I am looking at the B&M Transpak for my 700r4 & I would like to add a Vette Servo to the transmission at the same time to gain a more profound difference. Where can I get the parts? a junkyard? or better to buy them new? Thanks for the assistance.

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Flowmaster 80 series muffler, K&N Open Element cleaner, Subframe Connectors + a lead pedal foot

 

First thing stay away from B&M. I would install the Trans-Go Performance Shift kit along with the .500 main boost valve, .296 intermediate/reverse boost valve, along with the Corvette servo. You will get much better results using the Trans-Go kit & related parts. Total for everything above is $120.00. I carry all of the above in stock. If you want this or have questions call me at 800 7763288 Mon-Sat 10-6 PST.
Glad Too Help!!!

 

120 dollars gets me the trans-go kit, corvette servo, does it also get me the necessary O-rings?
This is the same guy, just at home, not work.

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91BanditII305TBI
K&N Filtercharger + X-Stream Lid
Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler
Subframe Connectors
Harwood Cowl Induction Scoop

 

Yes!

 

Stay away from B&M. Period. TransGo is the way to go but I don't just throw a .500 boost and Vette Servo at them. For most mild small blocks the .422 is fine or the .471 if you've worked the engine a little. I think the .500 is only neccessary in real HiPo applications. Same with the Vette servo. It will give a firmer 1-2 and 2-3 but then so will the Reprogramming Kit from TransGo. Unless you are specifically after a real firm shift or you have a slight flare on the 2-3 shift or a lot of power I wouldn't autromatically put it in.

I know this goes against the grain of what most people think you must have in a 700 and I welcome all feedback on this. I just thought that you guys should hear something different. Have any of you guys had your 700 turn itself into a 2 speed with no reverse before? Keep shooting for the hardest shift (especially the 1-2) you can get.

 

B4 my Firebird, I had a ford escort that I thought was a race car (don't laugh) I ruined it's tranny by shifting 1-2-D at about 5.5k rpm. I want to help preserve my current transmission, as I would like my money to go elsewhere for now. I hear that a shift kit will help me do that. I do not need the most Hi-Performance application, but I want it to run well. I have read that the kits w/o the servo can run, but not as well as w/ the servo. I am still learning here so any feedback is great.

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Flowmaster 80 series muffler, K&N Open Element cleaner, Subframe Connectors + a lead pedal foot

 

Forget the B&M transpak. i tried it a 1986 700R4 in my 1985 V8 S10 Blazer. It did improve the 1-2 shift a little, but did NOTHING for the 2-3 shift. Later, I installed the Corvette servo, throttle boost valve and pressure regulator spring. This cost about $60 and did wonders for my tranny. I should have done this first. I also installed the Corvette 3-4 upshift valve for improved top speed runs. If you go with the Vette servo, order a new o-ring for the cover.

Mike

 

Yes, I use the Corvette servo in all my heavy duty & street/strip build ups along with the Trans-Go Performance Shift kit. I watch the 2nd gear hole size closely. I alter between the .471 & the .500 main boost valve, depending upon application. In almost all applications I use the .296 intermediate/reverse boost valve. In every case I address the 2nd accumulator in the valve body, match it to the rear end gear ratio/type of torque converter, change spring tension as needed, & match the 1-2 accumulator setup to get the desired results I am after. Which is, in all cases is to have a nice 1-2 part throttle shift, along with the shift getting progressively firmer with more throttle opening. I am a firm believer in accumulated shifts. These are some of the things that Gil Younger at Trans-Go has helped me with over the years. By the way I have never had a part break (input drum/input shaft/sun shell/output shaft) in any 700R4 that I have built. This is not to say I have not had problems with 700R4's, I have, just not a parts breakage problem. This I thank Gil for, more than anything.
Hope This Helps!!!

 

I would like to thank everyone for their help on this subject, and for steering me away from B&M. I will be getting the car back today from the body shop, so I will be hard at work, modding it up . Pro Built Automatics, I will be in contact w/ you when I am ready for this upgrade, as you will be the ones getting my business. Thanks, again
Clinton

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Flowmaster 80 series muffler, K&N Open Element cleaner, Subframe Connectors + a lead pedal foot . See my baby @
http://oursportscars.homestead.com/home.html

 

Back in '87 I installed B&M's Shift Improver Kit. It caused my tranny to downshift into 3rd at top end (which it definitely did not do beforehand). I went round-n-round with B&M "engineers" who denied that this could actually happen. I ended up installing their "special" TV sleeve to "fix" the problem. That basically worked. They convinced me that they don't know what the hell they're doing.

I agree, stay away from B&M. I have learned since that TransGo is a much better outfit.

I have some questions, though. Though the kit I installed actually did improve the shifts, would there be any benefit to installing TransGo's kit "behind" B&M's? I'm afraid there may have been some irreversible mods I made. I remember enlarging a hole or two and omitting a check ball or two. Will those mods negatively impact the installation of the TransGo kit? Why not use the 'Vette servo in a mildly modded 350 IROC? Wouldn't such an engine be of even higher performance than a stock 'Vette? I don't remember anything about changing boost valves, just some springs here, and spacers there.

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'87 IROC 5.7l TPI - original owner!

 

You can reuse everything, but you might have to replace the valve body plate. The reason is, that B&M drills the 1-2 hole too large. Checkballs can be put back in. You can shrink the hole on the plate, but if you do not know how, then it is easier to replace it.
Glad Too Help!!!

 

True, you may have to replace the plate to make up for too big of holes. The only other area might be where B&M as you toss a spring ot two but the TransGo Kit will have everything you need.

I am not against ever using the Vette servo, I just don't do it across the board and prefer to tailor it to the application.

Hey Pro Built, I have been learning from 'Uncle' Gil for years too. I hear he is ready to step aside. Have you heard anything?

 

I was talking to Terry Hedrick at Precision Industries (a very good friend of Gil's) the other day and he said that Steve will most likely get the business. I asked why, considering that the tech guys there think they were going to buy in/inherit the business, since they do just about everything that Gil once did. He told me that Steve's mom would make sure he got the business, if something happened to Gil. This is about all I can say here without getting into problems, since I work with some of these people. If it were not for Gil I would have never gotten into the transmission business. One day back in 1977, someone told me there was this person who could answer the questions that I had been asking about automatic transmissions for years. See in 1970 I rode in some of my friends 440 Cuda's, 440 Challengers, etc, these cars had B&M or Art Carr transmissions. The problem was they shifted very hard at light throttle and some what soft at WOT,(this was backwards to me) and they were lasting only a few months before they had to take them back. I not knowing anything about transmissions knew this was not right. But it was years before any one could answer my questions, then a friend (he was taking a trans building course in college) told me of Gil Younger of Trans Co., and gave me his phone number. I called him and in an hour and half I knew what I was going to do the rest of my life. It will be sad to see him go, because he has forgotten more about transmsions than I will ever know. He is arrogant, but very knowledgeable and can be very helpful if he wants too.
Hope This Helps!!!

 

You could get a new seperator plate from http://www.gmpartsdirect.com

The part number is 8667700

This sep plate is stamped "BX" so check yours to be sure it's correct. You could see the mark between the aux valvebody and accumulator housing w/o removing anything.

 

Thannks for the info. I have met Steve and talked to him and I have talked to Gil and it really isn't the same thing. I suspect that is why they went their seperate ways in the first place. I would hope that Steve wold understand the differences. I, too am in contact with these people but I haven't brought the subject up, if you know what I mean. If I sometimes come off like I am a salesman for them it is because Gil has EARNED my loyalty. I have also been left with my jaw hanging open after taling to GIl,and talked on and on to people about trannies and theories W/O realizing most people aren't as interested! I will say this though, my wife knows all about Gil and probably knows more than a lot of rebuilders out there because of this!

 

not to break up y'alls convo...ithink my tranny already has a shift kit of some sort in it...shift pretty firmly and all...i just want the part to make it shift into OD at WOT....what is it and how do i change it???

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Scott Downs
85 Trans Am
305 tpi/700r4
3.73 w/255/60R15
plain firebird nose(for better engine cooling)
T-Tops, pwr everything
been to about 140mph

 

Don't you use a small ball peen hammer (or ball bearing) and carefully smash the edges in a little? I could handle this.



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'87 IROC 5.7l TPI - original owner!

 

Yes but with the holes B&M uses it may dostort the plate allot in the process. That method is great when you are in the ballpark on hole sizes. Whew, you dusted off an old post!

 

Yeah, I like to search the archives before posting an already answered question...

Are you saying that after drilling per their instructions, the holes are probably too large to restore this way?



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'87 IROC 5.7l TPI - original owner!

 

Yes there is a real good chance of that.

 

Does the hole -need- to be shrunk? Why did B&M have us drill it, anyway? Was it to get more flow to the 1-2 shift, which really winds up giving us less pressure?

Oh and Never, Ever, buy the B&M TransPak, unless you want to literally waste money. Know what's in the TransPak? It's B&M's Shift Improver Kit- with a Filter! That the only difference... at least, for our 700r4's.


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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
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