shift kits,what yall think about them

[hilljob26]

i am debating putting a shift kit in my 72 chevy 1/2 ton 4x4.it has 35"s w/ stock 3.08 gears ,but i will be updating to 3.73 soon,but i dont plan on towing a lot with this,but i will pull a trailor ocasionally,what do you guys think about shift kits,and which ones do you have,what are the ups and what are the downs to them,please go into detail,and also which one do you think is the best for me......mike

[CoolRide]

We, (Mrs.C. and I ) have put in 3 or 4 shift kits in turbo 350s, all the trannys were out. They are very easy to install and I think they are by far worth the time and few bucks. I have used the "B&M Transpack" for $53.00
out of summit racing with no problems.

Our local police department started having these installed in their cars, and noticed a big improvment on the shifts and on how much longer the trannys lasted. (My pops was a cop at the time and talked the chief into it)

Anyway, cheap, easy to install, and makes the trans last longer. It will "bang" into gear and you will notice it, if that bothers you may want to find another option. Just my opine.


CoolRide

[hgs_notes]

If you don't have, no matter how you drive, you should get one. The soft shifts of a standard tranny increases the heat in tranny which decreases the longevity of it. It firms the shifts, but if you're not stomping on the gas, its not a neck breaker. Just another 2 cents.

HG

[DangerBoy]

I installed one on my TH-350 and love it. I used the B&M transpack also and did the street/strip setting and it works awesome.

[Fred T]

What the kit does is reduce the amount of slippage allowed when the tranny shifts gears. One of those things that GM did to give a smoother ride, but the cost is shortened tranny life due to the allowed slippage. If you want to extend the life of a tranny, put one in.

[72MARIO]

There are great in anything but a 700R they cause to much stress on the internals on the 700R.

Dads 400 had a stage 2 in his work truck for 21 years it worked great.

[hilljob26]

so do you guys think i should go with the b&m or ive also heard of a transgo....mike

[70c10]

Another vote for a shift kit!

[ac102nv]

Shift kit....don't leave home without it!
I've used B&M in the past with great success, but since I've used a Transgo I won't buy anything else. Is that worth 2.5 cents.......

[gentry69]

i would definatly get a shift kit itll make a world of difference. ive always used the b&m i havent had any probs knock on wood

[Stocker]

I used B & M, I think it was called a Shift Improver Kit or something like that, in my TH350 many, many years ago. It was inexpensive, easy to install, and I like the quick, firm shifts. No opinion about Transgo....

[bskylerj]

Do these kits work well with a 3500 stall convertor and high horsepower?

[edmonton72]

So this is something i should've done when I got my tranny taken in to get refreshed. The tranny place might have down it but not to sure. Is it pretty easy to do when the tranny is in the truck or should I do it out of the truck. Also does increase performance and mileage
=.

[gentry69]

its not that hard to install with the trans still in the truck just drop the pan u might get trans fluid drippin on your head but thats about it as for improvent yes it helps i dont no if its gonna help the milage any and with alot a horsepower u will definatly feel the difference itll throw yor head back when u shift outa first into second

[muddpile]

My truck came with a stage 2 Transgo and I'd never use anything else.

[CoolRide]

Originally Posted by bskylerj

Do these kits work well with a 3500 stall convertor and high horsepower?

Yes I have used em in a T-400 behind a 454 in a ss Impala.

Also in a 727 behind a tunnel rammed 383 mopar with a tci 4200 stall converter.


CoolRide

[carl609]

Hey Hilljob, first of all, definatly fo with a shift kit, brand preference is up to you. Secondly, If you are running 35s on half ton axles, you shoud seriously consider swapping to at least 3/4 ton. The twelve bolt is not that strong with 35 or bigger. If you get a 14 bolt for the rear you will end up with at least 3.73, but 4.10s are also common. If you have leaf springs it is a pretty easy swap. On the front, you probably have a dana 44. A 3/4 ton 44 is the same except for the 8 lug. It is all interchangeable. Just speaking from experience. If you have the early, closed knuckle dana 44, you may want to change to the newer model, for parts availabilty.

[CoolRide]

Originally Posted by hilljob26

so do you guys think i should go with the b&m or ive also heard of a transgo....mike

I have used the Transgo shift kit with the full manual valve body, lets you downshift at any speed, hold it in 1st or 2nd at any rpm, $139.69
(You must shift manually)

I have used the B&M shift improver $28.88

B&M Transpak (my fav) $53.95

And B&M Transkit $189.95

All from summit racing equipment.

Hope this helps.

CoolRide

[1969 C/K CST]

Shift kit, yes. One of the best and cheapest performance upgrades. You'll like it.

[see ten]

I have also used shift kits in many cars through the years. I always enjoyed them. I had a B&M put in a Z28 many years ago and it was set up for street strip (I think). It shifted HARD. It would bark the tires at anything above an idle. If you stomped it at highway speed it would chirp going in and out of passing gear. At WOT from a stop it would lay rubber when it hit second and chirp third. This lasted about 3 days and I hit a hard second and heard a loud Bang, the motor reved up and it quit pulling. The pump in the trans had broken in half! After having that fixed and the trans rebuilt the shop went to test drive it. The car would not pull. Back in the air it goes and we check out the rearend. The spider gears had broken in half. Needless to say after finding another rearend the B&M was taken out and replaced with something milder. I don't know anyone else who ever had this much damage after a shift kit but I can tell you that it IS possible. I wasn't running a monster motor either, but it was healthy and far from stock.

[72MARIO]

Here is one 700R that as a result of a shift kit and week stock parts blew up.

[Premium72]

wow im sure that sucked...but the pics are awesome..haha...i been thinkn of a shift kit also..well. done thinking. thanx. guys..man i luv this site!!

[crazy longhorn]

Trans go gets my vote. I have also used the B&M shift improver, & the Transpack.....IMO, the Transpack is a little "brutal" for a daily street driver. The improver kit is fine for daily driver /light towing, & generally help the trans live longer. My 69 has a 400-2 Trans go kit, & has a firm, but not brutal shift around town.....hits pretty hard under full throttle tho L

[68Stepbed]

The tranny shop where I had my tranny built custom designs shift kits however you want them. My dad's ElCamino will snap your neck back every time but mine has a nice, quick, firm shift that will bark second if your into it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[70 net440]

Hey, Mario, what shift was in your 700? When I worked in a tranny shop we put SK(Transgo) shift kits in all 700's with good results. We also replaced the stock planetaries which were junk. BTW Transgo offers four choices SK, -1,-2, and -3 full manual. We used Transgo only and had no problems.