i am scared of it - Dodge Dakota Forum

Subject: i am scared of it
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I've been wanting the Transgo shift kit for a long time now, but after looking through the posts on this board, I have found more negetive feed back than positive about them. Also, it looks EXTREMELY hard to install here at my home shop. So once again I turn to you guys to help me out. Mopar P.P. also makes a shift kit for us, as does B&M. So what should I do?

FazDak
GenII

1/24/2003
22:52:13

RE: i am scared of it
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I will admit, you will need a fair amout of mechanical knowledge and ability to put in any shift or shift improver kit.
Its not something that I would reccomend to the average person who has done oil changes and maybe the TB swap, its a bit more complicated than that but if you read well, have a very clean surface, alot of extra timeand decent hand tools you can probably get it done.

I did the Mopar Performance kit on my Dak last summer. It kiks so damn hard it unbelievable but..........it also holds the 1st to second shift into the rev limiter which you can imagine is not cool.
I contacted MP and they pawned me off on TransGo who actually made it for MP, so go figure.

Just thought I'd give you my experence.
Good luck.

93dakman
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2003
00:40:10

RE: i am scared of it
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really? it shifts from 1st to 2nd at redline? Now i am definantly scared of it. all i wanted was harder(firmer) shifts and to raise the shift points up about 500-750 rpm's. i guess these kits arent for me.

thanx for your help anyway

Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2003
22:54:31

RE: i am scared of it
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I'm a pretty decent wrench, and I started to investigate the Transgo as a possible future mod a while back. Some people have reported very good results with these kits, but a lot haven't. I've read the instructions, and like FazDak said, if you aren't sure that you can handle it, you'd be better off to live with what you've got, IMO. It's also difficult enough that I wouldn't trust just any tranny shop mechanic to do it right. I'd have to know someone who's work I personally trusted before I'd let them put one in my tranny. Anytime you start drilling holes in separator plates, filing away on valve bodies, changing plungers and such, you're entering a real Twilight Zone. There's no going back once you start, unless you want to buy new parts and start over. Also, if your tranny is still under warranty, a kit will kill it pronto (Magnusson-Moss be damned), which makes it even riskier. In the end, I decided that my stock tranny works just fine. I added a B&M cooler, and I'll keep new fluid and filters in it.

kcmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2003
23:22:24

RE: i am scared of it
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It is a very percise and clean operation. The instructions are very good. If you follow them to a "T" and take your time you shouldn't go wrong.

I did mine and the most wrenching I'd done up to that point was a new timing chain + tensioner on my 6er.

You can do it, just read up on everything TWICE and take your time.

there were two things I had problems with that I'll mention here...
1st: leave the parking rod inplace by disconnecting it before you finishing lowering the valve body. If you pull the parking rod out with the valve body, it is hard to get back in (but doable).
2nd: when lowering the valve body go real, REAL slow. When I pulled mine I didn't do it carefull enough and one of the band springs shot out into my messy garage and it took me two nervous hours to find it.

mm

93dakman
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2003
00:57:59

RE: i am scared of it
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Thanks, everybody that replied. I still think i wnat it, but i'll have a shop do it(i know a guy around here that is a GOOD mechanic). But I am still a little nervous about having something that shifts at redline EVERY shift. I just want them firmer and a LITTLE higher on the tach.

kcmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2003
12:09:16

RE: i am scared of it
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Where it shifts at is a line pressure setting. The kit has direction on how many "turns" to add to get the RPMs you want.

The person thats having problems with the redline shifting probably went overboard or didn't follow the directions properly.

mm

93dakman
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2003
13:17:59

RE: i am scared of it
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OH!!
Thanx for that info. Now it makes me want to get it even more. I can adjust my shift points to where i want them? Great. Thanx for your help.

FazDak
GenII

1/26/2003
15:43:04

RE: i am scared of it
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I have installed shift and shift improver kits in mopars since 86 so its safe to say I kinda have a clue.

I truned the pressure up long before I put the shift kit in (with a few other tricks) so I knew it was high, its almost impossibe to turn the pressure up to far with the gauge they give you.

So I ask you kcm.........MP and TransGo cant help me but you sound like the pro here, what is my problem exactly?

Thanks

kcmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2003
21:07:59

RE: i am scared of it
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Didn't mean any offense, I was just trying to reassure 93dakman that your redlining was not the usual with a shift kit.

Even if you're sure you didn't set it too high, I'd still try turning it down some to see if it makes a difference. I've never heard of the tranny shifting correctly just too high RPMs. It won't cost ya anything but time. Another thing... make sure your kickdown is set right. It would have to be way outta alignment, but it could be forcing you in a lower gear too long.

mm

FazDak
GenII

1/27/2003
12:20:00

RE: i am scared of it
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NP dude.

I have gone so far as to unhook the kik down altogether and it still does it.

A friend of mine who does trannies seems to think its a goof up on MP/TransGo's part, see between 94 to 96 they were developing the 42re and it has some little differences in the valve body so he thinks they didnt alow for that in my a500 which may be a 42re oe my tranny has been changed to an re before I got the dak.

Anyway, you'll see that they dont advertise the MP kit for any year higher than the 95 but on the kit its self it goes higher years.

Dunno, I just thought I'd vent on here a little as it has me completely pissed off and yes your right its "just time" but I hate pulling the damn tranny pan off!!
Oh, and on that note.......I reccomend that anyone who pulls there tranny pan to do filter or kit gets the B&M drain plug kit. I have put that on every mopar I have owned over the years. For 10 bucks it makes dropping the pan MUCH easier.

Dale
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2003
14:28:18

RE: i am scared of it
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Fazdak, where can I get that drain plug kit. I will be dropping my pan as soon as it warms up for its regular maitence. I assume its an easy install?

FazDak
GenII

1/27/2003
14:43:49

RE: i am scared of it
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I always get em from a small local speed shop but being that its a B&M product I'm sure you could get it from Jegs, Summit and places like that no problem.

All you need is a drill and 1/2" drill bit.
I used to install them per directions and noticed that a small leak would develop sometimes so I started putting a very small film of silicone on each side before I tighened it all down and I have never had a leak since.

Good luck.

kcmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2003
16:34:57

RE: i am scared of it
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I have also noticed the lack of clear info about all the differences in the A500 series of trannys. It is frustrating to say the least.

If you don't have a good speedshop close, try NAPA. Thats where I got mine after AZ told me no.

mm

FazDak
GenII

1/27/2003
16:42:39

RE: i am scared of it
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Just to help anybody who is interested heres the part #, its B&M80250.
I found an old note I had around reminding myself to pick another one up, I always keep at least one handy.

Dale
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2003
17:02:47

RE: i am scared of it
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thanks for part #, will look into it. :D

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