Transgo shift kit
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
That is the beauty of it, it is all better than stock, and customizable to each individuals likings.
I found this on transgo site as well, probably take for ever to download but might help make decisions.
Install Assistance Videos
I found this on transgo site as well, probably take for ever to download but might help make decisions.
Install Assistance Videos
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
That was the route I went. Brian gave me full credit when I upgraded. Sight unseen. Thankfully so because the VB was sitting in burnt fluid and towing for over 100 miles AFTER my diode locked up. The mechanic thought I was joking when I said I would get credit for that. I saw the condition of the pan and it wasn't pretty. Shavings and debris.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
The $65 TransGo is an easy mod, and you'll learn how your tranny works. I put in the Tugger, and there are some differences between the two. I like my Tugger a lot. Frankly, the BTS VB is just the TransGo kit springs in a stock VB, with the plate pre-drilled. Look at it this way -- you can pay $235 for just the mod'ed Accumulator VB (with TransGo parts) OR you can by the $65 kit, mod more than just the Accumulator VB. $65 is nothing -- if mine goes, I'll get a BTS too. I spent $100 on the Tugger and don't regret it one bit. What's a $100 when you're spending ~$4500??
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Pop
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, Ia
This is the first I am really reading and learning about a Trans mod, sorry if this is a dumb question. Are these mods going to make the truck shift harder into each gear? I know that drilling holes in the VB will do that, but I thought most everyone wanted to make there truck shift smoother? Will the hard shifting make it faster or better?
Keven, huntke, what is it exactly that you are looking to get out of your truck from this mod?
Keven, huntke, what is it exactly that you are looking to get out of your truck from this mod?
I tow quite a bit so I am looking to extend the life of the tranny as much as possible. It's been rebuilt once already but that was before I was a member here so it was done to original specs
. I don't like the long drawn out shifts, it feels like it takes forever to go into gear, and reverse is just as bad.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
Likes: 27
From: Hampton, Maryland.
Hey, I'm not saying that I agreed with MB on that issue. It was an interesting discussion though. If my tranny goes, I will be calling Brian for sure. I like the way the VB is working on my truck for sure. BTW, I have decided that you are the official BTS pimp of FTE.
Wow lot's of replies to this....thanks guys this is really helping to clear things up for me.
I tow quite a bit so I am looking to extend the life of the tranny as much as possible. It's been rebuilt once already but that was before I was a member here so it was done to original specs. I don't like the long drawn out shifts, it feels like it takes forever to go into gear, and reverse is just as bad.
I tow quite a bit so I am looking to extend the life of the tranny as much as possible. It's been rebuilt once already but that was before I was a member here so it was done to original specs
. I don't like the long drawn out shifts, it feels like it takes forever to go into gear, and reverse is just as bad.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: PLANT CITY, FL
Hey, I'm not saying that I agreed with MB on that issue. It was an interesting discussion though. If my tranny goes, I will be calling Brian for sure. I like the way the VB is working on my truck for sure. BTW, I have decided that you are the official BTS pimp of FTE
Thats funny right there, He do be loving his BTS tranny
Thats funny right there, He do be loving his BTS tranny
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
The holes for the shifts MUST be drilled for our engine application. The kit is generic for the 4R100 against the V6, V8, or V10/PSD. The V10/PSD has a different range of hole size for each shift than the V6 or V8. See here:
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
I agree the should be drilled out if you are using a stock TC. It also shows that if you have a low stall converter to start out with hole sizes for a 6 cyl. That being said, we all know you can always pull and drill to larger, or firmer shifts. Just can't go backwards. Out of curiousity I checked each hole size on mine, sure enough they were all the same size but I am pretty sure they were larger than .053. Think it was more like .06X or .07X. Dont really remember, but I figured I would try it as is and see. I personally like it. The hole size is just acting like a needle valve. You can still build up to the same pressure for clutch holding it is just at a slower rate.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
I am thinking of doing adding a Transgo kit to my trany also. I just bought this truck. I called Brian at BTS and talked to him. He recommended the Transgo $65.00 HD2 kit. My trany has 151,000 miles on it and hasn't been rebuilt. I want it to last as long as possible. I hope adding this kit doesn't cause me any problems because the trany works now but I want firmer shifts, which I would think would help prolong the life of the trany. Brian also told me to make sure I use Dexron III/Mercon transmission fluid only. He said do not put synthetic in my old trany or I will have problems. I am still a little confused on what the tugger kit includeds or does to the trany that the HD2 doesn't. Can anyone clear this up by compairing the two kits?
I put synthetic in mine. Of course I overflushed it cause I'm ****. So far so good but who knows? I'm sure Brian has some experience with this. BTW, I installed the HD2 kit.
Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
I installed the BTS-VB my self. I don't know if the transgo is better. I did what I did and I am happy with what I have. I was not very happy with the thread with MB downing BTS. I don't think they are that bad. I only know what I did. And what I did is because of what I read on here, FTE. I know there are different things out there that does a good job on our trucks. I followed what most said on here to get where I am. Please don't make me second guess myself. 
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
LOL... Nice one Mike...
Rick, I don't think there's anything WRONG with the BTS VB at all. You're paying a guy with a tons of 4R100 experience to set your accumulator VB up. $235 well spent any day of the week. BUT, I wanted to give this a shot myself, having fooled with shift kits in the past. It's true that I completely swagged a guess on the hole sizes, but I'm happy with it!! And I spent less than half for it.
I vaguely remember monsterbaby's comments, and I think he had good points, although maybe not worded in a non-confrontational way. He is who he is. All I know is because of that, I learned a lot about my tranny, and saved over $100 for essentially the same (actually more) mods. Just like anything else you do on your own the first time -- you never know if it's an easy or tough job. Heck, I just rebuilt a turbo and swapped it. Knowing what I know now, I could do one before lunch (tear it out, rebuild, and put back in). Same with the tranny -- if I ever have to mod another PSD, I'll do the same things I've done so far, only maybe in a slightly different order...
EDIT: Still not sure why Brian doesn't like full syn fluids in our trannys. I'm loving mine right now with Mobil1 in it.
Rick, I don't think there's anything WRONG with the BTS VB at all. You're paying a guy with a tons of 4R100 experience to set your accumulator VB up. $235 well spent any day of the week. BUT, I wanted to give this a shot myself, having fooled with shift kits in the past. It's true that I completely swagged a guess on the hole sizes, but I'm happy with it!! And I spent less than half for it.
I vaguely remember monsterbaby's comments, and I think he had good points, although maybe not worded in a non-confrontational way. He is who he is. All I know is because of that, I learned a lot about my tranny, and saved over $100 for essentially the same (actually more) mods. Just like anything else you do on your own the first time -- you never know if it's an easy or tough job. Heck, I just rebuilt a turbo and swapped it. Knowing what I know now, I could do one before lunch (tear it out, rebuild, and put back in). Same with the tranny -- if I ever have to mod another PSD, I'll do the same things I've done so far, only maybe in a slightly different order...
EDIT: Still not sure why Brian doesn't like full syn fluids in our trannys. I'm loving mine right now with Mobil1 in it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Somebody (Racer-X) raised the point on another forum about the TransGo kit. If you get a BTS VB, you know he has miked it out and everything is fitting. With the TransGo kit, you don't know what is within spec and what isn't. So, if you replace something in the VB and it is worn out, fine. But if the bore is also worn out, the kit will not work as good as it should. IOW, how do you know the piston you put in the VB isn't going into an oversized bore? If it is a new VB or a very low mileage one, fine. Otherwise, you might be taking a chance.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 24
From: Damon (South East Texas)
Kinda long but here goes:
I probably should have re phrased my previous post. I do know what was/is in the tugger kit. When I rebuilt mine I installed all the parts of this kit. And I must say that I am very happy with the results. The main one that I feel should be done to really help things out is the booster valve that goes in the pump. This one will up the pressure on all clutch packs. Not just forward gears in Drive. Down side is you have to remove the tranny to do it. You can change the modulator valve in the accumulator body, but you still are only addressing forward gears when in Drive. I just got off the phone with transgo, the shift kit, SK E4OD, doesn't have the calibration plate, or the extra parts for the main valve body. The Tugger Kit does have a calibration plate. The tech support guy said he wouldn't recommend the shift kit, at the time it came out it was good for the E4OD, but now that the Tugger is available, that is what he recommends. Calibration plate aside, as posted earlier, it increases pressure when using manual 1 and 2 and reverse clutch.
I probably should have re phrased my previous post. I do know what was/is in the tugger kit. When I rebuilt mine I installed all the parts of this kit. And I must say that I am very happy with the results. The main one that I feel should be done to really help things out is the booster valve that goes in the pump. This one will up the pressure on all clutch packs. Not just forward gears in Drive. Down side is you have to remove the tranny to do it. You can change the modulator valve in the accumulator body, but you still are only addressing forward gears when in Drive. I just got off the phone with transgo, the shift kit, SK E4OD, doesn't have the calibration plate, or the extra parts for the main valve body. The Tugger Kit does have a calibration plate. The tech support guy said he wouldn't recommend the shift kit, at the time it came out it was good for the E4OD, but now that the Tugger is available, that is what he recommends. Calibration plate aside, as posted earlier, it increases pressure when using manual 1 and 2 and reverse clutch.