I was looking at the B&M Shift Kit for the 700R4 and it said on the site that it comes in 3 stages. I am assuming tat as they only had 1 item with all 3 stages in the description that there are different parts that you use to make it shift harder.

What exactly happends when you go from stage 1 to 2 or 2 to 3???

 

Shifts get harder and the damage it does to your transmission gets worse.

 

You wonder why all these misconceptions float around all over the place...

Yes, the shifts will become much more firm... but a shift kit should not damage your transmission. (Given that it was installed properly) In all actuality, the kit will prolong the life of your transmission. A good shift kit will get the car in gear faster, giving the transmission less time in between gears. It's that lag time that is bad for your transmission, not the firm shift.

In the B&M kit, they include a number of different parts (springs, clips etc) that change the current stage of the shift. Changing the stage of the kit requires replacement of some of the parts currently in your transmission.

I've had this kit for over a year now and not yet had one problem with it. (Knock on wood). It took me about a day to install, and it really tightened up my shifts. I need to get some tires because I chirp second gear pretty consistently now.

 

Do a search on the B&M kits, they do NOT have good standing on these boards. I beleive its because the B&M kits cause too much driveline shock, and it damages either the hard parts, or wears out the frictions quickly.

The TransGo kits have nothing but rave reviews on TGO though. I love my TransGo shift kit. I have the kit, vette servo, and boost valve. And a few tricks that KingitalOn put in an article after talking to Dana of Pro-Built. It shifts so clean and fast!!! At part throttle the shifts are VERY fast, but they dont' jerk you around at all. However, get a little heavy on the pedal and the transmission responds by firming up the shifts enough that the 1-2 WOT shift chirps the tires. The 3-4 shift is nice n' quick, and the 4-3 down shift can either be fast as hell at WOT, or at part throttle its nice and relaxed, though firmer than a tranny without a shift kit. I'm really happy with my shift kit.

In the rain though a shift kit can be a BAD thing. That same speed can actually cause the tires to break loose in bad conditions even under moderate throttle. I found that out when I had it out in the first rain. Coming out of a toll booth I was about 30 to 40% on the throttle and the 1-2 shift broke the tires loose. I let off the gas and was fine, but it was enough.

 

I've noticed that a lot of people here have bad things to say about the b&m too... but most of it seems like hearsay.. ie) "My friend has a 700R98769769 that he installed himself and his B&M kit made the transmission explode."

The Transgo kit is a great kit, it's all about personal preference. I just wouldn't listen to the constant b&m vs transgo argument that goes on around here because most of it seems (to me) like ignorance talking.

Fruity, don't take it as an insult or anything, I know that you know what you're talking about with this stuff more than I do... but I also know how people on TGO can be about certain subjects... and this is one of them.

 

A Shift Kit (which is a trademark of TransGo, by the way) will not damage your tranmission and will actually correct several design flaws and prolong the live of the transmission. A B&M Shift Improver kit does nothing to improve the transmission, only make shifts harder, and will cause accelerated wear.