pretty involved, quality sucks because its only 20megs but you'll get the jist of it. I only allow 3 users at a time so if it doesnt work, 3 people are already there.




[Modified by nsimmons, 10:20 PM 6/7/2002]

 

Nick,
Thanks for the explanation. That is the clearest it has ever been explained to me.

 

how much $ in labor do you think would be involved in installing a shift kit?

thanks

 

a good mechanic should be able to do it in 3 hours

 

Can someone who has had a Transgo kit tell me if it came with a 1-2 shift spring and if it did, did you use it?