B&M worth it?

[madsav]

Vn/Vp series 2 V6, is it worth the effot to slap a b&m shift kit in the gearbox? anyone got one done to say yes alot of incress with power or not worth it etc etc and how much do they go for?
(Dont care if this has been covered before im asking again)

[shiftySLE]

No power gain whatsoever, it only revs out gears and firmer shifts.

[STEALTHY™]

As above, no power gains. It will make the car shift faster, giving the impression it has more power.

Want more power, get a manual (and more fun too)

[shiftySLE]

Hmm at the risk of starting the manual v auto debate, that wont work either, engine modifications are the only way to get more power, more air+more fuel+more displacement=bigger bang, how you change gears only = more fun, whether it be clutch and manual or a kitted auto that you learn how to get it to do what you want it to do and when.

[madsav]

Cheers thanks for the replys guys,
5 speed conversion worth much now days?

[STEALTHY™]

There is less drivetrain loss with a manual gearbox compared to an auto, thus more power

[azkwazere]

There is less drivetrain loss with a manual gearbox compared to an auto, thus more power

few rwkw's too... well worth it... not to mention the weight reduction from auto->manual...few seconds there as well...

aZk.

[STEALTHY™]

few rwkw's too... well worth it... not to mention the weight reduction from auto->manual...few seconds there as well...

aZk.

Never even thought about that. Those auto's are a stomper box

[Cheap6]

The B and M kits are pretty simple; just a couple of stops/spacers to reduce accumulator travel, hence volume, so increasing apply speed, and a heavier spring to increase fluid pressure, plus two drill bits for the hole(s) in the valve body.

Actually, it wouldn't be difficult to make the spacers if one was brave. Determining the spring tension is a bit harder - I can post the spacer dimensions and the results of measuring spring deflection vs displacement, with my error in doing so included, if anyone is interested.

B and M are kind enough to post the install instructions as pdf on line:

Shift Improver Kits - Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Olds, Pontiac - '82-'93 TH-700-R4/4L60

Transpak - Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Olds, Pontiac - '82-'93 TH-700R4 (4L60)

Despite differences in the install instruction layout, the only difference between the shift improver and transpak for 4L60/TH700 is that you get a filter in the transpak kit i.e. save some money and buy the shift improver kit and a service kit separately from repco/GMH etc. (There are real differences between the kits with other model trans.)

The kits are more about helping the trans. live longer than any increase in performance I think.

[centy]

it seems that the transgo kits are better quality. they seem to include more stuff to make a better auto.

[shiftySLE]

Fair enough, good point, however once a box is kitted, you'll never match the gear change time of hydraulic oil with your hands and feet, these days with technology, the lag and friction has reduced so much that the advantage would barely be felt, not in the average street car anyway. This would offset the few kw saved in the power lost.

[STEALTHY™]

Fair enough, good point, however once a box is kitted, you'll never match the gear change time of hydraulic oil with your hands and feet, these days with technology, the lag and friction has reduced so much that the advantage would barely be felt, not in the average street car anyway. This would offset the few kw saved in the power lost.

Wrong discussion. I said you have less 'drivetrain loss' with a manual, which is correct. I'm not playing the auto v manual game with you again, and ruining another thread, both of our opinions are clearly known on the matter.

[shiftySLE]

Geez, why not kick the dog while you are at it......

OP-Yes shift kits are worth it, you will not gain any power however you will save a lot of time over the shift changes.

[STEALTHY™]

Having driven all types (stock auto, shift kitted auto, and manual) i have to say manual is the best option. Since its a daily. If it was purely a strip car, then it might make more sense for you to have a auto. It has and always will be: Manual > Shift kitted auto > Auto

This comes down to personal preference tho, but hey, you asked for people opinions

[shiftySLE]

Your answer is way off topic, he didnt ask how to get more power out of his car, and engine mods would crap all over an auto - manual swap anyway. The question was does a kit give more power, answer - no, it does not.

[STEALTHY™]

Your answer is way off topic, he didnt ask how to get more power out of his car, and engine mods would crap all over an auto - manual swap anyway. The question was does a kit give more power, answer - no, it does not.

And I answered with a shift kit wont get more power, but a manual conversion will.
Your on the auto/manual thing again. I replied to THIS thread, not your thread a few months ago. Stop living in the past.

[shiftySLE]

Ok, if you say so, he probably could have asked what is a good movie and your answer would have been 'get a manual', I think you should move on.

[STEALTHY™]

Ok, if you say so, he probably could have asked what is a good movie and your answer would have been 'get a manual', I think you should move on.

I offered an alternative that DOES give power from the same part of the car. Deal with it.

[HoldenOnn]

Argue over PM keyboard warriors. Let the guys thread stay clean of unnecessary banter.

As said, a shift kit won't make more power. Firmer shifts will result and may give an impression of more go. No matter what you do to the gearbox, you won't gain more engine power. You will however change the amount of power lost from the engine to the rear wheels by going manual.

There are many options available if you want to feel like you have more power eg lower diff ratio.

How much more power are you wanting. You have a V6 and you can do little mods like CAI and extractors/exhausts and tunes, but in my opinion, save up for a stock V8 and save money by not modding your current ride. Because the stock V8 will have more power than a slightly modded V6 generally.

I have a $5000 shift kitted full manual auto in my 500hp VL Turbo. I have a standard 5sp Auto in my VZ Alloytec190 Calais. Now regardless of the power difference, the difference in a shift kitted auto is so different. Even under part throttle it does feel like the car has more go due to the next gear not sliding in like the gearbox in the Calais.

And the benefit of a shift kit is normally a faster firmer change hence, when you hit the next gear, it should change faster and more instant than a factory auto.

But in essence, a shift kit will only give the impression of more poke from your car. Engine power won't change and I wouldn't bother doing it unless you had mods already that have given quite a considerable power upgrade from standard.

Regards
Matt

[shiftySLE]

Agreed and well explained!

[greenfoam]

few rwkw's too... well worth it... not to mention the weight reduction from auto->manual...few seconds there as well...

aZk.

From the weight difference only. About .1 over 1/4 mile maybe not quite a few seconds, the good thing abotu shift kits is that the faster it shifts the less it wears