John2

I'm having my '78 th350 transmission rebuilt next week, I bought a B&M shift improver kit to put in it. I'm wondering if it is the right thing to do...I autocross with the car so I know I would like the difference during those events and I know it is easier on the trans. But I also drive the car on the street and I've heard that shifts are pretty stiff. Do these hard shifts take a toll on the rest of the drive line?

John

jerryp58

FWIW, here are my comments on my B&M Shift Improver Kit install & it's performance... http://users.erols.com/jerryp58/corvette/bnmkit.htm

If you are having the trans rebuilt, I'd talk with the rebuilder about a shift kit. Lots of times, they have their own version of a "shift kit" which may include parts & adjustments.

I don't autocross, so I can't say how harder/quicker shifts would affect that, but unless you're pushing some serious HP, I don't think you have to worry about the rest of the drivetrain.

kingdavidrules

dont be a wimp , get the sift kit and kick butt. :flag

John2

Thanks for the comments, I was leaning towards putting the kit in, I think I'm sold on the idea now. The one thing I forgot to mention is that my wife occasionally rides with me so I'm going to have to put up with a few verses of "what's wrong with this thing now?" But I think it will be worth it.

Thanks again

John

427V8

Shift kit, fer sure.
Tell her this is how a real car shifts...

Paul L

My advice is to put the "improver" and not the "shift" kit in. It will sharpen up the shifts and preserve your 3rd gear disks. The " shift" kit will chirp your tires on each shift and that, in my opinion, is just annoying.

thamzid

Put the Shift Kit in and go for the Street Strip option.
You will be Glad you did.



[Modified by thamzid, 7:07 PM 10/7/2002]

dlw

One of the best things I did to mine! Use the street strip setup. It will chirp the tires on hard accelaration but nice firm shifts otherwise. My wife didnt notice!

Paul L

I guess we agree to disgree ;) . I find those chirps a nuisance.

AlwaysWave

I put the low end kit in my TH400. I think they call it towing package or something like that. When I moderately get on it, it chirps into 2nd and super firm into 3rd. When I nail it, it squeaks 2nd nicely and sometimes chirps 3rd.

427V8

Well I disagree with you disagreement. I find not chirping anoying :jester

BSeery

My wife likes how my truck shifts with the shift kit. Even at very little throttle, and if the bed is empty, it's puts out a nice little "chirp" and a good kick in the backside :D :D :D :D :D !!

'79ProwlerOrange

i agree with Paul79. i dont know if it was the tranny or what, but with the 1st shift kit i had, with the pedal half way down, it would bark the tires in to 2nd and 3rd. it was really fun and i had a blast, until it wouldnt shift to 2nd. this was about 2 weeks after it was intalled. so make sure the tranny can handle the power. luckly we got them to rebuild the tranny (again) for free. they left the shift kit out and i get great shifts. if i wana bark the tires into 2nd i pull it down to 1st run it up to about 4500-5000 rpm and throw it into 2nd. ver smooth shifting if i just put it in drive and putz arround.

mrvette

Put i the Trans Go kit, not the B/M....much better, since tranny is new, it should be ok, many shift kits into older trannies tend to blow the tranny internal seals because of adding new fluids in the process, washes out the junk in the system, including seals that are old and tired/brittle...
you really need a LARGE ATF cooler also, in place of the engine radiator setup.....

GENE

Paul L

You put things much more clearer than me. The improver kit will discourage slippage on shifts but not produce the chirp. It is designed also to prevent slippage in third gear on the TH350. That is why it has the trailering setting. And again, I make a distinction between a shift "improver" kit and a "shift kit."

Jvette73

Go with a shift kit. Go agressive. :yesnod: :cool: