Should I do a shift kit?

["Turbo-T"]

I tried calling Chris at CK performance but some woman (wife maybe?) answered, she told me he'd be in/out all day and she'd give him my # but he has yet to call. I also emailed him direct but no response there either.

My trans shifts real sloppy. By "sloppy" I mean it feels like it's in 2 gears at one time when it shifts. It's worse in WOT and not as bad part throttle and only when the car has been ran hard do the shifts have a snap to them.

Wondering about the CK Performance shift kit...not sure if I should go with the $139 kit or the $259 kit. I do have a BRF trans.

My goal is a nice firm shift that isn't harsh like what the B&M kits have. I could do TransGo which I've had good luck in a TH350 but wanted to see about the CK Performance one.

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Steve V]

I tried calling Chris at CK performance but some woman (wife maybe?) answered, she told me he'd be in/out all day and she'd give him my # but he has yet to call. I also emailed him direct but no response there either.

My trans shifts real sloppy. By "sloppy" I mean it feels like it's in 2 gears at one time when it shifts. It's worse in WOT and not as bad part throttle and only when the car has been ran hard do the shifts have a snap to them.

Wondering about the CK Performance shift kit...not sure if I should go with the $139 kit or the $259 kit. I do have a BRF trans.

My goal is a nice firm shift that isn't harsh like what the B&M kits have. I could do TransGo which I've had good luck in a TH350 but wanted to see about the CK Performance one.

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

CK makes a nice kit. If you are modding the car a bit you may want the expensive one(larger servo) if it's no faster than mid 11's the $139 is good. But if your trans already has issues,sounds like it does to me,a kit will help but only do so much. It may still need a freshening.

 

[jlat]

hello people; IMO I bought a kit years ago and I almost gave it away on this site but I changed my mind. Never put it in. What ever you do make sure the fluid is in good shape and the tans. is adjusted properly. You can get these cars to shift hard just messing with the TV cable. I remember when I got my car from original owner it shifted way too hard and from what I remember I did something to the cable. I don't race but if you do a kit might help.
IBBY

 

["Turbo-T"]

I understand messing with a TV cable makes for harder shifts but isn't that putting a band aid over the situation?

 

[theCATman]

Quote "messing" with the TV cable is a surefire way to "mess" up the trans.

The TV cable on a 200-4r need to be set a specific way or trans damage from improper line pressure will happen. Yes, shortening it(the cable) will make the shifts firmer, but it also causes improper shifting.

The way to set the cable is to push the "D" shaped button (near throttle body), which is sometimes a real bitch to depress, and then stomp the gas pedal to the floor, hold it there for a second or two & depress. This shoud have set the cable, but check that the "D" shaped button has popped back out.

If your trans is mushy between shifts & not yet flaring between them, a shift kit will help prolong its life, but the inevitable is coming.:frown:

 

["Turbo-T"]

If your trans is mushy between shifts & not yet flaring between them, a shift kit will help prolong its life, but the inevitable is coming.:frown:

What's the inevitable?

Chris finally called me...says the 200-4R's came factory with more shift overlap at WOT.

One board member did offer me a Trans Go kit for $50....might go for that unless you think otherwise.

 

[theCATman]

If it's not flaring, and only soft, my personal opinion is that a shiftkit will certainly help, but if it has been getting worse & worse the clutches/bands are going south.

If it's flaring, meaning when it shifts the engine screams & nothing happens for a couple seconds & then it finally slides into gear (this is WOT) the trans needs a rebuild & a shiftkit will do nothing.

I'm in no position to say whos kit is better than anothers. I'm gonna be putting a kit in my trans this winter too, that's what caught my interest in this thread. I've looked at everything from the simple B&M (which is nothing more than VB shims & different check balls, to Superior kits, to Transgo, to CK. I'm undecided myself.

My trans only has 2500-3000 miles since a complete rebuild & 5 track passes. I wanna help the old girl out with prevenative maintainance.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Flaring sounds like you mean slipping? Or am I misunderstand something here?

It's not slipping any.

The B&M kits from what I've gathered are harsh and cause stuff to break, says Jakeshoe when I was on the Chevelle board. But that was on a TH350. Jake actually recommended the Trans Go kit for the TH350.

I did have a B&M in a TH350 in another project once that would bark the tires in 2nd and chirp them in 3rd....pretty harsh, sounded cool and would get the attention of the guy in the next lane.

 

[theCATman]

Flaring sounds like you mean slipping? Or am I misunderstand something here?

It's not slipping any.

The B&M kits from what I've gathered are harsh and cause stuff to break, says Jakeshoe when I was on the Chevelle board. But that was on a TH350. Jake actually recommended the Trans Go kit for the TH350.

I did have a B&M in a TH350 in another project once that would bark the tires in 2nd and chirp them in 3rd....pretty harsh, sounded cool and would get the attention of the guy in the next lane.

Correct... my term of flaring between shifts= slipping.

If it's not slipping, just soft (and I'm guessing the 2-3 is the worst?) a shiftkit will do the trans good. Make sure you have an external cooler plumbed after the stock cooler, if you don't already.

Yea, B&M kits are harsh. I put one in my 1st Monte SS. I did the RV/Heavy Duty. It shifted OK, but i really didn't notice much difference from stock. When I got another SS, I put a B&M in that too, but went street/strip. It shifted the way I was wanting. Bark 2nd, hard 3rd, & firm 4th. But, this was behind a 305 (see turd definition in the dictonary)

I also put a B&M street/strip kit in the Cutlass I had prior to my GN. It had a stout 375HP 355 in front of it, with a TH350. That was too much. That thing could give 'ya whiplash & I'm shocked the 7.5 rearend took the abuse.

 

[jlat]

hello people; So is the cable adjusted properly and fluid up to par?
IBBY

 

["Turbo-T"]

I think I'm going to go forward with this. I've only done one on a TH350 but not one on a 200-4R. Does the TV cable need removed to install a shift kit on a 200-4R? What else am I looking at doing? Certainly a valve body removal?

 

[turbo nasty]

Shift kit is a smart move .

TV cable will stay on the trans but it will be disconnected on the inside.

Filter, Valve body, Accum, PSI Reg assmb (to replace boost valve and or spring) and seperator plate.

Typically drill a few holes in the seperator, R&R springs in VB and accum, maybe drill and add a restrictor, remove a spring or 2 and leave out of the VB. Highly recommend upgrade the Boost valves to which is simply a snap ring and it comes right out.
When you remove the filter you will see the hole on the opposite side of teh TCC solenoid and a reccessed snap ring thats where teh boost valve goes.

Call up California Performace trans and get their high tech Valve body kit for lock up. Simple and affective IMO

http://cpttransmission.com/catalog.htm

12001 - TH-200 4R Hi-Tech Lock Up Valve Body Kit
TH-200 4R Hi-Tech Lock Up Valve Body Kit
$64.99

 

["Turbo-T"]

Quote "messing" with the TV cable is a surefire way to "mess" up the trans.

Of interest, I talked with Richie at California performance transmission on this subject of shift overlap...his advice was to try moving the cable back towards the fire wall 2-3 clicks.

TV cable will stay on the trans but it will be disconnected on the inside.

Will I need to readjust the TV cable if I don't disconnect from trans case or from throttle bracket yet just (I'm guessing) unhook from the VB?

Highly recommend upgrade the Boost valves to which is simply a snap ring and it comes right out.

Which boost valve to go with? I see the site you mentioned has 2 of them.

Call up California Performace trans and get their high tech Valve body kit for lock up. Simple and affective IMO

Performance Transmission, Racing Shifter and Torque Converter Car Parts Catalog

I take it this Art Carr's website....???