Like already stated, what are the pros and cons of using a shift kit or a whole new valve body. Is the valve body really worth $500 more? Im looking to be running around 500hp and need to upgrade the tranny. It is fine right now with no known problems. I was looking to do a torque converter, shift kit or valve body, and not sure if i can afford a billit input too but would like to. Also is a flex plate needed? I am really trying to keep this on a budget, cant afford to drop thousands on it.

 

It all comes down to what you are doing with the truck.

An upgraded flex plate, billet input shaft and custom VB are, IMO, performance minded parts. By that I mean your planning on going to the track or sledpull, even if just once, with the predator on kill. It also goes for WOT runs on the street.

If your just looking for a simple, maybe 400hp daily driver that can play a little, then just a shift kit and TC would be enough. Best thing is you can save up for a full tranny build and these parts carry over so you don't have to pay for them twice.

At your current power level this would hold. Go for injectors and/or turbo upgrades and you'll be pushing it. Just remember anything can break when you abuse it. Agian, it all comes down to what you want to do with the truck.

J.D.

 

The big difference between the shift kit and a valve body is line presure A shift kit will only up the presure a little where a valve body can be designed to operate much higher. Higher presure means longer clutch life and tc lockup but need stronger bands and apply levers. Flex plate is last on my list shift kit will improve trany life but a valve body (detuned for a stock trany) will be reused if you go for a full build later.

Hard choices when talking $$$ Shift kit $70 TC $1000-1400, built trany $4000, Full billet trany $5k+

Hope it helps
Steve

 

Not true, I have a only a shift kit and have presures/pressure rise, shifting tweaks, mods, comparable with a $500 VB. A shift kit is the basis of a custom VB build and done correctly its essentially the same thing. A lot depends on the installer.

$700-$800 TC
$75 Shift kit
$150 other assorted billet parts
Installation costs vary so its hard to guess

Will easily hold 500 HP, IF the rest of the trans is in good shape, and, IF it is installed correctly. The basic transmission is good and just needs a little help in some areas. If you don't thrash it and drive a little smart a budget build will give just as good of serviceas a $7k ultimate build.

 

Where are you going to find these 50% off torque converters and nearly free billet parts?

 

Clemson725,

He is talking about billet servo and billet accumalator piston not shafts. As for the prices he listed for TC's its definately not a one of the big names in trannies. I just had mine freshened up and a triple from DTT is $1,400+. I checked with the other guys and they are all the same price, however, there are a few from TCI and Hughes that you can get for that price.

 

What are you basing this on? You installing a shift kit is the same as a VB form Goerend, DTT, HTS? I typically try to voice my opinion on certain topics on this forum and respect the opinion of others that may be different than mine, but in this case, I have must say the following. YOU ARE WRONG!!!

Support your position. I can support mine and I will, but I'd like to hear your reasoning behind your statement first.

Notice your own wording that I have highlighted. That is the only correct part.

 

You know it's kind of funny. no_6_oh_no made a similar comment on a different thread and as soon as I asked him a direct question the thread died.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...34#post2477334

 

The billet internals are just to handle the intermediate band and address the normal issues. Servo, band strut, etc.

A good single disk TC will run you in the price range I quoted and will handle up to 500 hp without a problem. A triple disk TC is NOT always needed.

As I said, it all depends on use. If one wants to thrash it and push the limit it requires a lot more.

 

Arguing with cheerleaders is an exercise in futility, you fall under that category as evidenced by your single minded interpretation of ANYTHING that contradicts your experience.

First, I never said a shift kit and a custom build was exactly the same thing. I have stated quite clearly they attempt to achive the same results by doing many of the same things.

The basis for any VB enahncement is essentially the same thing a shift kit does IN ADDITION to the individual builders ideas and proven ways of achiveing repeatable results. There are as many flavors of VB builds as there are builders and ideas, but, they all do the SAME basic things. Depending on how the rest of the trans is built the VB may need MORE (read that ADDITIONAL) enhancements that compliment how the transmission is setup.

Try dropping a hi-po DTT VB into a stock unit and find out what headaches THAT will cause.

As for basis, I have a Transgo shift kit with a few additional changes that we could verify would work with the kit. I have compared notes on pressures, shifting, etc with individuals with an HTS and Goerand custom VB that are doing the SAME things I am. Guess what? The differences are neglible and all 3 accomplish the SAME thing with more than ADEQUATE results.

You telling me my setup doesn't work is as ridiculous as me telling you the same thing. There are enough threads on this board alone to prove that you don't need to spend a bundle and have custom everything to achieve excellent results, and conversely, enough threads to prove you had better go to extreme lengths in certain cases.

If you would READ them with an OPEN mind you might learn that your custom this and custom that isn't anymore effective than somebody else's ideas DEPENDING ON WHAT ONE IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.


So rah, rah, rah for whatever you want while I do it my way. After all its my **** truck not yours!!!

 

You can buy ten Trans-Go kits for the cost of some valve bodies. If thinking the valve body is ten times better, well then, whatever blows your skirt up.

 

Just curious as to whos single you are refering to on the cost of $500. I am running a DTT single so I know how much they cost.

 

You are both right. I have built several high performance VB's. They all start with the same thing, a TRANSGO shift kit. From there I modify several things to increase shift firmness and pressure, along with cruise pressure and pressure ramp. I have however, seen many top of the line VB's that you wouldn't hardly be able to tell from stock, hence why they were in the shop.

Point is, if you are not rebuilding the internals of the tranny, a transgo shift kit would be better. The stock tranny has some clearance issues that will rear their head if you put too much pressure to it. If you're like I am, you'll buy a book that shows the fluid maps of the VB in the 48re and learn it. From there you can make a transgo kit do ALMOST anything that the big namers can.

J.D.

 

That makes more sense. I don't think i'll ever be putting a $500 torque convertor even in a stock truck if i'm going to the trouble of rebuilding on. Build it for the future!

 

Are talking about a TC or ???

I said $700-$800 will buy a decent TC, not a custom designed unit like DTT or Suncoast or Goerends offers. Goerends will build you a decent TC for that much but its not a custom stall/fluid coupling one. I think Goerends custom decent single is around $850-900 the last time I talked to him so thats not much more for a really good one.

The only thing I know of for $500 I would not put in unless one was desperate. They work and they are a billet cover but stall and coupling is only marginal better than stock.