is anyone using a shift kit in their a4's? if so, what brand would you recommend. are they do it yourself installation? any help would be appreciated.

thanks
scott s

 

a little help please

 

England Green is only one I know who has done this, check it out here:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1536354

 

the kits i am talking about go in side the trany,thay are supose to chrispin the shifts.

 

I had a Trans-Go shift kit installed when i switched to 3.42's. I really like it. Nice firm shifts. I had someone else do the install so i am not sure how hard it is. Of course i had to have a tune to reset the shift points after i had the gear installed. I am at 380 rwhp. I have read several post about the Trans Go kit and everyone has been favorable. Hope this helps.

 

Talked to one of the Corvette specialty shops, and they advised just getting the PCM tuned. They sell the Trans-Go kits, and said their shop charges four hours labor at SoCal rates, so the total was about $650 to do it.

Talked to the trans shop I've used for 30 years, and the owner advised the same - just use the PCM to bump the pressures and shift points. He specifically advised against doing a mechanical mod, even though he's used them in all the non-computer transmissions he's done since at least 1970.

I also talked to his shop foreman (this is a big shop...), and he not only advised against it, but said he wouldn't install one if I got it. Same thing - use the PCM, Luke! Use the PCM.

Is that your final answer? Probably not, but it was mine. Used my Predator to set the initial "performance" profile, and will probably work with the foreman at the shop to figure out what to do with the pressures and shift points. I understand the Predator can address those.

The shop owner's explanation was that, on the old mechanically controlled transmissions, the smooth shift was achieved by holding the lower gear a little bit after the next gear engaged. Great for those velvet Cadillac shifts, but hard on the bands, clutch packs, etc. The shift kits eliminated that behavior. I have the B&M equivalent in my son's old Trans Am, and it works great.

Just a thought - talk to RPM Transmissions. They seem to be a sponsor here, and look like they know what they're doing. I trust my guy. He's kept the transmission in my GT500 for - well, all its life. The original owner introduced me to this shop in 1975. But second opinions can't hurt.

 

I installed a TransGo kit myself three years ago with good results, it cost about $115. A year later, HP tuners software was used to change the shift points to provide sooner part throttle downshifts so the car doesn't bog in traffic, someone already posted the parameters on the HP website.

 

My A4 is a Rodney RPM Transmissions built level V with a Transgo kit, it works perfectly.
Only negative I see is that the transmission will gear down to whatever you put the shift lever into. Don't downshift to first on the interstate. GM won't let the transmission stay in a destructive gear, Transgo will.
This has never been a problem for me but it can happen.

 

Have a TransGo shift kit in my '04 W/about 370 to the ground and 1-2 shift is nice and crisp. 2-3 shift, ehhhhh, it's ok, I guess. Had a shop install it.

 

I've used a transgo shift kit on another vehicle I have and it works well. When I hung out on another Ford forum, we had one of the guys who designed that particular Ford transmission and he explained the entire workings of the kit. He then went on to document his own kit which did the same exact thing, only he gave the kit to us for free. No parts were needed.
The kit has a few valves that go into the transmission shift module and a module seperator plate that has holes drilled into it that are slightly oversized. This allows the shift chambers (?) to fill more quickly and therefores shift faster from one gear to the next. If you get too carried away with drilling the holes, your car will shift so hard that the seat belts keep locking up thinking that you have been rearended. Ask me how I know.
For more info, check out the "Jerry Mod" on Crownvic.net

 

I have a Transgo in my FLP Level IV trans and it works fine. You do want to have your shift points changed, but you don't want to bump the line pressure up because the shift kit will mechanically do that for you. Too much line pressure is not a good thing for your trans.