Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) TransGo Shift Kit... anyone?

[curatchko]

Anyone install one of these? It came with the video and all the springs, valves etc... suppose to improve line pressure to the TC and all the other clutchs etc... .



It was given to me, brand new in the box.



Worth it???

 

[PCrable]

I had one for a few years and thought it did a real nice job of increasing the line pressure to handle the slightly higher HP I had put in my truck (VA & 275 Injectors).



It firms the shifts up so they're not so "slushy". For it's relatively low cost, I think it's a very good system to help those with an automatic transmission and some mild HP increases.

 

[thepitts]

I have it

In my truck now and like it real well. Firm shifts no problem with drain back.

 

[Jim Norton]

Curatchko, I put a Transgo kit in my 9812v and liked it. One

thing I found was the instructions that TST added to the kit

recomended not drilling out the holes in seperater plate as

outlined in kit because of harsh shifting. I didn't drill them

and wound up wishing I had,but then I wouldn't mind if it

barked the tires every time it shifted under power! I never

talked with TST to see why-wondered if towing orientated

folks complained-could get old out on the road?If yuor all

hotrod or just like snapy shifts,my 02-drill them out!

Jim

 

[Reb.B]

great install, . . i put them in all trannies i have rebuilt. although u can increase line pressure without the kit, ... just adjust one of the screws on the side of the valve body, the other one is passing gear. The main reason for the kit is better shift firmness, and better lock up of the convertor. U increase lock up by drilling a larger hole in the plate. Stock is like 80 thou and u drill from 100 to 125 thou. Be carefull increaing line pressure, u can craete external And internal leaks, both are bad. U don't want internal leaks going by the lip seals. also, becarefull adding too much lock power, one of our trucks has broken TWO input shafts. Pulling 32,000 #s three times a week in the mountains doesn't help either, lol. good luck, ... Reb

 

[rluft]

Is there a need to remove the transmission to install the kit? I read somewhere that transmission removal was necessary to install some seals.

 

[Reb.B]

its only nessasary if u want to put the low wear seals in the front pump. All the rest of the stuff goes directly into the valve body. Just take off the detent and shift lingage and drop in down with out bending the parking gear linkage in the transmission. Its pretty easy. Really save the transmission and makes it a lot more fun to drive. I can't tell u how much life it adds to the converter clutches as well as the rest of the clutches in the transmission. The stock shift kit is like taking a grinder to all of your clutches.

 

[98rammer]

tst says that removal is necessary, but it's not from everywhere elsethat i've heard. just romove the valve body and do your thing. i was hot into getting one, but it looks like i wont gain too much over the stock line pressures being turned up i really want more pressure to hold the lock up clutch. now i know two people who wish that they hadn't gotten it-- one spending waaaay too much money on getting things to work right (limp mode problems, etc. ) and another says that his truck wants to puke it back out. i don't know myself whether to get one or not.



Tom

 

[Reb.B]

its not all about line pressure. Yes, it is turned up SLIGHTLY, but u drill a larger port in the plate which adds more pressure only to converter lock up, . . this is different than increasing line preasure to the whole transmission. if u have a stock transmission, then a trans go kit IS nessessary. They are good, and problem with limp mode and blowing transmission fluid is the mechanics error or getting the converter hot, ... . make the fluid puke out the dip stick.

 

[98rammer]

Originally posted by Reb. B

its not all about line pressure. Yes, it is turned up SLIGHTLY, but u drill a larger port in the plate which adds more pressure only to converter lock up, . . this is different than increasing line preasure to the whole transmission. if u have a stock transmission, then a trans go kit IS nessessary. They are good, and problem with limp mode and blowing transmission fluid is the mechanics error or getting the converter hot, ... . make the fluid puke out the dip stick.

ok, what causes the fluid to puke out the dipstick? getting it hot? yes, i upped my line prssures 3 turns (= about 9 psi at idle), it holds the bands better (firmer whiling shifting into gear), and the lock up clutch is a little better. i can still easily slip it though.



basically, will the shift kit hold my lock up clutch when i want to get on it at say 60mph? will it hold towing a couple thousand pounds uphill?

 

[Reb.B]

okay rammer, transgo 101. lol. u dril a larger hole for a 1-2 shift firmness, u drill a larger hole on some for 2-3 shift firmness, u enlarge a hole in the small plate (with three bolts in it) next to the shifter arm it should be . 85 and u enlarge it to. 100 to . 125. I usually go . 100 to . 115 size hole. This is where u increase lock up pressure, firmness and hold power, . . not line pressure. Line pressure can be dangerous to play with. U can get external leaks as well as INternal leaks. the kit comes with differentspring for max shift speed, new manual valve, increase lube/converter flow, and a different spring that helps increase line pressure slightly. the kit has a couple other little helper in it as well. The converter overflowing could also be poor atf as well. I always run Mercon V and Lube guard with the ahoba bean.

 

[98rammer]

alright, so if i install the shift kit, should i back down on the line pressures at all? Bill K says that 3 1/2 turns on a 12v re transmission is safe, but anything beyond that isn't (24valves, you need a pressure guage... period). hmm, looks like i'll get one then.



thanks, Tom

 

[VIPERBLUELX]

okay rammer, transgo 101. lol. u dril a larger hole for a 1-2 shift firmness, u drill a larger hole on some for 2-3 shift firmness, u enlarge a hole in the small plate (with three bolts in it) next to the shifter arm it should be . 85 and u enlarge it to. 100 to . 125. I usually go . 100 to . 115 size hole. This is where u increase lock up pressure, firmness and hold power, . . not line pressure. Line pressure can be dangerous to play with. U can get external leaks as well as INternal leaks. the kit comes with differentspring for max shift speed, new manual valve, increase lube/converter flow, and a different spring that helps increase line pressure slightly. the kit has a couple other little helper in it as well. The converter overflowing could also be poor atf as well. I always run Mercon V and Lube guard with the ahoba bean.

Does anyone have a diagram showing what needs to be drilled? Seems like you could just drill the holes out in the right spots and turn the line pressure up with the screw and not even need the transgo kit?