In the near future I will be getting a Transgo #700 Shift kit installed with a Corvette servo. Will this help eliminate that slop between 2nd and 3rd. Someone mentioned that it would be good for my tranny. How so? I would think that if it makes it shift harder, it would be harder on the tranny itself and the rear end.I don't know much about trannies but I know that alot of people swear by them.What's good for other guys is good enough for me. I just want to know more about them before I do it.

 

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 kits 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.

 

I agree with transfixleo on this one, except I add the Trans-Go 1-2 accumulator setup along with the Performance Shift Kit to give a smoother 1-2 part throttle shift, while keeping the 1-2 WOT firm. I hope this helps.

 

So the Transgo PN#700 is the right application for my tranny, is what you're saying. I am not looking for a tire shredding demon, just firmer and quicker shifts, especially at WOT. The tranny shifts smooth during normal driving conditions, but if I mat it, it is slower to shift. Your explaination seems reasonable( I don't quite get all the technical jargon, though), but I understand the ideas. Thanks for your info.

 

if you have a sloppy shift you shouldnt be putting in a shift kit

 

I had a slipping 700R and I decided to rebuild. I aquired a rebuild kit and shift kit(Transgo) along with a corvette servo from an 88. I had the bands installed by the local tranny shop and the valve body work and mods myself. Now the shifts are much firmer. I have a chirp on the 1-2 shift (under full throttle)and a tight shift on the 2-3, not enough to chirp. I was told that was the ideal thing to do with an 88 700R4, being that the 700R has so many issues.

 

don't also forget it also depends on what gears you have in the rear.and yes i do love to chirp the tires.my th 350 trans had a dash 2 kit and I had 2:41 gears in the rear.(we had a good laugh when i took the rear end cover off).I went from 2:41 to 3:90.I used to chirp 1st at 70.no I can blow the tire off the rim.

 

No it's not sloppy shifting, I probably used the wrong word to describe how it shifts. The tranny is fine, I just don't like the feel at WOT. I expect more quicker, firmer shifts for the type of car it is. It has heavy duty everything(WS6,3:27 Gears, Posi...etc), except the tranny.

 

put it this way I installed the same shift kit on two 2001 camaros.the first one was so burnt that it had to be rebuilt.so we built it and did the kit at the same time.car shifted very nice.the second one wasn't bad but I found the accumulator piston was cracked.that one put a glaze on the clutches and the 2-4 band.he just wanted the kit !so I put it in,the shifts were 100% better but not as good as the other.also the newer ta's and camaros for some reason they changed this piston from aluminum to plastic ,maybe to save money but in both cases with these cars those pistons were cracked!! btw these shift kits were from transgo.

 

KDoggsPimpJetta,
I have to disagree with you. As long as each gear HOLDS once the shift is complete, regardless of shift quality DURING the shift and if the oil/pan are "OK" than this is a good decision. I have followed this rule for years, no make that decades and it works every time.

 

were getting of the beaten path.I had no problem with the shifts on this car ,and i also think that the busted plastic accumulator piston didn't help his trans at all.but if you drive the car like that long enough the band will start to burn.not uncommon in 700sand 4L60s.of course the shift will hold once it's complete but if your slipping it might take a while! we ve been doin it for years too