[tnhillbilly]

I have a guy who used to do my drag transmissions for me and he has a fairbanks improver kit for my van transmission. He told me it ups the pressure on the lockup (to stop slippage) and firms up all the shifts. He said its not a hard shift, it just firms it up. He told me he would install that and a cooler for me for 250 parts and labor. I could do it myself, but I would be outside lying on my back. It's winter, I'm getting older, and my old bone breaks hurt more (it hurts now to have been young and stupid). That's one bad thing about my high-top, it don't fit in my garage. I checked on the parts to do it myself and it's not much cheaper than his quote. He gets a good deal buying in quantity. I would like a little firmer shift especially going into OD. Have any of you guys got a kit in yours?

 

[thyubernoob]

Hi TnHillbelly,
I dont have one in my van, but have had them in other cars and they'll help your trans last longer and improve gas mileage a little! but thats just my :2:
and I know what you mean about getting old! LOL if its not that much more to have him do it, I'd let him get dirty.....lol

 

[tnhillbilly]

It is being installed tomorrow. :banana: I will let you know how I like it.

 

[johnny-77]

The kits will in general make the shifts happen faster and firmer. This reduces heat from clutch pack slippage their by improving the life of your transmition
I've had several and the longest life is with the hardest shift however most people don't like really fast shifts. This is fact not opinion.

 

[tnhillbilly]

I don't mind hard shifts. I bracket raced for 10 years until 2004 and couldn't afford to do it anymore . I just don't think the wife and kids would like a good neck snapping shift like I do. LOL. Anyhow I picked the van up today and couldn't be more satisfied. It has a good firm shift even into overdrive and the boost on the pressure on the lockup converter really helped. It feels like another gear change instead of the torque converter locking up.

 

[cosway]

man i'm so jealous where is this guy located? LOL

I got a $400 quote for tranny cooler only. A BIG one yes...but still $$$

I tow 4000 LBS with my 2003 with no tow pkg

 

[tnhillbilly]

Well, he is a pretty good friend. LOL. He has done a lot of tranny work for me over the years. Yes , 400.00 does sound pretty steep for just a cooler and having it installed. I think I would check around a bit. Some of the big name transmission shops are very expensive. That is why I started using this small shop and have been very satisfied. If you have any local street rodders or drag racers ask them who does their trannys. That was what I did several years ago.

 

[spongebob218]

Coolers are fairly simple to install. Why not just do it yourself? The cooler, fittings, some hose, and about 30 minutes and your done.

 

[gwd]

How about using a chip programmer for the transmission? I know that you can also get B&M shift kits for about $40 to $80.
Check out this site for the both products. http://cpwstore.carpartswholesale.com/c ... ansmission.
Just plug in your van model and year and see all the stuff that is available.

 

[astro355]

Something I haven't seen mentioned is an aftermarket transmission oil pan. Here's one summit sells for $116.95.

They hold an additional 3 quarts of fluid. Being made out of aluminum and having the fins on the bottom of that pan really cool down your transmission. I noticed a big enough difference in my T/A that I remove the trans cooler. Seeing how these vans still a little higher than a firebird, there should really help a lot. And to top it off, it has a drain plug.

 

[tnhillbilly]

I don't really like the B&M kits for these transmissions. Their kits don't address the problems like the Fairbanks and the Trans-Go kits do. In my opinion the B&M more or less covers them up. Just my :2: . Don't get me wrong, B&M makes some good kits and I have used a lot of them. I just don't like them for these trannys.
Thanks astro355, I had seen the pans and I was wondering how much difference they would make. One of those pans and a cooler on these heavy vans should help a lot. Especially if you are doing any towing. I may try to get one of them before summer.

 

[cosway]

how about TRANSGO kit?

 

[tnhillbilly]

Trans-Go makes a good kit also according to my tranny man. He just likes the fairbanks install better. Here is a link of what the fairbanks kit looks like. http://www.transmissioncenter.net/Z1000.bmp The only thing is it don't come with a new seperator plate. I got a new one from the tranny shop. They are bad to wear out where the steel balls are in the valve body. Best I remember none of the shift kits come with one. You have to get it extra. Hope this helps.

 

[Positive P]

i've read somewhere that heat is the death of our trannies, I purchased the cooler, and remote filter. I was looking into the shift kits but haven't decided on a manufacturer. So let me know how you like the one had installed!

 

[Leeann_93]

I don't have one in either my Astro or Bravada, but we put a Transgo kit in our '73 motorhome with Dodge 727 Loadflite transmission.

It has made ALL the difference....I wish we'd done it as soon as we bought it. Now it feels like the tranny can use all the power from the 440 - and it's proven it on the mountains in PA pulling a race trailer (we have a large external cooler installed as well). Speed before kit: 25 at the top of the 6500 ft hill. Speed after: 57 - on the same hill.

 

[cosway]

would you guys trust your regular mechanic with the kit or does it have to be a tranny guy?

 

[Positive P]

would you guys trust your regular mechanic with the kit or does it have to be a tranny guy?

Well, when it comes to the complexity of an automatic transmission, I'd say that it's best to choose a person who has plenty of tranny experience. Not just the local oil change and brake people.

 

[astro355]

would you guys trust your regular mechanic with the kit or does it have to be a tranny guy?

Well, when it comes to the complexity of an automatic transmission, I'd say that it's best to choose a person who has plenty of tranny experience. Not just the local oil change and brake people.

Definitely x2. The instructions make it pretty easy but if you are going to pay someone, you might as well pay the right person.

 

[Leeann_93]

would you guys trust your regular mechanic with the kit or does it have to be a tranny guy?

Well, when it comes to the complexity of an automatic transmission, I'd say that it's best to choose a person who has plenty of tranny experience. Not just the local oil change and brake people.

Definitely x2. The instructions make it pretty easy but if you are going to pay someone, you might as well pay the right person.

x3. We did it ourselves, but the bf's dad was an automatic tranny specialist before most mechanics would even touch one, so he was taught at an early age

 

[tnhillbilly]

i've read somewhere that heat is the death of our trannies, I purchased the cooler, and remote filter. I was looking into the shift kits but haven't decided on a manufacturer. So let me know how you like the one had installed!

The shift kits works great. It has a nice firm shift and when it goes into the converter lockup it feels like another gear change and not the usual easy slip feel. That is why I went with the fairbanks kit. It ups the pressure on the lockup to keep it from slipping. I figure with the shift kit and the cooler installed the tranny will last much longer. The fairbanks and the trans-go kits deals with the problems of these trannys. Ask your tranny shop which one they use. Either one is a good kit and it would probably be best to use the one your shop is familiar with. I have installed a lot of shift kits in the old c-4, c-6, turbo 350 and turbo 400 but I have never done one on an overdrive tranny. I knew if I let a shop install it and there was a problem that they would have to fix it. Hope this helps you out.

P.S. Make sure to install the cooler inline with the cooler already in the radiator in the return line. I know a lot of people use just the add-on cooler and don't use the one in the radiator. That is not recommended. My :2: