Ok ive seen this question asked a million times and not yet once have i seen it answered!!! I want a shift kit. Recently I read from camaro performers mag about upgrading your tranny with the b&m transpak, and transmission cooler. Now i know theres a ton of horror stories of the B&M shift improver kit...and everytime the question is asked...everyone pipes in about how much they "hear" the transgo is so much better then the B&M, Even though i havent heard too many actual B&M customers complain. But my question is this. Is the transpak (not the f-ing shift improver) comparable to the transgo. I can either get a transgo shift kit, or the B&M transpak, new poly trans mount, and B&M trans cooler for the same price as the transgo right now. They installed it in the magazine...so im assuming it cant be total crap. And I want someone who has some experience with this...not just another "my dad doesnt use B&M" or "i 'heard' B&M is crap" answer. Is the transpak good? Will it hurt a 200,000 mile tranny that still runs good? What exactly makes the transgo so much better if it is better?

 

doing a search sometimes will answer questions before you have to post them. asking nicely will get questions answered faster too i believe. i try to answer every question i can, even give my thoughts on some i can't and then there are the ones i can answer that i chose not to for one reason or another.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd

 

Nice tone of voice! I have used both the transpak and TransGo but with your attitude I don't think I will answer.

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84 Camaro ZZ4 with HOT cam. 1.88 60' (12.98 @ 105MPH E.T.)
Other Mods: You name it and I have probably changed it.

2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 5.9L 4*2

ASE Certified Auto Tech
LIVE AND DIE BY THE ALMIGHTY BOWTIE!

 

Don't believe every thing you read...just because a magazine uses something and says it's good doesn't mean that it's the only thing that works. Heres an idea...why don't you try them both and then tell us what you thought.

 

If you paid attention recently you would've found out that the "f-ing shift improver" is the same kit as the transpak!


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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!

 

Damn you guys, I didnt think you would take that so personally...its not like i was attacking anyone in particular. I just read through like 10 different posts and all of them stopped as soon as the question about the transpak was asked. I was being more of a smart *** then having attitude. Im sorry i offended you guys. I really wasnt meaning to sound like a jerk...but hey i guess when you post things at 2 in the morning sometimes your tone might sound a little screwed up. I have learned so much from these boards and everyones help that i could have never learned had it not been for this board. So sorry for making you guys think i dont appreciate ya
and just to clarify i said (f-ing) as in a "yes we all know it sucks" way...not to be rude

Well anyways...Tomp...the transpak really is the same kit just with a filter...god thats disgusting!!! Do you know if the transgo kit comes with a filter? Gosh, i wish the transgo wasnt so much more. Oh well, i guess its just the transgo and new mount...no tranny cooler for me yet

Sorry camaromike for offending you too...i would really appreciate your answer though.

 

filters are only a few dollars

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd

 

The Transpak is very limited as far as components and tuneability. The Transpak is essentially just enough to make your tranny shift harder with no other tuning advantages. The TransGo kit is a masterpiece. It incorporates VERY HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS that allow you to custom tailor your transmission to your driving needs. There is even an option for stick shift operation which gives you full manual control with engine braking. I have a TCI fully manual competition tranny right now and was dissapointed to find out after installing it that there is no engine braking unless you are in fourth. That killed my autocrossing days. Should have built another tranny with the TransGo stick shift option. The TransGo kit even has a video for installation, how much easier does it get. BTW the B&M Transpak I installed shelled my 84 tranny with 84K in about 3 months. Never had a problem with the TransGo I just wanted full throttle fourth gear upshifting and did not want to dig into my tranny again so TCI was the way to go. Hope this helps.

BTW cool and calm questions go a long way around here.

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84 Camaro ZZ4 with HOT cam. 1.88 60' (12.98 @ 105MPH E.T.)
Other Mods: You name it and I have probably changed it.

2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 5.9L 4*2

ASE Certified Auto Tech
LIVE AND DIE BY THE ALMIGHTY BOWTIE!

 

Thanks for all the info camaromike and others. I do know that cool, calm questions go a long way around here...as i usually do ask cool calm questions...but 2 oclock in the morning, and being in a smart *** mood, i made a mistake...so thats why i apoligized...hope you guys accept that and dont hold it against me...cause that would not be cool

 

Just one added note: A few of us object to the G-dammit and feel if you need to blame someone or something blame the beaver, The beaver damned it so it's not god's fault! Place blame where it is due please

 

well, to ANSWER your question, i know a fella who has been rebuilding tranny's of all sorts for 25 YEARS... this guy has used every product on the market on 700r4's becuase he has rebuilt 2500 of them!!!!! He will only use the transgo shift kits on them. he has said that the b&m kits are just not what the transgo kits are.

About the mileage question, i am not sure about that- of course your throwing money into something that might break soon, but i am sure it would work for a little while. seems how i want to do this on my tranny also, i wouldn't mind knowing the answer...

Steve

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86 Firebird, LG4, t-tops, 2.73 open rear, SLP 3 inch cat back exhaust, catco cat.

Current Plans: 342 posi disk 10 bolt rear, coming in late december, in february or april, level 10 tranny, new convertor, june- lowering springs, possibly torq thrust II chrome wheels, and new 245 stickies up front, 255's out back, the cowl hood will be installed and painted, new cold air induction, mid summer, hoping to have enough money to scrape together a 350 hp 350... gonna keep things fairly mild.

My Webpage- Battle of the birds, My own Thirdgen Page, still under construction, http://www.geocities.com/soares711/index.htm

88 Firebird Formula- deseased 2/9/99- 305 TPI, SLP 3 inch exhaust, SLP Intake runners, SLP cam, 3.45 BW disc brake posi, WS6, NOS, and all that good stuff, 13.8 on the motor, 12.89 on NOS and slicks! Hit by what else!?!? a FORD EXPLORER!!!!!!

 

Why doesn't someone put the directions for both kits in a post so we can compare/contrast the B&M vs TransGo installations and modifications??? No legal mumbo-jumbo, either...

 

I have a B&M Transpak in my car. If I could do it all over again I would have bought the TransGo kit. The B&M kit is a joke. Needless to say ... I wouldn't recommend it. B&M is good for the auxiliary components ... Aux filters, Aux Coolers, etc. But, I would never buy an off the shelf shift kit, transmission, or TC from B&M. If you want good parts then you have to pay.

Tim

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TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.244 @ 112.51mph (1.778 60' / 7.819@88.32mph in the 1/8)
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels.
Gunning for NA 11's with bigger cam, bigger stall, and bigger exhaust.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

I have installed different levels of Trans-go shift kits in both Fords and Chevys, and they are very complete kits.

They do a more thorough job in the right way of modifing the trans. They change springs, clutches, and even drill or block off passages accordingly. From what I have heard, B & M does not do this complete of a shift kit. Sorry, I have had no experience with them, but have had good luck with the Trans-go....

If you have any questions about them... Definitely ask and we will try to help out as best as possible....

And sometimes it is better to spend a little more money on better parts initially then to spend it a second time on inferior parts....

Just my opnion...

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Sportsman II 72 CC heads, Pete Jackson gear drive, Performance Resources chip, Edelbrock 1 5/8" headers and Edelbrock cat back exhaust, hi-flow cats, Trans-go stage 3 shift kit, Vigilante 9.5" 2800 stall convertor, SLP cold air induction, SLP roller camshaft, 24lb ADS injectors, AFPR, 3.45 rear end gears, and other goodies...


raven.com

 

this may not be the answer you are looking for but i will add my .02 as well. i haven't bought a shift kit yet, although i really want to, so i have done a good amount of research and question asking about the two, and this just about sums it up.

1. B&M kits will make you shifts harder but start to wear out parts on you tranny as you shift....reducing its life.

2. TransGo comes with many more parts (as has been established above) and is a much more complete kit. it actually replaces the most common parts on you transmission that wear out and will eventually need rebuilding. so, it not only operats your transmission better, but also extends its life.

that is what i found from my research and have set my mind on the transGo...just haven't bought it yet...

just my interesting .02

 

The man that redid my tranny gave ole' branz some schooling on why i shouldn't use a b&m shift kit. According to him the B&M Kits that he installed were, as stated incomplete and always returned back to his shop. Which made him look bad. The transgo kits are more complete and saved him trouble with angry customers and a bad reputation, and also with replaced parts that are screwed to begin with. Since i got the TranGo kit, welp lemme just say....I like it around town to say the most.

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Well thanks for all the info you guys...contrary to the original replys, i really do appreciate all of your help...i went ahead and ordered my new transgo kit today, along with a new poly trans mount (mines broken up and i cant stand that sound everytime i take off hard). Just one last question...anything good or bad to say about that b&m trick shift fluid? Weve established their kits suck, but how about their fluid?

 

let us know how you like it once you get it in your car, and how hard the install was if you did it yourself....and sorry, don't know anything about thier fluid....lata

[This message has been edited by SAEspinz80 (edited January 10, 2001).]

 

The fluid's supposed to be the same as Ford trans fluid... Ford is supposed to use poor clutch material, and their fluid makes their clutches last longer.

I put it in with my Shift Kit a while ago, but stopped using it because of cost. I didn't notice much of an un-improvement, if any.


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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!

 

Watch the language man. I know that you are probally pretty upset but lets keep it decent. Keep up the speed......

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Love you Camaro, love your wife/girlfriend, BUT ALWAYS PUT GOD FIRST!!!

1991 LO3 305 RS Camaro w/Headman headers and custom dual exaust.

 

Camaro man...do me a favor...read the first 5 posts.

 

I am also interested in improving my transmission. I would like the stock soft shifts I have now, for around town. But would like harder shifts at higher RPM's. Is this possible with the TransGo kit?? Thanks