87 Trans Am TPI

How good does this stuff work, its the blue B&M fluid thats bout 4 or 5 bucks a quart, it says it increases pressure for quicker shifts, i have a trans-go shift kit, wondered if this stuff would help? Also, how well does it protect the tranny? Thanks alot!

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1987 Trans Am
5.0L TPI
Automatic, all pwr. op
Digital Dash
Flowmaster Muffler
gutted cat
removed MAF screens
TransGo Shift Kit

Pro Built Automatics

Trans-Go does not recommend this type of fluid & neither do I. It does not lubricate well from what I have seen. It is a modified type "F" fluid, which is designed for asbestos type of clutches. These clutches have not been made since 1977, and were mainly used by Ford. All clutches since are of a paper type which require Dexron 3 or higher equivilant. If you want the best synthetic fluid available, then I would use Amsoil or Redline. These are the two best synthetics on the market right now from all the reports I have received over the past several years.
Hope This Helps!!!

Mark W. Winning

Thats not really what makes the B&M stuff so bad. I have seen new transmissions pulled down after running the B&M fluid. The fluid works so well because it is abrasive. It helps the clutches grab. The downside is it wears the transmission quickly.

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1992 Pontiac Firebird 350/Six Speed
1987 Toyota Pickup 383/500+ HP

transfixleo

Do not use any 'special' oils meant to firm up the shifts. That is the job of the trannies calibration. I like synthetics where high load/heat is a problem and am just as happy to use the stuff you can get at AutoZone (normally Mobil 1) then a higher priced name product. The problem with Type F oils were they couldn't handle heat. Ask anyone who ever took a munge bath from that oil. It was very common to have to soak those parts in acid to clean that stuff off. After '77 when Ford stopped using that stuff, that problem pretty much went away.

[This message has been edited by transfixleo (edited April 25, 2001).]

Pro Built Automatics

According to Borg Warner & Raybestos, the ford type "F" has better static holding power. Such as neutral to drive (forward) or neutral to reverse. In dynamic situations the it has 16-20% less holding power than dexron 3. The reason it feels like you are getting a firmer shift is the band/clutches take hold at the very end of the shift, thereby causing a hard/bang shift). On teardowns that I have seen that have used type "F" fluid, I have noticed a higher rate of wear on just about everything.
Glad Too Help!!!

Kingtal0n

listen to Dana (pro built) He is the All-Knowing Tranny Doctor. Seriouselly, He's been doing it for countless years (well i cant count that high... can you?)

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Dextron has friction modifiers in it for the clutches and bands to smooth out the shift, like Dana is saying. The same thing used in posi additive to help the posi clutches slip more smoothly (when they do slip). B&M simply leaves this out of their fluid (I thought it was called "Trick Shift" - what do Summit & I know?).

See https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/002681.html for my input on an alternative to B&M or Type F. For street driven cars, use AMSOIL synthetic ATF (or Redline, again like Dana says). For race cars, give the AMSOIL Super Shift a try: It's been used in a bunch of sponsored race cars, monster trucks, etc., for several years. It doesn't have the friction modifiers for that firm shift, but the base lube is synthetic to protect the works from wear and heat.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlock header mufflers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere w/open diff & slipping tranny.

TomP

I ran the Trick Shift in my 2nd trans... even though what "blew" had nothing to do with fluid (torque convertor snout snapped off, fell inside fluid pump, and restricted fluid flow), I sort of blame the Trick Shift. Now I just run with regular 'ol Dexron fluid.

Besides, mixing the blue Trick Shift with the Red Dexron makes your fluid look burnt; not too helpful for trans diagnosis!


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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!

formul8!!

B&M Trick Shift is Ford Fluid. I used to work for Motive Gear in Chicago a few years back. I put this crap in my '89 Formula 350 before I worked there. Trans blew at 80,000 miles after countless passes from 25,000 miles on. The tranny has not been torn down yet, so no info on wear. This stuff is garbage and should stick with either the factory recommendation or go Redline or Mobil 1 Synthetic.