Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) trans-go kits

[TGaines]

Has anybody ever used the shift kits, or the valve body upgrade kits offered by trans-go? There is a local trans guy here that said the kits were pretty good. They increase line pressures, firm shifts and are supposed to eliminate shudder. I was thinking this may be one alternative to expensive transmission mods. The kits are inexpensive and he says easy to install by the diy'er. Anyone have anything bad to say about them?



Thanks,

Travis



BTW, my transmission is the 47RE in a 96 3500 2wd dually.

 

[y-knot]

I have used them in the past, with limited success. However from reading and listening on this and other such forums, I do not think they do much for the Dodge/Cummins combo. Yes a shift kit is very cheap and would be nice if it solved the problems. Believe me I think if it was the answer you would see it listed in every signature of a automatic owner. But you will not find it listed. There are many problems associated with the diesel/automatic combo, shifting is not usually listed as one of the complaints. As amatter of fact I think the trany does a fine job, it seems to be strong enough and mine never had a shifting or hunting problem. The big culprit is the Torque converter and it's in-ability to hold the torque. There are three major issues I see :1. stall to high, 2. not enough friction surface to hold torque, and 3. low line pressure. This is over simplified, but highlights the trouble areas. In the trany the use of a modified Valve Body corrects areas of pressure,shift points and lock-up. All in all the transmission does very well for a 30+ year old piece. I believe it's is obvious that Dodge has used this transmission for much to long and a modern trany is much needed. I can't help but to think they know this and are hard at work to resolve the problem.

Getting back to you and your current needs, I am afraid there is nothing available that will fix the autos problems cheaply. It is for the most part something that is only done when all other options have run out. And at the tune of around $4,000. 00 .

 

[RACE427]

Trans Go

The Trans Go Diesel shift kit is in my truck and I have had no problems with it. I installed the kit at 8,000 miles to tighten up the shift points in the trans, been happy ever since.



For the record, anytime I need to firm or tighten up an auto trans I use Trans Go kits, never let me down yet. Hope this helps.

 

[vssman]

The trans-go kit was nothing but problems in my truck. I had a local transmission expert install it and went for almost 1 year with limp mode starts. It ended up costing me several times more to fix the shift kit than it would have to just replace the VB with an aftermarket unit. The shifts are rock hard - especially at light throttle. Keep in mind that the aftermarket units are tested and set at the builders. My advice is that the shift kit may cost a couple of hundred less than a replacement VB, but the VB is almost bolt in.



Just my $0. 02

 

[sewman]

So why did you leave Trans-Go in your sig?

 

[Joe G.]

My experiences with a Transgo kit resulted in a complete transmission rebuild.

 

[RedRamer]

I'm no expert, but I've read lots about it on this board.

Seems if you don't know about the Dodge transmission, a shift kit will cause lots of problems.

The biggest one I've read about is raising the internal pressures, which is what the kit does.

problems seems to be the transmission shifts by computer module and pressure is one of the sensors ir depends on.

Ther'es way to fool it also, but. .

that' why I think one vendor here won't even sell just the VB anymore.



If you're shuddering, I think you're past the shift kit stage tho :-(

 

[dalton4]

Vssman, a $. 50 ohms resistor from Radio Shack may have taken care of the limp mode problem if you didn't have one installed. This is a common item used on our trannies with upped pressures.

 

[vssman]

The installer put in the resistor, but the problems were much more than that. I found that the modifications to the VB caused limp mode problems by not letting the governor pressures return to less than 1. 5 psi at idle every time. What will happen is after releasing the brakes (at a light) the transmission will shift twice while the truck is still at a stop and go into limp. I wound up putting in an adjustable resistor, riding around with a volt meter attached and waiting for it to happen. My truck likes the voltage to be around 4. 75V. It still will happen, but only once every few months. After talking to DTT/ATS & others, what I learned is that Trans-Go shift kits are very, very touchy to set up. Why do I still have it? 1. Now that it shifts, I'm not going to mess with it anymore until it drops parts all over the ground; 2. If I go in and tell wifey that I need more transmission work, she'll... You know the rest.

 

[Joe G.]

Originally posted by vssman

If I go in and tell wifey that I need more transmission work, she'll... You know the rest.

Been there, done that with my fiasco with Transgo.