Shift Kits

[Colesnsty68]

Ok, so today a buddy of mine got me a shift improver kit, just the improver with the plate and o-rings and such, were just high schoolers so i was happy with it, still wish it was a shift kit like in the camaro but anyways, first off, can i install it with it still in the truck, just have petroleum jelly hold the check balls while i put it in? and secondly, would the street/strip level be to hard on it? it's 350 back with a 400TH. So any input?
Thanks,Cole

[78 Chevyrado]

Generally speaking, the harsher shifts make the clutches last longer and make the trans make a little less heat, but the harsher shifts wear tranny mounts and u-joints a lot faster.

You can install it with the trans in the truck, its more of a pain than a nice workbench, but its perfectly doable, probably more people do it from under a vehicle than on a bench.

[babyJay]

you will have to use Vaseline to hold the check balls where they need to be until you get the valve body back into place. Don't worry, the Vaseline will disperse and become diluted into the tranny fluid,which you will want to change along with the filter relatively soon afterwards.

[nbpro]

we went with transgo. pretty much straightforward install. tranny still in truck. here's a link with vids. if anyone is interested.
http://www.txchange.com/tgpvid.htm

[benoit454]

I've used 2 b&m shift improver kits both I installed in th350's and both were stage 2 street/strip and were great. In my 85 monte carlo ss with 3.42's it would chirp 2nd awesome and sometimes chirp 3rd. Which is still does, on dad's 84c10 with 2.72's it barely chirps anything. No way is it too harsh at all, yea if you are on it full throttle it hits hard, if you drive easy, nothing it's just quick and smooth. Love it and recomend it to anyone. I hear alot of ppl say go transgo and all but I've only used b and m kit and works great. The one thing that gets me, is I heard if you take out the 1-2 accumulator spring from the side cover it'll shift hard and wear things out, yet the rv/hd mode in the kit from b&m tells you to remove it. I've never done the stage 1 part, but it calls for drilling 2 holes larger, which you can do for free, remove all but 2 check balls I think, again it's free, and then if you remove the 1-2 spring that's free too why buy it? Only thing you get is the other seperator plate and support plates to stack and it allows dual feeding of the clutches.

[mooseknuckles]

it shouldn't be hard on the trans at all.....biggest problem with tranny failure is heat, so add an aftermarket trans cooler and never have a problem.

[nbpro]

a good tranny mechanic can do anything the shift kit can do for you. reason i went with transgo is it was cheaper where i purchased it. and have read good things about it. and it was easier for my nephew to do with no, or very little experience.

[benoit454]

are the transgo kits that cheap? I bought both my b&m's for like $35 to 40 local. I never touched an auto trans before the first shift kit, other then put an auto trans in a car, but it was my first and I had no problems with it, the 2nd one was even easier and faster.

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by benoit454

are the transgo kits that cheap? I bought both my b&m's for like $35 to 40 local. I never touched an auto trans before the first shift kit, other then put an auto trans in a car, but it was my first and I had no problems with it, the 2nd one was even easier and faster.

$25 at local shop old friend tho

[benoit454]

ok insider deal lol. I know the transgo no yoyo kits are cheap but I hear they do basically nothing asd far as a firm tire chirp shift.

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by benoit454

ok insider deal lol. I know the transgo no yoyo kits are cheap but I hear they do basically nothing asd far as a firm tire chirp shift.

3r!c84 build with a Transgo kit as well
with the Transgo kit and a stock 305 i barked the tires when hitting second, and not getting on it too hard. and in my research, the transgo was a better choice simply because of the age of the tranny.

[ericlonseth]

i got a stage 2 shift in my th400 in a 1986 1/2 ton...got the exact same things to say as Benoit454..you hardly notice the shifts when your going easy on it, and i havent licensed the truck so i dont know about full throttle, but i keep hearing that it'll chirp second...definately worth the 50 bucks

[nbpro]

I guess the point should be made here is;

TransGo's primary function is to correct operating defects in trannys.

TransGo also offers performance shift kits for many trannys.

B&M and other shift calibration kits focus mainly on performance shifts(firmer)

[benoit454]

good point and from what I've seen that is exactly right.

[GMC Guy]

so if you have a transmission that shifts fine right now but want a bit more performance, go with b&m?

[benoit454]

I would guess so, if you want some tire chirping, but as mentioned trans go offers performance kits along with the no yo-yo kits.

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by nbpro

3r!c84 build with a Transgo kit as well
with the Transgo kit and a stock 305 i barked the tires when hitting second, and not getting on it too hard. and in my research, the transgo was a better choice simply because of the age of the tranny.

right i put a shift kit in . it was pretty easy. out of the truck just turn it over.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...8&postcount=31