Now that I have a few goodies on the old truck, I've noticed that the tranny hesitates shifting into 2nd only at WOT and not quite as hard as I'd like from 2nd to 3rd. Part throttle it does just fine, positive, but smooth. I've got quite a bit of experience with installing shift kits and was wondering if I should go with the Transgo Shift Kit or pony up the dough and grab a BTS, John Wood, etc. IIRC, Jody can tune for either. My past experiences with shift kits and modding the stock VB are good ones. Do any of have experience using one then the other?

 

I don't have direct experience with what you're looking for, but the end result is the same. The accumulator VB controls the shift duration, firmness, and how much pressure is holding the clutches in. I bought the TransGo Tugger for two reasons -- wanted to do it myself, and it actually mods more than just the accumulator VB. It mods the main VB, the pump, and the TC lockup. Downside is that you have to pull the tranny to get to the pump & TC mods. You can do the VBs from underneath like you've done before. The upside to buying one from BTS or JW is that if you tell them what you're looking for, they'll set it up that way and you're done. Tell Jody what you have and it's matched very well. That said, I don't see why I couldn't tell Jody I have my VB set up for very firm shifts and pump is mod'ed for higher flow, etc... My $0.02...

 

I guess that would be the only drawback that I can recall about about shift kits; its either all or nothing. Street/Strip, firm all the time or Race, harsh, which would stap you head clean off going through a McDonalds drive through. Rediculous, but performed like a champ.
It would be worth it if the VB guys can tune shifts to part and WOT. I would gladly pony up the extra $.

 

Im interested in how this thread will turn out. Mines doing the same thing. Hesitating when at WOT for a few seconds before it shifts gears.

 

I am pretty interested, too. Like you guys know I have been talking to Dennis, Jody, John, and Brian's Tech guys a lot lately. I like how you can call JW and talk straight to him vs a tech guy at Brian's, but that is just me. The only think I dont like about the JWVB is John doesnt sell them direct you have to go to ITP. How does the VB match the tuning??? Sorry for the hijack and I cant wait to hear the answers on your thread TN!

 

Well, IIRC, the larger the holes you drill in the spaces called for by the instructions, the firmer the shifts. You can adjust them, but it requires you to either know what size gives you the neck snap or streetable firm shift (which the tranny guys will know!!), or you go smaller at first, then pull the VB again to go bigger (not cool). I'm going for neck snap myself, so it's not an issue. The hesitation I'm pretty sure is cured with the VBs mentioned above and by the TransGo (delay is specifically mentioned in the TransGo instructions). I got my TransGo Tugger for a hair over $100. I believe the VBs are about $230 after you send them your core. You can get a cheaper TransGo kit that just has parts for the VB, but I wanted the full kit (TC mods, pump mods, and VB mods).

The reason for the tunes to match the VB is that Jody can call for different shift points and that if he knows you have a mod'ed VB. Makes a difference for sure!! I know mine shifts different with his tunes than stock, but not as neck breaking as I'd like. It's actually a little strange -- sometimes I get a good firm shift, sometimes it's more mushy. The VB/kit will fix that...

 

No worries. You're still on topic as far as I'm concerned.
Exactly. I had a template for 700r4s, th350's and th400's at one point, but that was years ago.

 

This is what I had in mind. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
I've yet to call Dennis or Brian yet. I just wanted to throw out a feeler to see if anyone has moved from one to the other.

 

hhmmm... Seems a bit steep. I got my full Tugger kit here:
http://www.oregonperformancetransmission.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=OPTI&Product_C ode=TRG-4R100-HD2

EDIT: I got screwed. Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TRANSGO-E4OD-4R100-FORD-SUPER-DUTY-TRANNY-SHIFT-KIT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34208QQihZ009QQitem Z4578861023QQtcZphoto

Oh, wait -- it's a different kit. Maybe the one you're looking for...

 

The shift kit in the second link is probably the one without the TC Lock up Kit. When I ordered my trans rebuild parts, I purchased the Reprogramming Kit and the Lock up Kit separately. The Tugger 2 kit is the combo of the 2 kits. The shop probably sold them separately for those wanting to install a kit with the trans still in the truck. The only thing I did differently from the kit, was to install a .427 accumulator instead of just adding the spring to the stock accumulator piston. Mine currently has overly aggressive shifting with the DP tunes and have contacted Dennis @ ITP about reburning the chip. Doesn't seem to be a problem for him. $75+ shipping to reburn my programs for the revised shifting.

 

Hmm, when I called BTS, I talked to Brian, and even got him going on a rant about OEM trannys haha Anyways, with a BTS valvebody, P/I torque converter and different pump spring, 6.0 tranny cooler, and dp tuner, I have experienced excellent shifting, and very low tranny temps, which should give it a long life. Most of the time I cant even get the tranny needle to come up to 100. Running around in 3rd will bring it upto 120. I dont even think Ive hit 140 since the build. Not to mention a noticable "hold the #### on" at WOT and 120R.

 

The Tugger kit includes a different pump spring, and the VB mods are accomplished by the rest. The only thing I don't have is the PI TC. For now, it should do what I'm looking for. The upgraded cooler will go in mine during the spring...

 

Is the 6oh cooler necessary or just a feel good part? Pretty sure my truck is more of a street/strip application than a hauler. I rarely see tranny temps reach 150.

Muekster - You bring up a good point. I have been a little concerned that the tunes I already have will send the shift characteristics way to the right of comfortably firm, aka neck breaking. I'm not going to send my tuner back to Jody until I get a couple more reasons to send it back (i.e. BO, injectors, etc.)

 

I didnt have a gauge before I had my cooler. So I cant give you that comparison, but on our early 99, it gets warmer then mine in most conditions. I dont like giving that as a comparison, because its a different truck. If you rarely see 150, Id say your good IMO