Transgo kit 1&2 vs SK 400

[txaggie]

Howdy all!

We are finally finishing up the transmission rebuild and are going back and fourth on which kit to use for the valve body. Does anyone have any experience with either kit? This will be for a 454/th400 2wd tow setup.

TransGo | TH400 Performance Valve Body Kit with Gear Command

Heavy duty and high performance valve body calibration and internal upgrades for the General Motors TH400 automatic transmission.

transgo.com

TransGo - GM 400 SHIFT KIT® Valve Body Repair Kit

Corrects/Prevents/Reduces: Soft, late shifts 3rd clutch burn-up Rough 1-2 Over sensitive passing gear

transgo.com

 

[bucket]

You don't need to buy a shift kit, you can improve the shifts and tailor the quality to your needs without one. There's a lot of good info in Nick's @NickTransmissions TH400 thread.

 

[txaggie]

I have both kits in possession. My tech thought the 1&2 kit might be too racey but I think we misread the instructions a bit much.

 

[JD Miller]

.....and for those of us who need instructions and parts, the Transgo kits are the good.

Maybe call Transgo and ask...?

 

[NickTransmissions]

I have both kits in possession. My tech thought the 1&2 kit might be too racey but I think we misread the instructions a bit much.

Do you still have the transmission apart or is it all together, except for the valve body, filter, gasket and pan?

Also have you opened either of those shift kits yet? If not, perhaps you can return them if you're still within the return window...

 

[JD Miller]

Do you still have the transmission apart or is it all together, except for the valve body, filter, gasket and pan?

Also have you opened either of those shift kits yet? If not, perhaps you can return them if you're still within the return window...

Why would you tell him to return the transgo kits and thats it? That's no help.

No showing/telling him what to modify and tools /pieces to get

Many trans shop owners use the transgo kits if only to use certain pieces and do their own personal mods

 

[NickTransmissions]

Why would you tell him to return the transgo kits and thats it? That's no help.

No showing/telling him what to modify and tools /pieces to get

Many trans shop owners use the transgo kits if only to use certain pieces and do their own personal mods

Lol, there's no point in doing so until I see his responses and, if he asks for such guidance, especially if the transmission is fully assembled and he doesn't want to take it back apart.

Insofar as showing him what to do, I have my Youtube channel for that and can provide any one of several videos covering how to rebuild and modify the TH400. So those bases are also covered, if he wants/needs them.
ETA:

TH400 Information Thread

Hi All, Since many of us own at least one GM Squarebody truck with a TH400, I figured I'd start another all-encompassing thread, this time on the Turbo Hydra Matic 400 aka THM400...I have basic facts, links and general information along with videos covering tear down and inspection, step by...

www.gmsquarebody.com

If you knew anything about these transmissions and their overdrive cousin, the 4L80E, you'd know shift kits are an unnecessary expense if you have the trans apart on the bench. They're great for units already in the vehicle and healthy and a rebuild isnt necessary.

There's nothing in those kits that is critical to have & can't be bought individually.

 

[txaggie]

Lol, there's no point in doing so until I see his responses and, if he asks for such guidance, especially if the transmission is fully assembled and he doesn't want to take it back apart.

Insofar as showing him what to do, I have my Youtube channel for that and can provide any one of several videos covering how to rebuild and modify the TH400. So those bases are also covered, if he wants/needs them.

If you knew anything about these transmissions and their overdrive cousin, the 4L80E, you'd know shift kits are an unnecessary expense if you have the trans apart on the bench. They're great for units already in the vehicle and healthy and a rebuild isnt necessary.

There's nothing in those kits that is critical to have & can't be bought individually.

Trans is 75 percent rebuilt with the valve body still out. My thought after reading the instruction booklet was to use the Transgo 1&2 kit and go to page 4 for spring changes in the accumulator and then use option “2” for the drilling of the valve body plate on page 5.

https://res.cloudinary.com/transgo/wbiss/rk/40012.pdf

 

[NickTransmissions]

Trans is 75 percent rebuilt with the valve body still out. My thought after reading the instruction booklet was to use the Transgo 1&2 kit and go to page 4 for spring changes in the accumulator and then use option “2” for the drilling of the valve body plate on page 5.

https://res.cloudinary.com/transgo/wbiss/rk/40012.pdf

Yep, I thought I recall seeing you had the case assembled.

Did you dual feed the direct clutch internally?

If not, those instructions for your feed hole sizes are probably fine, assuming a stock stall torque converter and stock to mildly built engine (I think your truck will be used as a tow rig at times)?

 

[txaggie]

Yep, I thought I recall seeing you had the case assembled.

Did you dual feed the direct clutch internally?

If not, those instructions for your feed hole sizes are probably fine, assuming a stock stall torque converter and stock to mildly built engine (I think your truck will be used as a tow rig at times)?

Yessir. 454 with mild roller cam and 1600 hughs towing stall converter.

No dual feed. In regards to the 2-3 piston, we got a new aluminum one to replace the broken plastic one. However we are having a hard time finding the metal seal ring for this new piston; is this important? Do we need to include the spring underneath the piston or omit it?

 

[JD Miller]

Lol, there's no point in doing so until I see his responses and, if he asks for such guidance, especially if the transmission is fully assembled and he doesn't want to take it back apart.

Insofar as showing him what to do, I have my Youtube channel for that and can provide any one of several videos covering how to rebuild and modify the TH400. So those bases are also covered, if he wants/needs them.
............

Whatever.... sounds pretentious, so glad you got a youtube vid , HOORAY !

Trango kits, SMR kits, Superior parts kits are great for most people and even trans shop owners

 

[NickTransmissions]

Yessir. 454 with mild roller cam and 1600 hughs towing stall converter.

No dual feed. In regards to the 2-3 piston, we got a new aluminum one to replace the broken plastic one. However we are having a hard time finding the metal seal ring for this new piston; is this important? Do we need to include the spring underneath the piston or omit it?

Unless you're deleting the 2-3 accumulator circuit, you'll need the sealing ring on that piston...Otherwise, you'll have a massive leak in the high gear apply circuit and direct clutch will burn. One should have come in the overhaul kit; they usually come packaged as part of a dedicated sealing ring kit which is included in the broader kit...Cobra Transmission Parts sells them individually if one did not come in your kit. Let me know if you cannot find one and I'll see what I can do...

Trango kits, SMR kits, Superior parts kits are great for most people and even trans shop owners

Yep, especially the trans shop owners that either don't know any better or are raking it in on parts mark-up (or for on-line shills like you are starting to sound like)....You know nothing about what you're talking about but by all means, keep talking...You're definitely good for laughs, that's for sure.

 

[txaggie]

Unless you're deleting the 2-3 accumulator circuit, you'll need the sealing ring on that piston...Otherwise, you'll have a massive leak in the high gear apply circuit and direct clutch will burn. One should have come in the overhaul kit; they usually come packaged as part of a dedicated sealing ring kit which is included in the broader kit...Cobra Transmission Parts sells them individually if one did not come in your kit. Let me know if you cannot find one and I'll see what I can do...

Yep, especially the trans shop owners that either don't know any better or are raking it in on parts mark-up (or for on-line shills like you are starting to sound like)....You know nothing about what you're talking about but by all means, keep talking...You're definitely good for laughs, that's for sure.

Thanks Nick your the man! We got a good rebuild kit from summit and some of the rubber rings looks like they might be the right size but I’ll check tomorrow to see if they fit.
Here’s the one we got:

Summit Racing SUM-705021 Summit Racing™ High Performance Automatic Transmission Rebuild Kits | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ High Performance Automatic Transmission Rebuild Kits with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Automatic Transmission Rebuild Kits at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[NickTransmissions]

Thanks Nick your the man! We got a good rebuild kit from summit and some of the rubber rings looks like they might be the right size but I’ll check tomorrow to see if they fit.
Here’s the one we got:

Summit Racing SUM-705021 Summit Racing™ High Performance Automatic Transmission Rebuild Kits | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ High Performance Automatic Transmission Rebuild Kits with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Automatic Transmission Rebuild Kits at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Maybe they're including viton/rubber D or O-ring seals for that location but every kit I've ever used for those had the cast steel sealing rings...Now that I think about it, I recall a couple kits I had used recently on TH400 builds that lacked a sealing ring for that location...

I didn't need them as I deleted the 2-3 acc circuits on both as those builds were for street/strip applications...In both of those units, I used a 10% pressure regulator spring (increases line pressure by 10% across the board; shimming it by adding a 2nd 'horseshoe shim' adds another 5%), dual fed the direct clutch and removed one of the two springs from the accumulator regulator valve then drilled the spacer plate accordingly...I also installed a Sonnax LB1TH400 boost valve, which is what I use in all my TH400 builds. I like them as they're o-ringed and seal that bore off 100% but Transgo's boost valves are also good...Factory boost valves tend to wear over time and I never re-use them.

 

[Bloodhound1981]

Whatever.... sounds pretentious, so glad you got a youtube vid , HOORAY !

He's one of the most helpful people on this forum.