Has anyone used the B&M shift improver with the superchip, I found it in summit mag for 39.95 or does it work at all?

 

It works. My buddy bought one for his Expedition 4.6 and really liked it. Then he bought a Superchip. After testing with and without the B&M, he decided the best combo was chip + B&M set in the softest position (he preferred the B&M middle position w/out the chip).

For towing, he still uses the middle position and the chip. He says with the chip, the B&M stiffest position is too harsh to be usable.

 

HI K.,

Yes, those B&M units do work, however, you have to be careful with them. All they do is to spike the voltage signal being sent to the shift solenoids, by splicing into the ECU's wiring harness, and that does cause them (the shift solenoids) to wear quicker. Even the documentation in those B&M units tell you not to use them on the highest setting for prolonged periods, so just keep that in mind.

All that having been said, thre are a number of F-150 owners here who are running both the Superchip and the B&M unit. Most of them had the B&M unit first, and then added the Superhcip. And just like Dirt Bike Dave said in his post, most of them are using them in the lightest setting along with the Superchip.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

I use both, and love it. I use it on setting #2 (firmest) most of the time. As Mike said, I put in the B&M kit to improve my shifting, but it alone didn't do it for me. I added the chip and that was the best mod I've done!

Just to comment on an earlier post....
I wonder why that guy with the Expedition liked the B&M kit in the middle position? That is the stock setting (read: no change).


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1998 F-150 XLT 4x4 SC/SB 4.6L, Auto., 3.55LS, TTP, blah, blah, blah
All the info is at http://www.fordf150.net

 

I had the B&M shift plus and didn't like it. The shifting was firmer but the trans. would make a very harsh jump if you would go WOT then let off. I didn't like the way it cuts into the computer wires to hook into the system or how the unit gets hot under the dash.
I would save the $40 and get a Superchips flip chip.

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1997 F150 XLT
Debut sport truck
Ext. cab short bed
4.6l 3.55 tow pack *leather *K&N filter *Gibson swept side
*power rear slider
*soft tonneau
*full running boards
*timbren rubber springs *tekonsha brake control.
*bugflector II
*superchip
*rancho RS9000

http://community.webtv.net/rexor29/F150


















[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 09-28-2000).]

 

Good post, ALLFORD, thanks for the additional feedback.

For a $40 device, a lot of people like it.
What I don't like is that it just spikes the voltage signal going to the shift solenoids, and because the shift solenoids aren't very rugged, the unit can tend to shorten their life span if used on heavier setting for long periods, as the documentation on that unit warns you not to do. If you can use it just on the lightest setting, that might work for quite a while!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Has anyone tried using the B&M light truck shift improvement kit for the 4R70W trans. and a Superchip together?

 

Hi Musick,

Yes, a number of guys here have done that. What they have generally reported back is that with the Superchip, they used the B&M unit on it's lightest setting most of the time.

Most of these people bought the B&M unit first, and the Superchip second. Among those who buy the Superchip and do not already own the B&M piece, extremely few add the B&M unit to the Superchip, as they're very happy with what the Superchip does for shift characteristics, as it's much more thorough than the B&M unit of course.

Either way, it'll work just fine if you want to use both, we would simply suggest using the B&M unit on it's lightest setting with the Superchip, but that's up to you of course.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Thanks Mike,
But I just want to make sure we are talking about the shift kit from B&M that you have to install by dropping the trans pan and not the electronic switch with the cable. Sorry for not making that clear.
thanks again

 

Hi Musick,

Sure, we understand you want to be clear, and yes, we are talking about the same device. It's the B&M unit that simply splices into the ECU's wiring harness, and ups the voltage signal being sent to the shift solenoids. You do not have to drop the pan to install it, it is not a "shift kit", it's the B&M shift "improver", I think it's called.

Yes, we're talking about the same thing, the electronic shift improver; We're not talking about a B&M "shift kit" that actually modifies mechanical parts inside the transmission.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

So does the shift kit (mechanical parts replaced) work well with the chip? I like the SuperChip shift improvement, but the actual transmission could use a little firming up, too.

Thanks Mike.

------------------
1998 Expedition XLT 4x4 w/4.6L

To date:
Superchip upgrade (Well worth it!)
Edelbrock IAS shocks

Planned upgrades:
K&N FIPK
Jardine exhaust
Anti-sway bar
17" or 18" wheels - undecided on these and what tires to put on them

 

That all makes sense, which is why I come here for my answers. I appreciate you taking the time to explain what you've seen and are experimenting with.

I do plan to add the FIPK and exhaust system next, so I'll wait to see how that changes the overall driveability of the truck before I go messing with the transmission.

 

Hi kp,

Yes, as a matter of fact we're doing that, in a Lincoln Mark 8, running both the Superchip and a Transgo shift kit. Now in this case, we installed the shift kit as a "band-aid", to help hold off a rebuild that is needed (glazed clutch pack), and it has served that purpose admirably.

Most people are well satisfied with just the Superchip alone, but some want to have the transmission mechanically modified to be physically capable of generating more line pressure. The Superchip increases line pressure too, but in a different way, and that is, it can dial in more of the line pressure that the transmission is already capable of producing, by telling the program to use more of the available pressure. To go beyond that point, and make the transmission physically capable of generating even more line pressure, that's where a shift kit can work in nicely.

What I would suggest is to install a shift kit that has multiple levels of firmness, which is one of the nice things about many of the Transgo shift kits for these Ford automatics, they have 3 levels of firmness. Police/Taxi is usually the lowest, then Street/Strip, and then some sort of extreme setting. Install it in the lightest setting, as you can always go back in and open things up more, but if you go too far originally, you can't readily go back and close things up. It just depends on how hard you want your shifts, as when you install a shift kit you get the increase in line pressure all the time, even on light throttle, so that's why you want to be careful, and not spoil the smooth character of the vehicle when being driven conservatively. You want to watch out that you don't ruin the vehicles ability to be driven in inclement weather due to too-stiff upshifts even on light throttle, in the rain or on snow, and cause the vehicle to swap ends during an upshift in the middle of a turn, for example, that's one of the things we look at.

Just as a suggestion, I would do all my power-adding mods first, as when you add more power, the shifts are going to seem firmer especially on heavier throttle openings, before you decide how far to go with line pressure. Just a thought....

Good luck!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Sounds good, let us know how it works out for you, KP!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer