shift kit

[Bowman85merc]

i was wanting to put a shift kit in my 85 2-door grand marq and was wondering what brand i sould go with i was looking at a B&M but i don't know where i can get one

[1987cp]

Summit Racing sells B&M and TransGo. Another brand some guys talk about is Bauman (Baumann?). What I've been hearing around here is that B&M kits really don't do much. Cool thing about TransGo is that they have a kit that not only allows things like Third to Overdrive at WOT, but includes their AOD-HIREV 6000 rpm governor as well if you've got an engine that can use it ... torquelover's '87 P72 has a TransGo kit in it and it's a blast to drive.

[Nathan in MI]

I've got a B&M in my car, and it's decent, but not great. The 1-2 shift is still a bit sloppy, though I'm honestly not sure whether that's the kit or the transmission itself. I've never used a Baumann, but I've heard nothing but good things about them. Here's the link if you're interested:

http://www.becontrols.com/products/aodcat.htm

[1987cp]

Come to think of it, I also saw little improvement when I installed a B&M kit in a stock tranny with a stock converter. Doesn't Colin's tranny chirp the tires with no valvebody modifications at all?

[Nathan in MI]

Yeah, that AOD in his car shifts quite firm, even though he swears up and down there's not a shift kit in it. It's rather odd.

[Tiggie]

I asked about a mild shift kit awhile back. Everyone on here seemed to recommend the TransGo NoYoYo. Eveyone one The Corral said to get a Baumann. Both keep OD lockout unlike many AOD shift kits.

According to The Corral, the reason Baumann is good is that it is fully user programmable, from mild to wild.

[gadget73]

OD lockup is determined by the converter itself, not the shift kit. AODs use a dual input shaft setup, the inner one runs 3rd and 4th gears, and the "socket" it sits in on the converter is actually welded to the converter shell itself.

[turbo2256b]

Yeah, that AOD in his car shifts quite firm, even though he swears up and down there's not a shift kit in it. It's rather odd.

Colins car probably has potentualy the most powerful 302 on this board it still needs a bunch of tuning.

[1987cp]

True! Seems like he claimed it chirped the tires even with the stock engine, though.

[P72Ford]

I was going to help a friend put a BEC kit in his T Bird. But, he got rid of it before we got around to it. I am quite certain that kit involves drilling holes in the vb. I know some say all you have to do is drill holes in the seperator plate; but I looked through those directions, and it looked to me as though you had to drill holes in the vb.

I was thinking of getting the kit from him, but I don't have another vb for a post '89 trans, if I mess this one up.

[Nathan in MI]

All I've ever seen on shift kits is drilling holes in the separator plate. You change out a spring or two in the valve body, but you don't add any holes.

[P72Ford]

All I've ever seen on shift kits is drilling holes in the separator plate. You change out a spring or two in the valve body, but you don't add any holes.

You see, thats what I was told. I'm going to have to ask my friend to get me the directions. It seems bizarre to drill a hole in the vb. I remember him saying it was for a "relief valve" or something.

[86GmLsCoupe]

I have a mild Transgo in mine and am happy with it. The shifts are nice and firm, and it works well despite the AOD's inherent flaws and quirks. I had a Transgo in my first car, a 92 Grand Am GT and was happy with that application as well. However the Mercury, I upgraded the servo and used the Kevlar bands.

[Pirate]

You see, thats what I was told. I'm going to have to ask my friend to get me the directions. It seems bizarre to drill a hole in the vb. I remember him saying it was for a "relief valve" or something.

The TransGo AOD HP kit has a brass flow redirect tube that you have to drill two holes for, into the bottom of the valve body, but not anywhere in the separator plate...

[P72Ford]

I've been validated...