Are the shift kits worth getting?

[jgressley2003]

Hey I bought a 90 LX Convertible 5.0 a few weeks ago. I'm trying to get some more power out of the thing and I'm doing so with an exhaust upgrade this weekend. Now my next question. It being an AOD it just seems to drag the car down. Are the shift kits really a good investment or not? I see three possibilities in Summit's catalog. The shift improver kit, transpak, and the transkit. Any help appreciated.

 

[rsw007]

go with bauman or trans go shift kit stay away from b&m shift kits.

 

[Modular2v]

just get an aftermarkey valvebody

 

[supafly]

I've had no problems at all with my B&M shift kit and it really woke the AOD up.

 

[jgressley2003]

I've had no problems at all with my B&M shift kit and it really woke the AOD up.

Which kit do you have if I may ask?

 

[supafly]

You would have to ask that, wouldn't you. To be honest, the shop that rebuilt my tranny 6 years ago had one so I had that installed along with the rebuild. I do not recall what model/part# it is. I do remember that it was less than $100.

 

[CoupedUp]

A shift kit is nice for getting that 2nd gear chirp ... plus they extend the life of a tranny, due to not allowing the slip between shifts.

 

[Leeroy697]

Definatly get one. You wont be dissapointed.

 

[jgressley2003]

Well I think I might go with the Transgo kit whenever I get my credit card paid down and recoupe from spending 495 bucks on new BFG KDWS tires today. This after I put about 800 dollars on my credit card for new headers, h pipe, and Flowmaster catback.

 

[87MustangGT5.0]

Yeah a shift kit is pretty cool when you have it. I have the manual valve body so I just shift it myself. When I ride in my cousins C4 Stang, its shifts awesome with a shift kit.

 

[macx]

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/article111.html

There's some info on making the AOD work better and live longer

 

[billpo]

I have an 89 GT vert. Shift kits are great. If you get one set it to the most aggressive setting. I set mine to the nedium setting and I regret it. Have you canged your gears? If not get some 3:73's. the gears and install should run you approximately 500. Advance your timining to 14 or 15 degrees. These cars are set to 10 degrees from the factory. They can easily be set to 14 or 15 without any pinging.

These changes will make a huge difference to your AOD. Also remove the AIR silencer and replace your filter with a K&N.

 

[Lyncher]

I have heard nothing but good things about B&M shift kits..hopefully that helped a little

 

[jgressley2003]

I have an 89 GT vert. Shift kits are great. If you get one set it to the most aggressive setting. I set mine to the nedium setting and I regret it. Have you canged your gears? If not get some 3:73's. the gears and install should run you approximately 500. Advance your timining to 14 or 15 degrees. These cars are set to 10 degrees from the factory. They can easily be set to 14 or 15 without any pinging.

These changes will make a huge difference to your AOD. Also remove the AIR silencer and replace your filter with a K&N.

I would get gears, but I drive 20 miles one way to work. With gas being 800 million dollars a gallon I'm not even going to mess with the gears.

 

[rsw007]

gears dont effect gas milage that much, not like you would think.

 

[hamonkeiser]

It's worth it. I have the transgo kit in mine. Might want to consider a higher stall converter & a trans cooler while your at it to wake up the AOD.

Also, look into subframe connectors. They are a must on a convertible. Gears are a good idea & they won't impact mileage as much as you think.

 

[Project89]

I am w/hamonkeiser on this one. But definitely gears first then shift kit. When you get tired of that get a 3000 stall w/trans cooler.

 

[sgarlic]

We put one in my father's '79 Dodge Warlock II a few years ago. It was definately an improvement.. it had the horrible lag between WOT 1-2 shifts.. completely gone now, and it easily barks the tires in to 2nd.. if you want it to. We put a B&M in there.. no problems.

I'm not sure why most people here seem to hate the B&M kit.. because it doesn't include a video like transgo perhaps?

My theory is that an automatic with a stall, a shift kit, and a tranny cooler is hellacious.

 

[ill advised]

Definitely worth it. You probably won't be satisfied (then again, who ever is? lol) until you have all 3:

1. shift kit
2. gear
3. stall

I'm 2 out of 3 and looking at converters now. I have a Transgo set to full firm but it's too much for me while cruising. At WOT it is sweet.

I agree about the 3.73 not having a major impact on mileage. Lugging the car around town with a 2.73 combined with the AOD's tall 1st/2nd gear can't be much better for city mileage. You have to give it that much more throttle (burn more gas) to get up to speed to begin with The higher highway rpms take some getting used to but it's definitely not as bad as you might think. The gear will make a world of difference in overall pick-up, especially passing speed, but the car will still stink off the line: stock converter.

 

[jgressley2003]

It's worth it. I have the transgo kit in mine. Might want to consider a higher stall converter & a trans cooler while your at it to wake up the AOD.

Also, look into subframe connectors. They are a must on a convertible. Gears are a good idea & they won't impact mileage as much as you think.

I have subframe connectors in the trunk. lol I might get them put on this weekend. Buy yeah those were the first thing I ordered well except for the K&N.