I feel just calling this kit a shift kit is unfair. This kit does so much more than just change the shift characteristics of this transmission. It also corrects leaky hydraulic circuits in the case and valve body that will add to the longevity of your transmission. Let’s face it these transmissions are getting a little long in the tooth and most will leak internally, which is why this transmission has such a bad reputation.

I had messaged Frank asking him if he would consider putting together a kit with his tricks and mods for those of us who don’t have machining access. After answering some questions about the parts in my transmission, what mods have been done and what it’s intended use is, he put together some of his proprietary parts that he felt that would improve my transmission and sent them to me.

I messaged him back and forth with a few questions that I had, and he replied back quickly with the answers I needed.

Once the kit was installed, I took it out for a road test and all I can say is WOW! I didn’t think this transmission could be made to shift this good. I have installed TransGo and Sonnax kits in the past and they don’t shift anywhere as good as Frank’s kit. Frank included with the kit a new separator plate with his overrun mod already installed and feed holes drilled to his specifications, I did not change a thing and installed it just the way it came.

The 1-2 shift is smooth and crisp and gets firmer the more throttle you give it. The 2-3 shift is impressive; it is actually a little firmer than the 1-2 and happens so very fast. I have never felt a 2-3 shift in a 700R-4 or 4L60e shift so fast and firm. The time that it takes to start and complete the 2-3 shift is unreal. Frank had mentioned in his thread that sometimes a transmission with his Overrun mod will be a little clunky down shifting when coming to a stop. I did not feel clunking at all. The car is a 02 f-body with 3.73 gears and a Yank 4000 stall converter.

One thing to keep I mind when pricing is that the TransGo and Sonnax kits do not include all of the parts that you will need. Parts like a corvette 2nd servo piston, a 2-4 servo pin that Frank has added his o-rings to, a modified 2-3 shift valve and spring and accumulator pistons. Along with things that you will not get from anywhere else.

As long as Frank is willing to supply his kits, I will never purchase another TransGo or Sonnax kit for a 4L60e.

Thank you, Frank, for your time and help. I’m so happy with the outcome.

 

Thanks glad you are pleased with it .

 

This kit is available to all at a cost of 250 shipped I will post all included here later today .

 

The kit consist of
PLATE-predrilled and set up for FT OVERUN 96 THROUGH 2008 ($30 EXTRA FOR 93-94-95). ($30 EXTRA FOR 2009 UP)
ORRINGED NEW SERVO PIN.
ORINGED NEW BORE PLUGS FWD AND REV.
ORINGED END CAPS FOR CONVERTER REGULATOR VALVE AND 4-3 VALVE.
CORVETTE SERVO.
FWD AND 1-2 ACCUM ALUMINUM.
MODIFIED 2-3 VALVE NEW WITH SPRING.
TORLON *****.
.500 BOOST VALVE WITH 3 ORINGS.
GENTLY OVERSIZED AFL VALVE.
4 SPRINGS FOR OTEHR VB PURPOSES.
INSTRUCTIONS.

This KIT will bring any unit to my stage 1-2-3 hydraulically. Any in good shape stock build with late model sunshell will then equal my stage 1 and actually fall between my stage 1 and 2.
Additional hard parts BEAST OR SONNAC SHELL. UPGRADED 3-4 SET OR AFTERMARKET DRUM LIKE SONNAX OR 4L79E will bring up to stage 2 bordering stage 3 Basically this is my full shift kit for my stage 1-2-3 units the difference beyond is just hard parts .
But the kit alone with a solid even stock build will greatly increase power handling. performance and lifespan of any good working unit and is easy install as dropping VB.
(Filter and pan gasket not included)
This kit addresses a number of issues and fixes and requires no special tools beyond a pocket crew driver. small pick. 13mm . 10mm and 8mm socket .

I had posted this before but got little interest but a few again have ask so here it is .
The price may seem high but if you price all the pieces then count the time to machine the bore plugs and 2-3 valve along with band pin and of course shipping the price IMO is very reasonable.

 

This is not a bad price, once you price all the parts that are included in Frank's kit that is not included in the Sonnax or TransGo kits. Let's not forget that some of these parts can only be sourced through Frank, unless you machine them yourself.

These are the parts that are not included in your off the shelf kits.
Predrilled Seperator Plate with Over Run Mod Installed
O-ringed servo pin
O-ringed Bore Plugs for FWD and REV Abuse Valves
O-ringed End Caps for Converter Reg and 4-3 Valve
Corvette Servo Piston
Modified 2-3 Shift Valve
Torlon Check ***** (included in Sonnax But not TransGo)
Boost Valve included with Sonnax and TransGo BUT NOT WITH THREE O-RINGS
Gently Oversized AFL Valve
Last but not least, 4 Springs for Valve Body. 1 of these springs will make a 2-3 shift so fast that it will blow your mind.

If buying a kit price wise you will come out ahead with one of Franks kits. Performance wise the other kits won't come close. My trans has a mixture of Sonnax and TransGo kits installed, and I could not believe how much better Franks kit made this trans shift.

 

Do you have recommended upgrades / kit for a 4l60 in a hummer h2? It sees lots of off-road time.

 

My shift kit alone would be a huge step up even with the stock unit as long as in good shape to start with. IT CAN DRAMATICALLY improve not only feel but durability of any 4L60E its installed in But cannot fix those already worn out or broken . And he kit is fully compatable with the H3 and Colorado with the unique VB . I would just need to send you the extra gasket for the accumulator pate.

 

Awesome!

I'm very happy to see this Thread, bbond105 you rock!

 

Ok Frank.....how do I get your kit !!!!

 

Just PM him and he will get back to you.

 

As Bond said you can PM me here of for faster response here https://www.facebook.com/frankscustomtransmissions/

 

Thanks and I am always working on better ways . I too liked the IDEA of solid teflon rings for the pin in the three locations. But could find no source. However thus far though I have only had opportunity to tear down 1 "higher milage 32k miles" with the green rings , At that milage the green rings showed no sign of wear other than a slight flattening. As you know the green is just a coating and none of it had worn away and the flattening would be expected. It did however still air check absolute via the 4th feed none to acum side and just a tiny amount to the center area I tracked to the 4th servo to pin. I am thinking of adding additional ring here, But first need to get a finer groove cutter and source a thinner oring as the pin gets so thin here I worry about structural integrity. Though with the stock 4th servo I figure out an easier method was to just add an e-clip to keep pin from moving in it and using the green sleeve sealer as its fine if the 4th servo is pulled down during second. But this will not work with the sonnax 4th servo.(obviously the superior servo would be compatible with this mod but does not have near the surface area of the Sonnax though IMO both serve little purpose unless you are shifting to OD at WOT which would IMO be a super rare requirement or towing with 1 in 4th gear a more common possibility)
Now I did adopt your dads idea on the sonnax second servo on the rare occasion I use one (Usually only at customer request as for the small gain in area its just not worth the extra 120 dollar they cost now over the vet servo )But replacing one of the rubber d rings with a Teflon for the best of both worlds. (I was always concerned as many times when i have torn down units running the Sonnax second I have found 1 or both DRING damaged.
For my stage 3 and max units I still have preference for the SUPERIOR second servo machined to work with the Sonnax servo as it has MAX second apply area and min 3rd accumulation and with the right hole sizes .083 apply and .093 accum side still gives a reasonable moderate part throttle with kick *** WOT for both 2nd and 3rd. I also use the 4l80E int band return spring in that set up.
Also noted considerable leakage at the VB accum looking at ideas and fixes for that also in the future again need a finer cut groove tool and finer orings to accommodate.
As usual me rambling on again THANKS .

 

THIS KIT WILL COME WITH PICTORIAL INSTRUCTIONS AKA SEE IT DO IT, It assumes you have some basic knowledge. I will at some time make a set of instructions more novice minded. Start to finish type thing with step by step detail , for now just have to ask if do not understand something,

 

That kit looks familiar .....

 

Looks good Frank

 

I’ll be in touch looks like a great kit🫡🫡🫡

 

Those who have ordered please be patien seems my supplier can only get me like 2 to 4 bore plugs a week argh and the sonnax extra long servo pins also seem to be a high demand item, But coming along .

 

TWO KITS READY TO GO, ONE WAITING IN afl VALVE, VB PLATE NOT SHOWN

 

NOTE when using my shift kit with overun mod, It is not suggested to block the 3-2 valve inboard or otherwise make it non functional as this may cause an overly agressive 3-2 coast downshift. Not that it will hurt anything just less than pleasant in some vehicles. I am working on getting the kits that were ordered ready , one is shipped two ready to ship will drop at UPS today or tomrrow, Delay was unexpected unavailably of gently oversize AFL valve but they are on way now.

 

SHIFT KIT INSTRUCTIONS

Remove the fwd accume cover and replace accum with metal one, Remove rev abuse spring and valve.

Use a pocket screw driver and push roll pin from botom enough to eb able to grab it from vb top. place thumb over hole and remove roll pin. Remove old bore plug and push inner rping and valve back into bore. If you have one use a pipe brush brass to quicky debur bore on drill or drimel . blow out hole.

grease and install new plug oring to outside with flat head screw driver narrow enough to slide all the way to spring in bore. Us gentle twistng motion with gengle force till in place then roll then reinstall fwd accum spring, abusevalve aand sprng , install cover.


Remove sol 2-3 or B and remove two valve by tappng valve body gently on table, Install new 2-3 valve (note spring should be on valve but if came off insatll as shown and it has a slighly smaller end tha goes toward valve. install outer valve and install solenoid and clip.


Remove roll pin for accum with flat head through the bore end and then use hooked pick to pull accum out, (note if stuck or really ahrd to remove skip this step its no worth damaging body over )

Check that valve moves in sleeve good and the add longer spring included to the existing spring and the reinsatll accum assembly and roll pin


AFL VALVE With thumb over hole remove clip , end plug , spring and valve . Install supplied valve its .001 oversized so may drag some thats ok and then reistall spring and end cap then clip , its all kinda stiff .

When removing PRESURE SOL note how bracket is positoned and direction

If you like use screw driver to check AFL motion its stiff


Spring over spot its goes. First look into th slot and use screw driver to push the isolator valbe away from bore wall

Sqeeze and push one of the short springs into the slot,

The use pocket driver to push into place . you will hear it click when in place.

remove converter reg end cap and replace as shown with rinnged one .



Remove and replace 4-3 valve end cap as shown .

FWD ABUSE PLUG Again remove the outter cap spring and valve. Then from under side with pocket screw driver put pin up enough to grab from other side. Then with thump over bore remove roll pin . remove bore plug, iF YOU HAVE PIPE Brush as before debure hole and the grease plug and instal same as before wit gentle twist till in place to install pin. Then blow out bore just in case and reinsatle valve spring and stock cap




Now VB plate is ready to go except a choice, I have one hole marked . For light to moderate firm 1-2 shift leave as is . If frimer wanted enlarge to .093. NOTE THIS WILL ALSO AFFECT THE 3-2 DOWNSHIFT COAST FEEL .

With petrolium jelly place ***** in positiions shown. All stock positions except for the two at blocked hole postions bathtube and overun omit those. Also no ball needed at 4th accum in case.

Plate no mod needed already done., Except I left the 1-2 feed at .083 its marked this size will give a moderate light thrtlle increasing to moderate firm at WOT . Those wanting firmer may increase this to ,093 but note this will allso make the 3-2 coast down shift more notable.

Install assembly as removed. Dont forget to tighten the three plate bolts and make sure three long 8mm in proper place.

Servo and pin. Of you have a vet-fbody-gto or 94 to 96 impala see you already have the vet servo no need to change, Just swap the band pin and if stock 4th servo flip the 4th servo . when all stacked together should look i like this