I want to upgrade the servos on both of my camaros. My 86's tranny is all stock, and i just want a lil firmer shift to it. Its a daily driven car, and at some point the trans will be rebuilt. I plan on usin the vette servo on that one. Dont need neck snapping shifts, it could get annoying in traffic.

My 91 however, hasa rebuilt tranny, with a shift improver kit. The shifts are firm, and on a cool day i can chirp em goin into 2nd. Well, i want it a lil snappier. I drove my friends formula with a faibanks servo and i liked it. Do they have a website? I also saw a website that sells a "thunderbolt" servo from Raptor. Anyone have any experience with these? Thanx for ay replies

 

I have installed both Vette Servos, and the large "Billet" servos. I'll never install anything other than a Vette servo again. The Billet Servo is simply overkill. There are other ways to firm up the shift, if the servo is not enough. However, once you cross the threshold of "firm" to "harsh", you run the risk of potential internal component failure. I have seen bands get holes punched in them, I have seen band anchors break off the band, I have seen reaction shells snap, etc...

 

Well, i dont wanna do any damage to the tranny, Ill go with the vette servo 1st in my 86 then if i like it ill go with the same in the 91. BTW, does fairbanks have a web site? The formula my friend had used only the servo. the rest of the tranny was stock with no rebuilds.

 

a pretty interesting article..... I already have a vette servo, but read this anyway

http://www.technicalevolution.com/niceshft.htm

 

Interesting article, but I don't agree 100%. I don't think installing a Corvette Servo with out a "matching spacer plate" will cause harm to the transmission.

Case in point: Open your 2002 GMPP catalog to page 41, the ZZ4 3rd Gen conversion kit. Part of the kit is: TV Boost valve, Pressure regulator spring, and the Corvette servo. None of which is installed in the valvebody, and no mention of a spacer plate, or needed modifications to the spacer plate. If it was so bad for the tranny to install this servo w/o the "matching" body or plate, why would GM, the engineers of this tranny, say its OK?

On another note, every problem mentioned in that article is taken care of w/ the TransGo kit. Thats why I beleive so highly in them. And they also reccomend the Vette Servo in there list of "goodies".

Food for thought.

 

First, try the Corvette servo & see what happens. If it improves the shifts the way you like?, then you should be ok. If it makes 2nd gear to harsh at light throttle openings then the accumulator will have to be addressed (Trans-Go does this in their Shift kits, not the performance Shift kit though) along with hole size in the plate. GM did add the Corvette servo to solve the 2-3 flair, improve 2nd gear holding power, and slightly firmer 3rd gear shift. I do "all" of these modifications on "all" my 700R4's. A lot of what he said at "technicalevolution" is not correct for Hi-Performance applications, he is quoting and/or reading and not understanding.

 

What do they do? The 700 2&3 kit has the spring for the accumulator valve, but its way stiff, plus they tell you to install it for a firmer shift.

 

you can get some stuff from GM that will help the shifts
Spring Pressure Regulator - #8639164
Boost Valve - # 8634940
Servo Piston - #8642079
Servo Housing - #8642110

Is that Servo piston parts number from GM the one for the Corvette servo.

Thanks

 

This is what I got, it's awesome!

#1. 700R4 high performance intermediate billet servo. This Thunderbolt servo has 35% more holding power (fluid apply area) than the Corvette servo found on other brands. It'll give a firmer 1-2 and 2-3 shift. Can be installed without removing the transmission or valve body. Cost $75.00


http://transmissioncenter.net/highperf700r4.htm

Great place to work with too, good people.

 

Both can be great upon the build conditions. I rather like the better clutch pack with the 4l60E steels and the Sonnax servo, and a superior sk, when you end up having to much pressure you just get a frikin hard shift, and won't chirp the tires, no good for transmission.