Hope someone can help me,

I read in a magazine somewhere that there are kits available that help the auto tranny make cleaner and firmer shifts. from what I remember, they "plugged in" somewhere (sorry don't remember where) and they were relatively inexpensive (under 100.00).

From what I understood they basically made the shifts similar to what the superchip does (without the power gains of course). Does anyonme out there know of what I'm referring to any if so, have you used these kits at all? What is your experience with them? Are they worth it? Thanks in advance.

97 F-150XL 4x4. EC, 4.6L Romeo, Auto, 3.55LS, Oxford White, K&N Filter, Cat-Back Exhaust

 

Cougar Guy,

I can't comment on the kits...but you will be more than satisfied with a Superchip and what it does for the auto tranny in our trucks. I am more than pleased with how the tranny shifts in mine. There is no delay and it hits the gears much...much better than stock. A side benefit of course is the added power and torque.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

B&M makes several products, from a plug-in electronic model for around $50 to a revalve kit for around $130 or so. The revalve kit is much more labor, and you have to pull the pan, etc...

The shift 'plug in' kit (I forget exactly what it is called) has been discussed by others a few times, and most have been happy with it. I think one person said the electronic module got real hot and smelled funny, but others never noticed either of those problems. Search back on the board for more info.

My friend has one on his Expedition, and it has 3 positions for shift firmness. He was very happy with it, and now runs it with a Superchip.

Of the 3 positions on the B&M, the stiffest is apparently best used when pulling a heavy load or drag racing, the middle is for normal driving, and the softest is still better than stock, but not firm.

Ford's stock shifting with the automatic tranny is horrible. If you are also looking for more power, the Superchip kills two bird with one stone, but if all you want to do is improve the shifting, the B&M seems worth the money.

BTW, the Superchip makes the truck shift like it should have from the factory. It is not a full-race, superstiff shift.

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1999 XLT S/C, 4.2 V-6, auto, 3.55 rear, dark torreador red/harvest gold, bed liner, Sony 10 disc CD, Edelbrock IAS, K&N filter, Superchip



[This message has been edited by dirt bike dave (edited 04-30-2000).]

 

Thought of a couple more things to add.

B&M has been making those electronic shift stiffeners for some time and they've got decades of history modifying auto trannys.

I don't know much about how they work, but one of the criticisms was that they increase line pressure in the tranny. In theory, this may be harder on your transmission, but I doubt if it would be a problem.

However, the Superchip doesn't increase pressure in the tranny, but reprograms the computer to shift better and elminate the ignition cut-out during shifts.

Quickening the shifts with either B&M or the chip is probably actually GOOD for your tranny, cause the slipping and sliding during the slow sloppy stock shifts generates a lot of heat, wear & tear.

 

I recently installed the B&M ShiftPLus kit, which I sourced from JC Whitney for $31.00. So far, I really like it. Just need to tap into two of the computer module wires and mount the underdash control switch. I run it in the medium setting and it really makes a difference: bye-bye slushy shifts.

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'97 F150 Supercab XLT; Pacific Green; 4.6l; B & M ShiftPlus; Bosch Plus4s; 3.55; ABS; 17" whls; Towing Package; Gibson dual exhaust; Waldoch Conversion (Custom Paint/graphics, powerslider rear window; walnut dash trim; overhead console; F'glass 'boards); ARE fiberglass bed cap; JVC Head unit & 12 disk changer; Prince compass/temp RV mirror; Anti-theft.



[This message has been edited by jaymz (edited 05-01-2000).]

 

jaymz,
I think I'll look into what you got.

 

just out of curiosity.....
when I drive I get up to the speed limit or over it ASAP, I don't lolly-gag around in traffic. so, is this getting the truck through all the gears quicker than the average joe and shifts in the 2700-3500 rpm range (guessing off of memory) hurting my tranny life??
if I do slow gradual acceralation then the shifts feel sluggish, but with quicker acceralation the shifts are much crisper.
but i would like better. I considered the B&M shift kit, more affordable than the chip and doesn't require premium fuel. but how do adjust the settings?
w/ my driving style what type of tranny maintenance needs to be done?

(97 4.2L auto)

 

Dirt Bike- I thought I read some where that the super chip increased line pressure about 20%. I am installing the B&M shift kit this thursday and the kit I am getting has two settings, Street & Strip or towing. After talking with Mike T he suggested I select the lighter position of towing over the Street/Strip and he said I should be able to run both together without one fighting the other, If you know what I mean. Anyway when the install is complete I will get back to every one with a report. Dave, feel free to correct me,if I am wrong I would like to know. Thanks!


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98 White 4.6 Triton STX Flairside,Class III hitch, Blue Cobra Stripes, Euro Lid by Astro, Bed Rug, Fiero Wing, Air Dam,Westin Step Bars, Ground Force 2-4 Drop, Super Chip,Jacobs DIS Ignition K&N, Jet coated JBA stainless headers, Magna Flow Muffler with Stainless Duals.

 

HI dirt bike dave & Flats Man,

Just to clarify a bit, the Superchip *does* increase line pressure a bit, it's a small increase. There is room in the program to dial in more line pressure though program adjustments. The Superchip cannot increase a transmissions physical ability to generate line pressure, that's the job of a true shift kit. But the Superchip can and does increase line pressure via changed instructions in the program.

It's a small increase, and is just one of numerous things we do to change automatic transmission programming. We remove the shift delay signal that Ford uses to deliberately elongate and soften the upshfit, which causes slippage. We also remove the transitional spark retards that reduce engine power during and just after the upshift. The downshift delays are also removed, along with numerous other "tweaks". These changes are only available in the Superchip, as it does a much more thorough job of addressing all of the various compromises made in the automatic transmission programming by the factory.

Just by way of observation, those inexpensive electronic shift improvers like the B&M unit that splice into the wiring harness for the computer, do a pretty good job for their price. All they do is electronically spike line pressure, but that does make the shift feel noticeably better, so if that's all you're looking for, that's a cheap way to accomplish that task. We also have people using thme in conjunction with the Superchip.

There are several ways to improve the shift quality of these automatics, ranging from the cheaper units that splice in, to shift kits, which increase a transmission's physical ability to generate more line pressure, to the Superchip, and other devices as well. It all gets down to exactly what all you want to do, and how you prefer to accomplish that task.

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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