mckenzie

Hello, a trans man at the dealership is going to rebuild the 700r4 out of my 86 iroc. i'm just wondering if i should have him put a shift kit in...like a b&m... any ideas would be great. He's leaning toward the "no" side. thanks for your help. tom

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86 iroc 305tpi auto. mild cam

Apeiron

mckenzie

any other comments on a b&m shift kit? thanks again, tom

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86 iroc 305tpi auto. mild cam

transfixleo

First off, what a Shift Kit ISN'T. Most people associate the term Shift Kit with tire chirping shifts. Actually Shift Kit is a trademarked name coined and owned by TransGo Since 1959. The purpose of a Shift Kit is to correct the weak points of a given transmission. In most cases when someone complains of soft or slipping shifts it isn't BECAUSE if these complaints that they fail but rather there is a malfunction that leads TO the burned/glazed frictions and the poor shift quality is the result. There are many kit's out there designed to give you firm shifts but if that isn't the cause of your problem it isn't fixing them.
For example, in a 700 you have problems with delayed pressure rise which allows the clutches or band to slip until the pressure catches up. If you don't fix this, it doesn't matter if you put the Vette servo in or the .500 TV boost valve or not. They will only mask the problem. This problem is there whether it is a grocery getter or 5.7 IROC. The TransGo Shift Kit corrects this and other problems that these have. This kit however isn't available to the general public because of the technical knowledge required.

They do however have something that I think most of you are after though. It is called a Reprogramming Kit or also a High Performance Shift Kit. It has the basic fixes that the Shift Kit has and it has features to give the tranny HD/HP capabilities such as greater manual control and higher horsepower and torque handling ability. The 700 kit also includes some pieces for when the unit is O/H'ed to give it higher RPM capability (at higher RPM, residual oil can drag the 3-4 clutches on even when they should be off). This kit (the commercial version) has a video to aid in the installation too.

JoelOl75

The only 2 worthwhile pieces they give you in the B&M kit is new valve body gaskets, a boost valve and a 1/8" drill bit packeged in a one big *** box to make it look good for the $30 or so odd $ you will waste on it.

Stay away from B&M

Big454blockchevy

I agree with all the above. Sadly B&M is junk nowadays, it wasn't always like that but it is true today.

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383 86 Camaro Z28 ---1/4 mile et>13.65@103mph,,
10.5:1compression Dart Pro 1 Aluminum heads 215cc>2.05/1.60 valves,400 steel crank,cam specs:224/234 at 050 525/525 lift,3500 stall converter,shift kit,4.10 gears,770 Holley Avenger,Victor Jr. Intake,true dual exh,Hooker headers with 40 series Flowmasters,MSD Coil and Module.ALSO SECOND GEN Z28---mods:454 BBC,.546 max lift(doug herbert cam ) 750 Holley vac sec. ,Edelbrock Performer manifold,Holley electric fuel pump,Hooker headers,Flowmaster mufflers,beefed up 700r4 tranny, 3.90 gears, powertrax unit, B&M console shifter.

mckenzie

thanks for all your help. talk to the trans guy. he said not to use the B&M shift improver kit. but he installed a 700r4 jr kit. i thing it keeps the tv valve from sticking. thanks again, tom

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86 iroc 305tpi auto. mild cam

transfixleo

The Jr. Shift Kit from TransGo is a top quality kit. It is not designed to give hard shifts or override the manual limits but it does take care of the primary causes of complaints and failures in 700's, including the sticky TV valve caused failures.

I use this kit in 'regular' rebuilds unless it is the early trans that requires all of the timing corrections. The later ones were allot better in that regard so they came out with this simpler, less expensive kit.

I have one in my '88 Camaro even though I could have gone for all of the bells and whistles, I knew what my tranny needed and that was it, along with a switch to the V-8 Servo. Many later 700's use the '554' Servo which shouldn't be used in ANYTHING. Ask about this, if yours has it, have him put in the '553' (V-8) Servo.

[This message has been edited by transfixleo (edited September 20, 2001).]

Justins86bird

I've had my B&M kit installed for maybe 5 years now. Set on strip mode. Have had no problems what so ever. Sorry to see so many did. For the $25 I paid for it, I like it just fine. And I have the weaker 700r4 model with 170,000 miles.

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-Justin-

T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 5/30/01)

There can be only one!!

Pro Built Automatics

When you see a B&M work somewhat correctly, it is "not by design", but almost by accident. If you happen to have the "right 2nd gear accumulator valve, the right 2nd gear servo, matched to the vehicle, rear end gear ratio" etc., then the transmission might feel like it is supposed to on the light throttle 1-2 shift. This is only the begnning.

Pro Built Automatics

When you see a B&M work somewhat correctly, it is "not by design", but almost by accident. If you happen to have the "right 2nd gear accumulator valve, the right 2nd gear servo, matched to the vehicle, rear end gear ratio" etc., then the transmission might feel like it is supposed to on the light throttle 1-2 shift. This is only the begnning.