I was planning on changing the tranny fluid on my 86 camaro 700-R4 sometime soon. Has anyone ever used one of those kits that modifies the valve body (drilling holes, etc.). Ive read that they make the shifting much better in an automatic. Is it as simple as just following the instructions that come with the kit? Can you recommend a kit name/brand? I also wanted to put a drain plug in the tranny pan. Any advice on this as well?

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86 IROC TPI
No mods to date = not enough experience = looking for help

I have used both a Trans-Go and a B&M kit and the Trans-go, despite being more expensive, was far better than than the B&M.
IMO, you get what you pay for.
You can find pans with drainplugs in them already fairly cheap. B&M makes them as well as a few other companies.


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1994 LT1 Corvette Convertible

Ok, so if I go with the Trans-go kit, is it something I will be able to do with the tranny still in the car? How difficult is it, and how easy is it to screw up? This is not something i've actually SEEN done, and i have no experience with it myself. Any advice would be appreciated!

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86 IROC TPI
No mods to date = not enough experience = looking for help

I like the B&M TransPak ($45 ish), not the cheapo B&M Shift Improver kit ($29 ish) which most of these guys have used. NICE with plenty of quality pieces for the price. I do hear that the TransGo is nice but have not used it and have not heard it as compared to the TRANSPAK, only the Shift Improver kit.

The Transgo kit can be installed with the tranny in the car, same as with the B&M kit. All you need to do is drop the valve body, there are 4 bolts I believe, and a connector or 2.
It comes with instructions and a video which shows you how to install it.
If you decided to get the Transgo, read the instructions and watch the video. If after that you are still not comfortable doing it yourself then I would recommend taking it to a reputable trans shop to have it done. I can't see it taking much more than a couple hours at most to install in either case.

What? The valve body ALONE has about 16 bolts, never mind the other 5 or so to do the accumulator/regulator stuff!!! And the crossover pipe is no fun, either. Have you ever installed a shift kit before? Wow...

Not as easy as it sounds the first time you try one. Just have to follow the directions and ead them about 20 times before you start. I think the TransGo has a video with it that MUST be great help. B&M has a download area with the TransPak intructions (565Kb) that will geive you an idea of what you are getting into. Have fun and good luck!

Luckily tho, JoeIROC won't have to worry about a crossover pipe, they weren't around in '86.

Those B&M Transpak instructions are word-for-word the instructions for the B&M Shift Improver Kit. Did they forget to scan in extra pages?? I've asked you before but I think you miss my question on this but what's extra in the Transpak? In the shift improver kit, you still:

(Step 6 Online Transpak) Drill holes in separator plate
(Step 8 Online TP) MTV upshift valve
(Step 9 Online TP) Line bias valve
(Step 10 Online TP) Pressure regulator valve
(Step 11 Online TP) Leaving out check *****
(Steps 14 & 16) Shimming the accumulator

The only thing extra on those Online TransPak instructions is the explanation of the TV cable at the end. Were there other things to do with the TransPak?

Thanks,


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

That's all there is in the Transpak. You looked at the 565Kb download, right? So you are saying that B&M gives you all the same stuff in the Shift Improver Kit, too? I was under the assumption that you just got the gaskets, a drill bit and the paper instructions in the Improver kit, not all the other P-regulator adjusters and line bias/MTV upshift stuff...

I have not installed the Improver kit in about 10 yrs so I canot remember. Installed about 30 TransPaks... I want my money back... Heee hee.

You could be right but why would they charge $49 instead of $28 for the same kit? Might warrant a call to B&M? Clarification, PLS?

EDIT!!!!!!!:

Just called B&M and you are right! For the 700kit (not other trannies!!!) the only additional piece(s) in the TransPak kit is a filter. Must be a nice filter to justify the 25 buck price difference between the two kits!!!

[This message has been edited by FastBroker (edited January 03, 2001).]

FastBroker, thanks for the reply (and for calling B&M)! I can't believe that's the only difference between the kits- that's sick. $25 for a filter!? Maybe there's gold inside...? Heh, I guess I could change my mod list to show "B&M TransPak" instead of "Shift Kit", eh? Thanks again...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

U R welcome.

I have had both the B&M shift improver kit and the TransGo and I can saw the TransGo is head and shoulders above the B&M. I installed the B&M myself and honestly it was a bitch. The instuctions said it would take 2.5 hours and it took me 16. The B&M was on my old 86 firebird and I have the transgo on my new GTA. I'd say go with the Transgo and if you're up for hard work, put it in yourself.