shift kit or tuning?
Originally Posted by foxtrotter
Go look at my post a couple down/up.
it sounds like both would be the best way to go but i probably should have clarified a bit. the tuning would come from a hypertec hand held programer if that makes a difference.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
I just went with a shift kit and had it setup for the street the way I wanted it per Pro Built. I'd rather upgrade parts vs putting more stress on an already weak tranny via a computer. That is my take on the subject.
Tuning only has access to a few pressure settings.
People try to speed up shifts by adding pressure.
That speeds up the apply, but it can also slow down
the release and at some point you get into a bind
(not quite let go before you're bringing on the next
gear). That's not going to make anything better.
Shift kits work on that aspect some (drill holes etc.
to speed releases). You can go too far there too,
get into shift flare or other discontinuities, but it's
now not just a matter of stepping back to the last
tune file, you can't undrill a hole and you'd have to
get a new separator plate and redo a fair bit of the
work and get ATF all over yourself again. So there
is a lot to be said for buying a kit from someone
who's figured it out, rather than taking cryptic
advice from the instruction sheet (if in fact there
is even advice about what hole needs what, at
all, or in useful terms).
That being said, on my car tuning has sufficed to
give me what I wanted for behavior, other than a
converter clutch problem (solved by buying a new
converter). But behind a bigger motor, higher stall
and STR converter, my trans would probably want
more pressure and running more pressure wants a
shift kit to rebalance the release with the apply
speed for smooth, not-hurtful operation.
People try to speed up shifts by adding pressure.
That speeds up the apply, but it can also slow down
the release and at some point you get into a bind
(not quite let go before you're bringing on the next
gear). That's not going to make anything better.
Shift kits work on that aspect some (drill holes etc.
to speed releases). You can go too far there too,
get into shift flare or other discontinuities, but it's
now not just a matter of stepping back to the last
tune file, you can't undrill a hole and you'd have to
get a new separator plate and redo a fair bit of the
work and get ATF all over yourself again. So there
is a lot to be said for buying a kit from someone
who's figured it out, rather than taking cryptic
advice from the instruction sheet (if in fact there
is even advice about what hole needs what, at
all, or in useful terms).
That being said, on my car tuning has sufficed to
give me what I wanted for behavior, other than a
converter clutch problem (solved by buying a new
converter). But behind a bigger motor, higher stall
and STR converter, my trans would probably want
more pressure and running more pressure wants a
shift kit to rebalance the release with the apply
speed for smooth, not-hurtful operation.
