Good shift kit
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Cen. Cal
Good shift kit
Hey all... just wondering what shift kit youguys suggest for my truck. I would like the shifts to be alot firmer and quicker. Should I just go with a Trans-go or...? what are prices like for a good kit? Thanx!
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Sunny FL
The best way to get firmer shifts is to tune the truck through the PCM. I just installed a custom tune from an Xcalibrator I bought from Troyer Performance and it shifts like a bandit. I get a good chirp going into 2nd gear now. This is happening on the 87-octane tune; will be putting the 93-octane performance tune on as soon as I use up the rest of the gas I got in my tank, then the fun begins! 
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From: Somewhere between San Diego and Phoenix
Nice wide range of answers here...
The best way to get firmer shifts is through a mechanical change, not electronic. Put in a mechanica shift kit first, and then fine tune with a tuner if you want to make minor adjustments.
Yes, excessive line pressures can damage the trans, but you have to be pretty stupid in combining parts to get the pressure high enough - i.e. put in a mechanical shift kit at its highest setting then use a tuner to bump it even more. Use your brain and you will be fine. In fact, a shift kit can actually help improve the life of a trans by not allowing the clutches to slip as much.
I have used Trans-go and B&M (not their electronic tuner, but their real shift kit) on vehicles in the past and I have to say that I have been much happier with the B&M. Lots of people here also like the FTVB.
The best way to get firmer shifts is through a mechanical change, not electronic. Put in a mechanica shift kit first, and then fine tune with a tuner if you want to make minor adjustments.
Yes, excessive line pressures can damage the trans, but you have to be pretty stupid in combining parts to get the pressure high enough - i.e. put in a mechanical shift kit at its highest setting then use a tuner to bump it even more. Use your brain and you will be fine. In fact, a shift kit can actually help improve the life of a trans by not allowing the clutches to slip as much.
I have used Trans-go and B&M (not their electronic tuner, but their real shift kit) on vehicles in the past and I have to say that I have been much happier with the B&M. Lots of people here also like the FTVB.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Sunny FL
Originally posted by Superchips_Distributor
Hi Chasman97,
That's an excellent question, and one we've discussed here a lot over the years.
The ultimate combination is our custom tuning *and* the FTVB - the two combined not only make the transmission shift much more quickly, firmly and with reduced slippage and faster response, but also significantly improves the raw power and overall performance & responsiveness of the vehicle.
Now in terms of what most people actually decide to do? Overall, most people tend to go with our tuning - those who also go on to do the FTVB in addition are a smaller percentage - not because the FTVB isn't good, it's a *great* part, and one that we love dearly - but simply because the improvements we get via calibration changes (tuning) are already very noticeable, and for most people that's all they want or need - and it's always the first place to start due to the excellent bang-for-the-buck value & results.
In our personal trucks, we generally use both the FTVB *and* our custom tuning, as that gives us the ultimate setup - go figure.
We advise going the tuning route first, as there are all kinds of delays, retards and slippage-inducing aspects that can be vastly improved upon, so you'll not only get vastly improved transmission shift characteristics, but you'll also get significant power & performance gains, too. This is why we recommend going the tuning route first, and then if you want still *harder* shifting after you've had the tuning installed for a while, then yo can always add the FTVB.
Now sometimes we'll tell people to do both at the same time - for example, if someone wants their tranny to shift hard enough and quickly enough to "chirp" the tires on every full-throttle 1-2 upshift, then the safest & smartest way to accomplish that is with the combination of our custom tuning and the FTVB working together.
But if the vehicle owner simply wants to get rid of the sluggish response and sloppy shifting (as virtually every F-150 owner wants, they all hate the shifting!), then we can take care of all of that in the tuning, no problem.
Personally, I would *never* leave the stock tuning in place and just install a FTVB to address the shifting characteristics, because that does nothing for power, and cannot eliminate or even reduce the drastic torque reductions, retards, and other aspects imposed by the PCM's calibration in many of these vehicles - so the first place to start is with the tuning IMHO. And rather than go with the 1715 Micro Tuner, you'd be *much* better off going with our *custom* tuning - you'll get about 50% higher power gains than what the 1715 will deliver, as well as a much more thorough tune & better driveability and overall vehicle response.
Bottom line? We suggest doing the tuning first (and go with our custom tuning), and then if you want still more shift firmness, opt for the FTVB. The only time we don't recommend doing them in that order is if you want to be able to consistently "chirp" the tires on the WOT (wide-open throttle) 1-2 upshift - if you want to accomplish that, then you should do *both* our custom tuning and the FTVB.
I hope that info helps, & feel free to give us a call to go over any of this in more detail, etc.
Hi Chasman97,
That's an excellent question, and one we've discussed here a lot over the years.
The ultimate combination is our custom tuning *and* the FTVB - the two combined not only make the transmission shift much more quickly, firmly and with reduced slippage and faster response, but also significantly improves the raw power and overall performance & responsiveness of the vehicle.
Now in terms of what most people actually decide to do? Overall, most people tend to go with our tuning - those who also go on to do the FTVB in addition are a smaller percentage - not because the FTVB isn't good, it's a *great* part, and one that we love dearly - but simply because the improvements we get via calibration changes (tuning) are already very noticeable, and for most people that's all they want or need - and it's always the first place to start due to the excellent bang-for-the-buck value & results.
In our personal trucks, we generally use both the FTVB *and* our custom tuning, as that gives us the ultimate setup - go figure.
We advise going the tuning route first, as there are all kinds of delays, retards and slippage-inducing aspects that can be vastly improved upon, so you'll not only get vastly improved transmission shift characteristics, but you'll also get significant power & performance gains, too. This is why we recommend going the tuning route first, and then if you want still *harder* shifting after you've had the tuning installed for a while, then yo can always add the FTVB.
Now sometimes we'll tell people to do both at the same time - for example, if someone wants their tranny to shift hard enough and quickly enough to "chirp" the tires on every full-throttle 1-2 upshift, then the safest & smartest way to accomplish that is with the combination of our custom tuning and the FTVB working together.
But if the vehicle owner simply wants to get rid of the sluggish response and sloppy shifting (as virtually every F-150 owner wants, they all hate the shifting!), then we can take care of all of that in the tuning, no problem.
Personally, I would *never* leave the stock tuning in place and just install a FTVB to address the shifting characteristics, because that does nothing for power, and cannot eliminate or even reduce the drastic torque reductions, retards, and other aspects imposed by the PCM's calibration in many of these vehicles - so the first place to start is with the tuning IMHO. And rather than go with the 1715 Micro Tuner, you'd be *much* better off going with our *custom* tuning - you'll get about 50% higher power gains than what the 1715 will deliver, as well as a much more thorough tune & better driveability and overall vehicle response.
Bottom line? We suggest doing the tuning first (and go with our custom tuning), and then if you want still more shift firmness, opt for the FTVB. The only time we don't recommend doing them in that order is if you want to be able to consistently "chirp" the tires on the WOT (wide-open throttle) 1-2 upshift - if you want to accomplish that, then you should do *both* our custom tuning and the FTVB.
I hope that info helps, & feel free to give us a call to go over any of this in more detail, etc.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 796
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From: Charleroi PA
I too have the factory tech valve body with a Troyer custom tune in my 2001 supercharged supercrew along with a few other mods. coulden't be any hapier with the combo.
The factory tech by itself is a little harsh although it can be mechanicaly softened, but when combined with a custom tune it can be taylered to exactly what the owner wants.
Mike changed my tune app 3 times until i got the firmness and converter lock up the way i wanted, but now the trans shifts the way it should.
The factory tech by itself is a little harsh although it can be mechanicaly softened, but when combined with a custom tune it can be taylered to exactly what the owner wants.
Mike changed my tune app 3 times until i got the firmness and converter lock up the way i wanted, but now the trans shifts the way it should.
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 26
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From: Monroe, LA
Excuse my ignorance here but does it matter if you use a shift kit on an auto or manual trans?
Like many people, I have just focused on engine compartment mods so I don't know much when it comes to trans mods.
Like many people, I have just focused on engine compartment mods so I don't know much when it comes to trans mods.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,409
Likes: 1
From: Sunny FL
Originally posted by fosgate3
Excuse my ignorance here but does it matter if you use a shift kit on an auto or manual trans?
Like many people, I have just focused on engine compartment mods so I don't know much when it comes to trans mods.
Excuse my ignorance here but does it matter if you use a shift kit on an auto or manual trans?
Like many people, I have just focused on engine compartment mods so I don't know much when it comes to trans mods.