| Shift Kit |
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Automatic transmissions coming out of the factory are set to shift for smoothness and comfort. Engineers have achieved comfort by extending the time duration of every shift. Not only does power slip away during this extended shift, but all friction surfaces receive excessive wear because they are asked to work overtime.
Installing a Shift kit will at least double the life of the
friction materials in the transmission. In many heavy duty applications,a kit has made the difference between a few months service without repair and several years.
In the stock transmission:
- Slipping converts useful energy to heat on the surface of the clutches and bands. This heat transforms the friction material to ash, which polishes its mating element, causing further slipping, heat and deterioration of the friction elements.
- The gears receive less wear, too. A slow shift causes them to be partially engaged for a longer period during the gear changing process, resulting in unnecessary heat, wear and power loss.
- Overlap causes delayed shifts. This is done purely for smoothness. Overlap is the main cause of shift delay, or hesitation when shifting manually. Excessive Overlap is eliminated with the kit. The difference is felt immediately and there are substantial increases in performance, durability and fuel economy.
- The shorter shift time allows the friction elements and gears far less time to wear themselves out. The useful life of the friction elements in a transmission is directly related to the amount of slipping that is allowed to occur during shifts.
What shift kit does is this:
- cut slipping time by more than 70% (even more in the Competition version) and at the same time improve the quality of the shifting action itself.
- makes possitive shifts without the ford overlaping of clutch packs during the initial shifts
- it makes the shifts firmer, so as a quicker shift
- gives you more complete gear control of your transmission (Shift Command), a special feature of our re-programming that allows you to shift back to low at any speed!
In most of the kits you can select the firmness of the shifts. Most of you can go to just a "firm" shift, or some you can also set for a "hard" or "neckbreaker" shift!!! Most kits you get just adjust the shift in how fast or slow of a shift. You can get manual valve body's that allow you to manually shift your automatic, most people don't want these unless they are going for the "all out" performance (B&M TransPak).
Baumann Engenering ($55)
The Baumann kit is MUCH better than the B&M because it is not al1-size fits all. You can customize the 1-2 and 2-3 shift for normal-medium-hard. You can also customize the downshift characteristics and the throttle rpm's that you would like it to shift. You can also set it up to shift into overdrive at full throttle and stay in overdrive at full throttle. The customizing is easy, the only difference in the setup for the normal-medium-hard is in what size you drill a hole, or which spacers you put in one of the accumulaters. Dont worry, the instructions are easy to read and you can call Baumann if you have problems. With medium setting, the 1-2 shift felt the same driving normal, but when you're getting on it it would spin the tires shifting to 2nd. The 2-3 shift feels the same. (keep in mind, your tranny was very mushy to begin with). With the hard setting now the 1-2 is stiff while driving normal and neck snapping at 1/2 to full throttle. The 2-3 shift is now good and firm. Bauman Kit runs for $55 at Bauman Engineerin.
Trans-Go ($79-$140)
The TransGo kit runs a little bit more expensive than Bauman but it is referred more over the Baumann. It's a better shift kit and it has EPC (excess pressure control) valve that relieves high line pressure that can be harmful valve body and VB gasket. It also has 3 types of settings: firm-medium-hard. TransGo makes your shifts shorter and harder. It is "engineered for performance, designed for durability." It is no accident that the "mild street rod" setting on the Transgo kit is also referred to as taxi cab, and police cruisers.
The best deal you can find on a Trans-Go is at the Transmission Exchange (800-776-1191). Their price is $79.35, while the list price on the kit is $129.
Below are the prices of the parts and labor to install the Trans-Go Kit at the Ford Dealer:
Transgo AODE-HD2 shift kit - $79.35 (2nd day shipping 11.00 from
Transmission Exchange, 800-776-1191)
1-2 accum piston F7AZ-7F251-AA - $9.17
2-3 accum piston F7AZ-7H292-AB - $5.88
Deep tranny pan F6AZ-7A194-A - $15.10
Filter and seal F6AZ-7A098-A - $14.72
12 qt MERCON V XT-5-QM - $2.80
Shop supplies about - $10.00
Labor - $188.36
Don't forget:
Reflash the PCM with the appropriate micro code while your at it.
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