Just ordered my Transgo shift kit, hope to do the install this weekend.

Part # E40D - HD2D

Was wondering if this kit will include everything I need? I hate finding out that you need to get a gasket or something at the last minute and of course you can't find what you need right away.

Any last tips to make this easier? (I know I read the earlier posts this is suppossed to be a novice job.)

Thanks,
Mike

 

Mike,

Since I've done two now (hope you got that e-mail I sent you earlier today)...just did one in my wife's '00 Expedition today, I can tell you that there's really nothing you need besides the obvious stuff.

At least 8-9 qts of trans fluid. Make sure you know about how much you drain out before dumping the 8-9 qts back in. The new 4x4 pan does hold an extra qt of fluid, so take that into consideration. I lost ~7.5 qts of oil when I dropped the pan. I thought I'd lose more. glad I checked before dumping in 9 full qts of fluid and being overfilled.

Get a bunch of shop rags. you'll get trans fluid all over your hands/arms. that's part of it. Do the job when the vehicle is stone cold and that makes it much more tolerable as far as the mess goes. I laid thick newspaper all over the place and still got some fluid on the garage floor...that's the nature of it.

Removing the accumulator valve body (the only one you need to remove) is simple. Just don't overtorque the bolts when you bolt it back together.

You don't need a new pan gasket for the trans pan.

Both my TransGo kits have come complete and I haven't had any issues. I will say that the instructions varied slightly in both kits. One kit had all three drill bit sizes, the last one for my Expedition (same part #, but I didn't get the video on this purhcase) only had one bit.

If you get the kit and it looks confusing, send me an e-mail. It really looks a bit more intimidating than it really is. If you had to drop all the valve bodies with the checkballs, etc, then it would be more tedious, but you're only making some simple mods to one valve body right now.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--586rwhp/587rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--362rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html

 

Wes,

You sure you sent me an e-mail?

Anyways, thanks for taking the time to share your information, and for replying so quickly. You have helped a great deal as I like to know what to expect before getting into something.

This list is the greatest!

Mike

 

w a 2 fst, how did you drill the 2 holes in the valve body plate with out taking the whole valve body out?also, mine had a spring that went in the larger valve body along with a plug and a cotter pin that blocked 2 passages.course let me also say i didnt use the transgo kit after i say what all i had to do. i used a kit that only changed the springs in the accumalator valve body and it works great.the transgo may shift harder but all the extra work led me to at least try the easier kit and i think its all i need.

 

Thanks for the e-mail Wes. Same questions, different Mike. My kit has no video and one drill bit. Anybody with an extra video? I'll gladly pay for any shipping charges. Did you use the drill bit Wes? Thanks again for the quick reply.

Mike

 

I have a feeling the recent orders will not include video and have only 1 drill bit.WES please let us know if the 1 drill bit is okay. Also if anyone has a copy of the video I would also be willing to pay for shipping.

Thanks,
Mike C.

 

If you only got one drill bit, then that's the 2nd size (.094") bit. It is too small for the 1-2 hole if you want to use the diesel specs, and too large for the 2-3 shift that they recommend.

The one with the video got me all three drill bit sizes. .110, .094, and .076.

The video is basically worthless. It had a few tips that were helpful, and I'll share them. 1) you need a 10mm socket to drop the trans pan bolts. 2) on the Accumulator valve body (which is the ONLY one you remove), you need the 10mm socket for 2 nuts that are threaded onto studs, but the rest are small bolts (and there's a number of them) and take an 8mm socket. 3) to get the plungers out of the accum. vb you'll need to remove the retaining clips. Just take a medium sized paper clip, straighten it, and bend one end with a pair of pliers into a 90^ angle. Then use this to pull the retaining clips out. Don't be bashful, you won't hurt anything. On the 2nd, 3rd, 4th accumulator plungers, you'll need to grab one of the 8mm screws that you removed when dropping the VB and screw them into the retaining plugs...after you've removed the clips. Screw it in and with some elbow-grease, pull the retaining plug out...this gives you access to the springs. Remove stock spring (there will only be one in there) and replace with the new springs that TransGo specifies for each accumulator.

Also, when you drop the Accumulator VB (which is the one at the front of the trans if you're looking up at it from below), you may drop the small filter. You'll have to remove it anyway to install the plate, so its no big deal. On both my trucks it stayed in place. You will see the stock VB gasket as well...leave it alone unless it rips when you remove the Accumulator VB. It probably will be fine, but if it rips, then cut it off as close as you can to the main valve body before you install the new plate.

As far as drilling holes in a VB...the only holes you have to drill are in the Accumulator VB and those are two small exhaust holes. I did this when I had the Accum. VB on the workbench. Simple enough. You use the .094" bit for this.

Realize that I didn't install the entire kit. The kit I got with the video has a bit better instructions and it says plainly that if the trans is in good order, just do the "performance enhancing" mods...which is to the Accum. VB. So, that's the only one I pulled out.

Really the video is no help guys, except for what I've relayed above. However, the drill bits you'll need. .110 = ~1/9" bit and .076 = 1/13" bit. You should be able to find these at the local hardware store.

GP, basically all I did was what you did with the kit you installed. Replaced the springs in the Accum. VB. But, as you saw the TransGo kit has a VB plate. This installs in b/w the Accum VB and the stock gasket. This is where you drill 3 holes. I know what you're talking about, though...the main VB. I didn't mess with that at all.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--586rwhp/587rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--362rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4 http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html




[This message has been edited by WA 2 FST (edited 05-16-2000).]

 

Thanks a lot Wes I really appreciate your QUICK responses. I think thats all the info I need . . . for now.

Mike C.

 

Just in case you don't know which thingy is the accumulator, it has a white ink dot on the front of it, other than that I think everything else has been covered.
BTW, one of our Gurus at work says that you can really improve the shift by simply drilling a whole somewhere in the accumulator, I wasn't really interested so I didn't press him for details.

Gregg

 

Keep us posted, Brimstone. My Transgo kit is on order and I have my new pan and filter. Working out of town, so it will be a while before I can get it done, darn-it.
Wes, I havn't forgoten your email. I may shout at ya if I get stuck.

 

I live in Salt Lake City and I am having a hard finding a transmission shop that will put a transgo shift kit in my 99 lightning. They are say that they don't want to responsible for void the warranty on a new vehicle.

Does anyone know of a good shop here that would install it.

Thanks

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Vern

99.5 Lightning (black)
Alpine CDA-7941
Diamond Audio M551
MTX Thunderforms
RF 600a4
Airaid intake on the way out
Bassani Cat-Pipe
Borla Cat-Back
JBA headers TBI
PSP Air Filter
Superchip

 

Radarlove or anyone else...feel free to drop me a private e-mail if you think I can help. Also, Jigawatt is a big help here too...he gave me some great tips before I installed mine, and I'm just passing along his thoughts primarily.

I'm no expert, but I've done two of these now within the last 3 weeks. It sounds a LOT more intimidating than it is.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--586rwhp/587rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--362rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html