Shift Kit Installion, need help!!!!!

Kdubslugga

Active Member
Jun 7, 2003
1,515
3
38
Akron, OH
I have a Transgo Shift kit installed in my car and i love it. My friend just bought one and im gonna help him put it in. Ive never done this before so im a bit hesitant. Also, ive watched the tape that is encluded with it about 4 or 5 times, it doesnt look that hard, is the tape decieving??? Also the kit comes with a high rev kit that is not installed in the tape. Instead of having shifts a 4900 rpm, the high rev kit extends it to 5000. I think im gonna just leave that out. He can always put it in later if he wants, i just need to know what your expierences were with this kit, and how hard of a job is it. Thanks in advance
 
Just make sure you take your time and follow the directions, they aren't very hard. I had one problem when i put a b&m shift kit in my old Torino, and that was I had put the roller detent spring into the wrong slot that selects the gears.....so in other words when I thought the car was in Park it was actually in Reverse. (and i wondered why it wouldn't start :shrug: ) Just make sure to take your time and will go fine! Good Luck!
 
Hi,

I did my own install of the TransGO kit and it wasn't too difficult, just take your time and follow the written instructions very very carefully. Also keep things very very clean when assembling. There were a few tricky places:

You need a really really big pan to drain the tranny in and it takes over an hour for most of the fluid to drain. Then you still get some from everything you remove so be ready.

The instructions didn't include the 3rd Accumulator piston and spring information on page 6....call them and have them fax it to you. This piston is a real bear to get back in...two strong guys would help! Make sure you don't crack the piston use as large of a blunt object as possible like a socket on an extension to push it in with. Lubricate the new o ring with tranny fluid before installing. You need a really good pair of snap ring pliers to get that puppy back in and make sure the snap ring is seated really well.

Also I used an inch pound torque wrench and torqued all bolts to 105 inch pounds in three steps 50/80/105 including the pan bolts. I wouldn't trust just tightening it by hand.

I didn't put in the govenor spring and piston in myself....you have to drop the driveshaft and take off the back end of the transmission. I recently had this done when I installed a new aluminum driveshaft and had a transmission place do it and install the rest of the shiftkit and replace the rear bushing in the output housing. They only charged me $130 for RR DS, govenor spring and piston, rear bushing and adjust TV cable. Now it shifts at 5500 instead of 5000.

One more possible gotcha, when you remove the valve body pay very close attention to the TV spring. Make sure you know how it goes back on.....they didn't even mention this is the video or instructions.

Good Luck, Don
 
I did mine last summer. Scary at first. But you get your comfort level fast. I modified and built the VB in my living room (Oh yeah, girlfriend was so not happy with this...). But the video was top notch.

Great reply gt90stang. We need more insightful and informative people like yourself on the boards!

Oh and the neck snaping shifts are so worth it. I was concerned at first about how it would react on wet roads (here in Oregon), but it does just fine.

Have fun with the install. :nice: