Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob

Posted By: STLDuster

Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/05/09 04:09 AM

I have rebuilt my ('73) 727 with a Trans Go TF2 kit. I have the kick down linkage fully adjusted and it shifts through all 3 gears and kicks down great. Everything seems to work well, except it shifts so softly. It is almost seemless.

I used 12 springs in the front drum, 4.2:1 kick down lever, beefy kick down band strut, solid kick down and low reverse band, blocked the accumulator, and swapped to the old style kick down solenoid (2 piece). Everything was rebuilt with new seals and bushings and topped off with Type F fluid.

When I installed the TransGo kit I followed the instructions and set it up for a moderatly firm shift. It does not flare up, it almost seems like the shift kit had no effect on the quality of the shfit.

What would cause it to do this? Did I miss something? Could the bands be too loose? Both shifts (1-2 and 2-3) are the same, soft and smooth. Frankly I am stumped.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/05/09 04:24 AM

Did you put a guage on it and check your line pressure ?

Just because it's not causing parts to fall off the car when it shifts doesn't mean you did anything wrong . Is it SLIPPING ???

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/05/09 12:05 PM

No I haven't checked the line pressure, that is my next step. I will have to look in the book to see what kind of pressure I should have. (I have no clue really).

It isnt slipping from what I can tell. I have a 2800 stall converter and cruises right about there.

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/05/09 07:02 PM

The converter can have an effect on the shift firmness, looser converters tend to cushion the shift feel.

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/05/09 09:41 PM

Quote:

The converter can have an effect on the shift firmness, looser converters tend to cushion the shift feel.

Wow! I wouldn't have figured it would have that much of an effect.

Has any one else with a 9 1/2" Dynamic converter noticed this sort of an effect with the quality of the shifts?

Posted By: Crizila

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/05/09 11:27 PM

Yes, at light or moderate throttle.

Posted By: 71valiant

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/06/09 12:01 AM

I have the same tranny with the same shift kit and its pretty soft too. Softer than I thought it was gonna be.

Posted By: gomangoRTSE

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/06/09 12:38 AM

What are you guys looking for? What do you think the purpose of a shift kit is for??? Its to make a precise, quick shift. Its for elimating slippage and time therefore lowering ET. I am thinking you are thinking its for the hard thud where you break the tires between 1st and 2nd gear. Entertaining the Dairy Queen crowd. Go to the strip and watch the 9.9 crowd, their trannys shift smooth, not with a hard bang.

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/06/09 02:48 AM

Quote:

What are you guys looking for? What do you think the purpose of a shift kit is for??? Its to make a precise, quick shift. Its for elimating slippage and time therefore lowering ET. I am thinking you are thinking its for the hard thud where you break the tires between 1st and 2nd gear. Entertaining the Dairy Queen crowd. Go to the strip and watch the 9.9 crowd, their trannys shift smooth, not with a hard bang.

Kind of makes sense, My brother used a TCI shift kit in his a few years ago. His shifts pretty hard but has never really been satisfied with it. His is behind a stockish 383 with the original converter.

After doing homework on my rebuild, We went with the Trans Go kit. I am going to double check my bands and check my line pressure next. If it all checks out I will go and check out wide open throttle to see what it is like.

If this kit improved the shifts that much I would have to say thats impressive.

Posted By: 375inStroke

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/06/09 04:39 AM

I used the TF2 with the large New Yorker torque converter and 5.0 lever and could get 10' of rubber hitting 2nd with the junk yard New Yorker 440. Sometimes chirp 3rd.

Posted By: Mcode69

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/06/09 05:16 AM

what gear are you running? Short gears will be a lot firmer than say 2.9's

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Pro - 10/06/09 05:26 AM

You can crank up the line pressure to get firmer shifts. If you want the really hard shifts, the perform the TF-2 mods for a strip transmission (higher line pressure, larger holes in the seperator plate, and removing an extra ball from the valve body.

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/06/09 12:05 PM

Quote:

what gear are you running? Short gears will be a lot firmer than say 2.9's

I am running 3.23s at the moment.

Quote:

You can crank up the line pressure to get firmer shifts. If you want the really hard shifts, the perform the TF-2 mods for a strip transmission (higher line pressure, larger holes in the seperator plate, and removing an extra ball from the valve body.

Thats what was concerning me, I cant remember what I did with the line pressure.

I do remember drilling the plate in the valve body for the smallest holes under the strip catagory. Which were considerable larger than the hole size for the next step down (Heavy Duty? I cant remember) but I do remember installing the shift command feature and removing the ball from the valve body.

I will grab up my notes with the instructions tonight and post the specifics of what I did if anyone is interested.

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/07/09 03:29 AM

I do not like the shift command feature, it lets you shift into first at any speed. This is how I over reved the 383 and bent some valves. I went to drop the trans into second and accidently hit first, and the enging hit 8,000 rpm when first gear engaged.

Posted By: GO_Fish

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/08/09 12:56 AM

Quote:

Quote:

The converter can have an effect on the shift firmness, looser converters tend to cushion the shift feel.

Wow! I wouldn't have figured it would have that much of an effect.

Has any one else with a 9 1/2" Dynamic converter noticed this sort of an effect with the quality of the shifts?

Yes, I have a 9 1/2 Dynamic converter and a Cheetah valve body, and the shifts are soft. With the stock converter and the same Cheetah valve body and trans, it would bark 2nd...

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Prob - 10/08/09 12:14 PM

I never would have figured that, still cant believe it.

I am going to check my line pressure and band adjustment this weekend if the weather holds out.

Thanks for all the help!

Posted By: dirtybee

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Pro - 10/08/09 02:25 PM

when i first got my car it had a shift kit and stock verter behind a tired 440 and it would bark the tires, i loved it. i refreshed the motor, rebuilt the trans with hi-po mods and a cheetah manual vb, and 3000 stall converter. same thing, shifts feel soft, but the car is quicker and faster so

Posted By: GO_Fish

Re: Rebuilt 727 - TransGo Shift Kit - Soft Shifting Pro - 10/09/09 01:56 AM

Quote:

shifts feel soft, but the car is quicker and faster so

That's the bottom line. Doesn't sit well with our old school thoughts, but time marches on and you go with what works.

I've heard that changing line pressures and/or (?) governor can bring back the snap to the shift, but I have no experience with this (and don't know if this is desireable for maximum performance or durability).