holden commodore vs shift kit

[Simonn]

hi,
Just a question about the vs commodore shift kits, I know that they are electronically controlled so there isant a conventional shift kit to install in them.
How much would I be looking to get the tranny tuned to something equivalent to a stage two shift kit?

thanks

[tanka5.7]

they still are a t700 box so the 'conventional' as you say shift kit still can be put in there, but you can have your tranny programmed for higher line pressure.

shift kits start at round $250 and would cost a couple of hundred to get installed, you can aslo get a corvette servo which will harden up your 1st-2nd change and is alot lot cheaper to buy and you could put it in yourself.

[ephect]

4l60e is the auto in the VR/S models..

as tanka5.7 said, yes you can get stage 1/2/3 shift kits. depends on the brand, what u get inside it, and how much.

stage 1: ? maybe just corvette servo ? Confirmation or Correction please

stage 2: is the most common, harder springs, few spots to drill in the plate, etc.. gives u firm shifts.

stage 3: is a manualised auto, u need to change gears urself, cant just leave it in D anymore.

i personally wouldnt go for the electronic shift kit, just puts too much pressure and strain on the stock internals.. something will eventually let go

[tanka5.7]

corvette servo is not in the kit, i bought a transgo kit and it was a stage 2/3 it had the extra stuff to do the full manual which i got done.
stage 1 would not be worth doin imo.

[ephect]

yea, its strange they dont include the corvette servo.. its an absolute must!

i currently have only the corvette servo installed, but have the stage 2 kit in the cupboard with a few other goodies.. just waiting for my 2year warranty to expire on the rebuilt auto. then its goin in!!!

[tanka5.7]

stuff the warranty get it in!

[ephect]

haha, its nelly up now, im not fussed atm, coz if something goes, i dont have to pay for it coz once it goes in, i'll want lsd, extra 2 cylinders, etc...

[tanka5.7]

go a spool, be a man.

[1991_Vn2nV]

4l60e is the auto in the VR/S models..

as tanka5.7 said, yes you can get stage 1/2/3 shift kits. depends on the brand, what u get inside it, and how much.

stage 1: ? maybe just corvette servo ? Confirmation or Correction please

stage 2: is the most common, harder springs, few spots to drill in the plate, etc.. gives u firm shifts.

stage 3: is a manualised auto, u need to change gears urself, cant just leave it in D anymore.

i personally wouldnt go for the electronic shift kit, just puts too much pressure and strain on the stock internals.. something will eventually let go

4L60e IS a T700. From ~1989 or 1990 model VN's they changed the name to 4L60, then when they added the electronic jazz they added an e on the end for VR/VS. But the gearbox itself is still the same apart from one being hydraulic the other being electronic.

Stage 1 is mostly for towing. Not much different. No corvette servo though as said.

Stage 2 and 3 are the same kit. The difference is in a modification to the valve body. Stage 3 is fully manualised. 1, 2, 3 and D is 4. Has to be driven like a manual with no clutch. Stage 2 also has changes in that when you change down or put it in gear it will hold that gear (so if it is in 1st it will not change up to second, or if you change from D/4th down to 2nd the trans will change back no matter what speed you are doing).

Agreed about the 'electronic' kit. Might as well book it into the trans place now for when something lets go. The trans internals are designed for a set line pressure, simply electronically increasing that with stock internals will only cause problems.

[tanka5.7]

4L60e IS a T700. From ~1989 or 1990 model VN's they changed the name to 4L60, then when they added the electronic jazz they added an e on the end for VR/VS. But the gearbox itself is still the same apart from one being hydraulic the other being electronic.

Stage 1 is mostly for towing. Not much different. No corvette servo though as said.

Stage 2 and 3 are the same kit. The difference is in a modification to the valve body. Stage 3 is fully manualised. 1, 2, 3 and D is 4. Has to be driven like a manual with no clutch. Stage 2 also has changes in that when you change down or put it in gear it will hold that gear (so if it is in 1st it will not change up to second, or if you change from D/4th down to 2nd the trans will change back no matter what speed you are doing).

Agreed about the 'electronic' kit. Might as well book it into the trans place now for when something lets go. The trans internals are designed for a set line pressure, simply electronically increasing that with stock internals will only cause problems.

both transmisions are hydraulic but the electronic one relies on a computer to shift not a cable like on earlier models.

[Simonn]

ok thanks, So what your saying is that a stage two kit is just like a stage three, exept you can just chuck it in D you dont always have to drive it like a manual.
If I was to get a stage two shift kit installed and reguraly drove it like a manual would anything go wrong or break? I'v herd that you basically need to rebuild the whole tranny with stronger components if you want to regularly drive it like a manual.

thanks

[1991_Vn2nV]

ok thanks, So what your saying is that a stage two kit is just like a stage three, exept you can just chuck it in D you dont always have to drive it like a manual.
If I was to get a stage two shift kit installed and reguraly drove it like a manual would anything go wrong or break? I'v herd that you basically need to rebuild the whole tranny with stronger components if you want to regularly drive it like a manual.

thanks

It will still shift down on its own with a stage 2 shiftkit when in a higher gear as well.

I'd look at getting a B&M shifter if you want to change it like a manual all the time, as they often have selector issues (the selector offsets so you will find 2 is now 3, 3 is D, D is N, N is R, R is P, P is now the cd player lol). Either that or comes loose all together so it just slides up and down and does not actually select a gear. The selector and gearstick is the main issue with changing it manually so with a B&M shifter you'd be all set.

[tanka5.7]

It will still shift down on its own with a stage 2 shiftkit when in a higher gear as well.

I'd look at getting a B&M shifter if you want to change it like a manual all the time, as they often have selector issues (the selector offsets so you will find 2 is now 3, 3 is D, D is N, N is R, R is P, P is now the cd player lol). Either that or comes loose all together so it just slides up and down and does not actually select a gear. The selector and gearstick is the main issue with changing it manually so with a B&M shifter you'd be all set.

i didnt have a prob with shifting with the stock shifter but i bought a b&m cause there is no gate between 3 and 4 and i didnt wasnt to click 4th in a skid if i pushed to hard and a bit of wank factor to it does look tough.

[LisnM8]

on a similar topic i recently changed my tranny after the old one **** itself due to my special shift kit.....anyhoo the new tranny will shift down gears, i accidently noticed it when changing a cd on the freeway had my hand on the selector and she slammed into second lol....i aint complaining but why wud it be doing this, i remember my original tranny had a code starting with 5 and the new one had a code starting with 7(a sticker on the housing)....both had the green plugs but the new tranny had one extra pin in the terminal which my loom isnt using...any ideas unless my tranny has had some work.....

cheers

[LM8185]

I paid $550 for my B&M Stage 2 Shift Kit and Corvette Servo supplied and fitted. Made a huge difference to how the car feels. Shifts are so quick now, none of this waiting for the car to think, what gear am i in now? 1st. Ok now i need to change up. Ok, now i have started to change. Ok, now i am in 2nd. Its just 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Drive. So much better than before.

[1991_Vn2nV]

I paid $550 for my B&M Stage 2 Shift Kit and Corvette Servo supplied and fitted. Made a huge difference to how the car feels. Shifts are so quick now, none of this waiting for the car to think, what gear am i in now? 1st. Ok now i need to change up. Ok, now i have started to change. Ok, now i am in 2nd. Its just 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Drive. So much better than before.

Its important to note here that B&M Stage 2 is different to a Transgo Stage 2 shiftkit.

[blueholden]

i had my shift improved by a local guy that does taxi's only cost around $350 all up

[ephect]

I had a guy "fix" up my shifts too and did a service, then when it was slipping gears a few years later, i thought, its gotta be done properly now.. anyway turns out that he replaced one of the springs that are responsible for all shifts, with a longer and stiffer spring!! so he didnt really service my trans and change bands, just forced it to shift tighter, eventually screwing my box completely..
just a warning, make sure u get a detailed invoice stating what was done, and dont be afraid to ask questions, what was done, and why.. u'll soon know when they're bull****ting! even better, ring around and get a few quotes and opinions.

[blueholden]

I had a guy "fix" up my shifts too and did a service, then when it was slipping gears a few years later, i thought, its gotta be done properly now.. anyway turns out that he replaced one of the springs that are responsible for all shifts, with a longer and stiffer spring!! so he didnt really service my trans and change bands, just forced it to shift tighter, eventually screwing my box completely..
just a warning, make sure u get a detailed invoice stating what was done, and dont be afraid to ask questions, what was done, and why.. u'll soon know when they're bull****ting! even better, ring around and get a few quotes and opinions.

You said it slipped a few years later.

How many times was it serviced during these few years?

[ephect]

it only lasted 2 years, and it was serviced a year after its main service. Was told he did bands, which he didnt, just put in the stiffer spring to make it shift as if it had.. i had no idea, until i needed a full rebuild coz it was screwed. new auto service joint, showed me the spring and showed me what it was meant to look like. i take car of my car, service it every 5000-7000kms and the auto, every 1-2years. still too many shonky's out there, just in it for the quick $

[Oken]

whereabouts can i buy a shift kit from? can my local mechanic put it in??

[johnvtls1]

i was talking to a bloke from a trans place and reckons a proper shift kit will cost around 600-700 hundred bucks because its such a big job. he said most places just put a corvette servo in and claim that as a shift kit and they dont actully change the bands or anything. just a thought...

[Oken]

what does everyone think bout this kit??

TransGo Stage 2 Shift Kit Turbo 700 4L60E VR VS VT VX - eBay, Other Car Parts, Accessories, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 31-Mar-08 18:24:34 AEST)

[ephect]

yeap thats the kit that i have, but u have to purchase the corvette servo seperate.

they should change/install HD bands when you install a shift kit, but it isnt totally neccessary. as with most things, do it right the first time, and do it once.

[Oken]

it says that the kit can be put in without the gearbox being taken out, how does your box feel now that its been kitted???