C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Shift Kit

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 8, 2020 | 09:52 AM
  #1  
Beardeddan's Avatar
Beardeddan
Thread Starter
7th Gear
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: McHenry, IL.
Default Shift Kit

I recently bought a 91 and was told it has a Hyper Tech performance chip and a shift kit installed. Not sure what they are or what they do. Any advice?
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2020 | 06:11 PM
  #2  
Kevova's Avatar
Kevova
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Default

Hypertech prom or memcal is non oem programming. You would need to remove door on ECM to verify.
Shift kits are mostly a modification to the valve body of the transmission. There are different levels of changes depending on kit chosen. Most of the time shifts are firmer than stock. There's no simple way to verify other than to compare to a know stock car.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2020 | 08:06 PM
  #3  
65Z01's Avatar
65Z01
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

After I had a shift kit installed into my prior '88 she would chirp the tires and give a slight "wiggle" on a moderate to heavy 1-2 upshift...loved it.

Depending on which HT chip you have it may bring on the cooling fan(s) at 160deg F, or may just change timing.
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2020 | 09:58 AM
  #4  
Beardeddan's Avatar
Beardeddan
Thread Starter
7th Gear
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: McHenry, IL.
Default

Does the kit change any gear ratios? It sure takes off quick and I've had gears in the 4's in other cars.
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2020 | 10:09 AM
  #5  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

I had my transmission rebuilt and its not installed yet, is it too late to add a shift kit? Not sure if I want to do it (pro/cons??), but if I do, I wanted to see how difficult it would be

TIA
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2020 | 11:38 AM
  #6  
Kevova's Avatar
Kevova
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Default

[QUOTE]Does the kit change any gear ratios? It sure takes off quick and I've had gears in the 4's in other cars.
Shift kits don't change transmission gear sets, so no original gear ratios are still present. Shift kits can change shift timing to a certain point by allowing quicker clutch and band apply, governor modifications can allow higher WOT rpm automatic shifting.Transmission shifting is cable controlled.
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2020 | 03:45 PM
  #7  
65Z01's Avatar
65Z01
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

I believe say a TransGo kit can be installed without dropping the tranny.

The kit won't help with takeoff but say a 2,000rpm TC will really light her up on launch. I had that done along with the shift kit and could launch at 1,900rpm instead of the stock 1,400-1,500rpm...big difference
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2020 | 03:50 PM
  #8  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by 65Z01
I believe say a TransGo kit can be installed without dropping the tranny.

The kit won't help with takeoff but say a 2,000rpm TC will really light her up on launch. I had that done along with the shift kit and could launch at 1,900rpm instead of the stock 1,400-1,500rpm...big difference
I'm looking at a 3000-3200 TC (Lloyd Elliott recommended). I was hesitant to do the shift kit for driveability reasons and it's technically my wife's car (mine until its fixed...LOL), so I'm not sure if she would be thrilled with it.
Also what is the downside? Does it wear out other parts/transmission?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 9, 2020 | 09:13 PM
  #9  
InfomanSS's Avatar
InfomanSS
Racer
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 383
Likes: 86
From: Northeast Ohio
Default

Beardeddan
The shift kit only does what the name implies...it makes automatic shifting firmer/crisper/quicker. Shifting quicker is actually better for the trans...in general...less slipping of the clutches/friction discs in there.

Some kits are just about the shifting and they can be installed from under the car with transmission installed.
Example: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-70239

Other kits include upgraded/stronger parts that will be needed to handle higher powered engines and firm shifts.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-705036

vette196
Depending on the power of the engine and how often you drive it hard, this could lead to other parts in the trans or drivetrain to fail sooner than normal and u-joints usually become the weakest link. In other words, if the trans is otherwise stock and your engine is stock...probably no big danger with shifting firmer.

If it's your wife's car long-term...you better ensure that SHE is into firmer shifting...every...single...time...the car shifts. It can be a bit annoying when wanting to drive calmly or when it's raining and the 1-2 shift occurs in the middle of a 90-degree turn in an intersection...you can have the rear end sliding around.

Hypertech Chips
This holds part of the instructions for how the engine is to operate. Hypertech offered a few different models that would get a little more performance from the engine. Back in the day, folks were really into them, but now most folks will advise you that it isn't worth the money. You might as well identify which one you have, as some required a lower temperature thermostat, expect a certain octane of fuel, etc. It's probably one of these: https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending

And you know what else? Welcome to the C4 Universe! :-)
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2020 | 07:11 PM
  #10  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by InfomanSS
vette196
Depending on the power of the engine and how often you drive it hard, this could lead to other parts in the trans or drivetrain to fail sooner than normal and u-joints usually become the weakest link. In other words, if the trans is otherwise stock and your engine is stock...probably no big danger with shifting firmer.

If it's your wife's car long-term...you better ensure that SHE is into firmer shifting...every...single...time...the car shifts. It can be a bit annoying when wanting to drive calmly or when it's raining and the 1-2 shift occurs in the middle of a 90-degree turn in an intersection...you can have the rear end sliding around. :-)
thank you very much! The car will have the LE2 package with all the surrounding goodies

I was worried that I should have added that to the transmission rebuild, but after reading what you said, I'm SO glad I didn't do it....I could imagine a shift kit with 360+ HP would not make for a happy wife.
she catches me saying "my car" all the time, I tell her its mine until its finished....then its yours
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Shift Kit





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:25 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE