I'm looking on ebay for a way to make my transmission a little better until I have the money to do a full transmission. I have found a TFOD shift kit for $40 ( Here it is ) and a "Reprogramming kit" for $80 ( Seen here ). Is the more expensive one worth the extra money, and are there any tools I need besides an in. lb. torque wrench?

 

I -think- it's the TFOD. There's no reprogramming a non-electronic transmission.

 

looks like to me that the first on is a shift kit for a 47re and the 2nt one is a rebuild kit for a 518 tranny......i just when and looked again an i don't think that the pic represent the produce!
E-mail him and start asking lot of Question be for you jump at it!

 

In the title of both of them is "A518" so I'm assuming both are designed for my transmission. The $40 one is an "SK TFOD-Diesel" shift kit and the $80 one is a "TFOD-HD2" shift kit. They both sound like shift kits for the A518/A618, so I'm wondering why the price difference.

 

I just don't think that our first gen ever had a RE tranny, but maybe thay did or the kit well fit both trannys? sence my trannys a 5sp i'm not realy up on the auto but i do beleave that the RE tranny req the big T.C.M on the pasenger side of the fire wall like the 94 and up have.

 

The first gens had 727's and A518's, the latter of which is the same as the 46RH. Then in 94 they started putting in 47RH's, then in 96 or so started doing 47RE's. The problem is both "shift kits" say they are for the 46RH, 47RH, and 47RE, so I don't get the difference between the two. I emailed the guy, so I'll see what he says.

 

That kit does not "reprogram" any electronics, it reprograms when the VB lets the tranny shift. I would call Dave Goerend for a shift kit--563-778-2719.

Remember the old saying--you get what you pay for????

 

The response I got was this: Both will work in your transmission. The one that is cheaper is just a shift improver. It corrects the problems that these have the factory and only slightly increases the durability. The more expensive kit fixes the problems and makes the transmission handle a lot more HP.

I will talk to Dave and see what he says, but I don't want to spend a lot of money. I am improving this transmission slightly until I have the $ to go with a full Goerend 47RH in the future.

 

Straight from the Transgo website - www.transgo.com

SK®TFOD
Diesel
Upgraded

Diesel & Gas 88-03
RH & RE 42-47
Except 48RE
03-up

Firmer Lockup-Reduces: OD Planet Failure-Soft Shifts-Drainback-Lockup Slip/Burn-Vent/Side Seal Leak.
Has resistor and High Temp rings for heavy duty use.
HD & Perf Truck Reduces no shift complaint.


AND

TFOD-HD2

89-04 4 Speed
RH & RE Models 42-47
Except 48RE
03-up


Automatic Shift; Street or Full-race;
Holds 1st, 2nd and 3rd to any rpm;
Backshifts to 3rd, 2nd and 1st at any rpm.
Competition combination. Has resistor.

From this info, I think you'ld want the TFOD diesel shift kit. The reprogramming kits look like they are for compition -- you have to shift into whichever gear you want.

 

In ether word a manual valve body?... That would be grate for me but not to most!!!!

 

I don't think it is a manual valve body, as it still says "automatic shifts", but I'm a bit confused on the "holds 1st, 2nd, and 3rd to any RPM" and "Backshifts to 3rd, 2nd and 1st at any rpm." parts. I emailed Dave, so I'll see what he says.

 

I took that as, you can "program" it to hold 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears to any RPM. This would still include the tranny shifting automatically, just with adjustable shift points for each gear...which sounds REALLY cool!!

 

It depends on which springs etc you use, once set up it is done, you would have to take it apart to change things.