Today I ordered a Transgo shift Kit from Summit. It should be here Thursday. AAMCO wants $280 to install. I'd rather that money go to better use, so I'd like to try it myself.

I'd like any pointers fromanybody who hasdone this. I understand it comes with a how-to video, but what I'm really looking forare tipsthat might have made the job go easier the second time around. If anybody knowswhere a good DIY is, that would bea great read for me in the next day or two.

I plan onputting a drain plug in as well as a new filter. Some of my Torxdrivers are missing from unfortunateloans, so if anyone knows the# I'll need for the filter that would be great to knowthat I have that one before I start.I knowthink I'll need between5-8 quarts of fluid, got some RTV sealant,need to get a filter, anything else I might be missing?

Thanks ahead of time!

 

tranny service DYI i did https://dodgeforum.com/m_901049/tm.htm i belive its a T20 for the filter if you let me know for sure ill add it to my DYI then others will know
also best to get a new pan gasket as opposed to using RTV

here is a link of s B&M shifter somone did not too long ago might help with your trans go https://dodgeforum.com/m_897403/tm.htm

 

Thanks for the advice and links! I had seen your DIY, but not the B&M one.

Wasn't sure about the RTV, but got some anyway as I didn't want to pull a pan and not have it and need it. I'll just save it for another project. I'll get back to you on the filter size and type. Got one from Autozone that they looked up and it's a T164. If that isn't right when I get under there I have a Kwik Kar Lube and Tune across the street I could probably buy one for a premium, unless somebody around here issure of the filter#.

Any way to completely drain the Trans? I thought about putting TransTune in on Thursday and driving it around that night before I began Friday morning, but I don'twant to use it if I can't get the majority of the oldATF out. The operator's manual strongly recommend against any additives in the tranny fluid. Not sure what leaving it in there might do. Somebody on an old post mentioned pulling a tube with the truck running and letting it drain until it sputters ATF. Not surei'm too confident with doing that.

I'll let you know the Torxsize as well. Got a new set of those as well.

 

I'm newto this stuff but what exactly does a shift kit do?

 

Any way to completely drain the Trans? not efficiently. fluid is in the pan, vb, cooler, line, torque converter.
if you remove the lines at the trans, you can drain lines and cooler.
no good way to drain tc.
vb will drain when you pull it off.

some people go to the cost and trouble of removing cooler lines and pouring in new fluid until the disconnected line dumps clean pink fluid. very expensive and inefficient. atf +4 is about $5.qt vtw, the tc only pumps in neutral, not park.

i recommend putting in a $5 drain plug in the pan and just draining/replacing it more frequently, like annually, and then drop the pan and change the filter as you wish to. leave the lines alone, except maybe remove the check valve (cutting may be required) - just something else to break.

I thought about putting TransTune in on Thursday and driving it around that night before I began Friday morning, but I don'twant to use it if I can't get the majority of the oldATF out.
i wouldn't do that. just put in atf+4

 

It tightens up the shifting between the gears.Thestock truck shifts are really smooth (relatively)which is bad on the tranny clutch. The shift kit causes the tranny to shift faster with less waisted energy from the engine. My understanding is that it jerks a little harder butgets rid of that powerloss when you really step on the pedal and get near a shift point (haven't installed it yet, comes tomorrow!)

 

the filter i used was an ATP brand P/N B-175 it comes with a gasket too (one for a ram and one for a jeep)

id only put in ATF +4 most additaves are based on dex/merk III whitch is bad for our trannys

there is no way to compleatley drain the trans/tq conv. if youve got time get the tranny warm take the pan off drain it then let it sit over night when i did mine it sat for 3 days (i was wating for a new park switch) i put the pan back on inbetween to keep anything from getting in there and when i took it off again it was 3/4 full of fluid

make sure you clean off the magnet in the pan too, id also take the filter apart when your done good way to tell how your tranny is (lots of crap in there = bad)

one more thing make sure you have a good gasket scraper and sharp blades mine was a PITA to clean off

 

good tip.

 

Yeah,

I got the scraper when I changed the diff fluid. Found a big hunk of metal in there:

https://dodgeforum.com/m_907181/tm.htm

I think it's part of the Stock LSD clutch, but I couldn't see anything wrong in there. Took it to a guy I know that does good rear end work (hehe). He couldn't identify it right off the bat, but thinks it might bestray steelin there from the assembly line at the factory. He's pulling it apart tomorrow morning to double check everything for me.

 

So, about how much power would you say makes it to the wheels after doing a shift kit?I'm looking at putting in a shift kits maybe around the 15th of september and I'm just wondering what gains I might be looking at.