I ordered the Transgo Shift Kit, and read all the threads on here regarding it.

I had decided to order the upgraded solenoid to cure my 1-2 shuttle shift and called Suncoast to order it. (Hope I don't get anyone in trouble here)

I was switched from customer service to the shop technical line when I asked about the transducer benefits and if I should get one of those too.

The shop tech recommended I clean the solenoid instead of replacing it. He explained there is a screen that gets filled with lint and debris. He said just clean that every fluid change and I should be fine. I told him I was surprised he suggested I don't buy new parts and he said he's a mechanic not a salesman!

We talked a long time and he explained the faults and troubles with the 48RE and what he does when he rebuilds the hundreds he does every year. He actually uses the Transgo kit because he "can't make the parts as cheap as Transgo can provide them in one kit". He recommended I DO drill out the hole for torque converter lock-up and install the spring for later shift. I confirmed with him that this is for a diesel with a Smarty jr and bigger tires.

He said my biggest challenge will be the torque converter, but the Transgo kit will make the transmission much better, and he thinks I shouldn't have trouble running well into 200,000 miles.

I believe him, and I'll definitely shop Suncoast for my transmission needs. I was planning on dropping the tranny this summer and putting a new TC in it.

 

Just keep in mind you can't run a triple disk TC if you drill the hole.

 

run the valve body and then buy a suncoast vb when you get a suncoast converter

 

I asked about the Suncoast VB and that's when he told me he uses Transgo kits and drills the TC hole and adds the green spring to raise the shift point a bit. So basically you can make a Suncoast VB yourself. At least that's what the mechanic at Suncoast told me.

 

Does anybody have a picture of the solenoid and where it is in the tranny? Can you clean the screen without taking it out? Mine has 1-2 shift thing also.

 

yeah but if you mess it up and something doesnt go right then your screwed also youll need to get heavy duty band strut and anchor, and intermediate servo otherwise you may brake them!

 

Is this https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...x-t229203.html what u looking for

 

I think you have to take the solenoid out to clean it, not sure though.....

 

I asked about that, but the Suncoast mechanic said the job isn't that difficult.

I asked about the band strut and he said I'd know if I need it, I can always replace it later.

Intermediate servo? Don't know about that.

I'll just do it my way and let you guys know how it went. If I screw it up and my truck explodes into a zillion pieces, my wife leaves me, my stocks all take a dive and my dog dies, then you can say "I told you so".

But as crazy as it sounds.... Some people CAN open a transmission, remove a valve body, install a proven shift kit and put the valve body back in the truck, and the truck ACTUALLY runs well and said person CAN be happy. I know, hard to believe!

The most difficult part for me will be making room in the shop so I can get my truck in there. Man have I collected the tools over this winter....

 

ive put in a few shift kits in my day and the onnly one that failed was the trans go one now maybe it was because the trans was on its way out who knows but what i do know is that it failed.

you need to get the intermediate servo they are cheap and pretty easy to install plus whne you do get your trans built you wont need to change the parts again! do the band strut and anchor all together it will cost you about 100 more bucks and is well worth it!

 

I would not drill the VB. I used the Transgo VB, but I did install a low stall Suncoast Triple TC.

 

I wouldn't drill it either if I were planning to upgrade the TC.

 

The Transgo didn't fail. Right? The transmission may have failed, and maybe you did something wrong, maybe not, but the kit was probably okay.

The Suncoast mechanic says this is what Suncoast uses. They put Transgo kits in their valve bodies.

And the same mechanic that said he does hundreds of these a year told me to drill out the TC lock-up hole (won't work with a triple TC, but why have a triple TC? I hear the singles are the way to go, but IDK.... ) and he told me to put in the later shift spring.

Maybe because I have bigger tires? Again IDK....

 

Where do you get the band strut and anchor and intermediate servo?

 

I know you can order this stuff from Suncoast. And that's where I was... on the phone with customer service asking if I should order the band strut, servo and transducer.... They said 'Let me connect you to a mechanic" and the next thing you know, I was talking to a guy that does hundreds a year, knows these transmissions and gave me the advice I just posted here.

Ya know what? Sometimes you guys can be frustrating

Anyway, I posted my experience, and you can input your own thoughts. That's what makes this forum great.

My kit won't be here until Tuesday, so I'll probably put it in on Wednesday. Kind of nice when you work for #1, you make your own hours unless a customer calls....