Jeeps&Fords
Active Member
- Joined
- August 30, 2004
- Messages
- 58
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- San Diego, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '97 XLT 5.0 AWD
I installed a B&M shift kit, plus the pressure regulator and bypass clutch control valve from Baumann over the weekend. I went with B&M for the shift kit because I have used their kits in the past and have been happy with them. I have also used Transgo kits in the past and was never happy with any of them. I also like the fact that the B&M kit comes with an updated 1/2 accumulator and other kits do not (you have to purchase the accumulator from Ford). The kit was very easy to install, with the only challenge being the 1/2 accumulator, which forces you to push in the accumulator and install a snap ring, but reading through some old posts gave me some ideas and even that was not much of a problem. The instructions are good, with good diagrams and a great template for marking the holes that must be enlarged in the separator plate. The replacement springs were easy to install in to the VB, as well as the new parts from Baumann. I also drained the TC while I was there, so I got a full fluid change (against the advice for a trans with 112K miles on the original oil). I used Valvoline Max Life (mostly because it was on sale), about 13 quarts worth. Total time from pulling into the garage to backing it out for a test drive was about 5 1/2 hours, and that included taking time for lunch with my 2 year old.
Results - I am way happy. I used the "RV" settings in the kit - I'm glad that I did because the "street/strip" settings would have been too harsh. Right now I get great firm shifts. Light throttle I can feel that the shifts have tightened up, but they are not harsh at all, and at full throttle it really hits...like to the point that I can tell that the factory anti-wrap bars aren't doing much. In fact, I am so happy I'm going to install the same pieces into my F150. Overall, the results are better than I expected with trans as old as this.
Results - I am way happy. I used the "RV" settings in the kit - I'm glad that I did because the "street/strip" settings would have been too harsh. Right now I get great firm shifts. Light throttle I can feel that the shifts have tightened up, but they are not harsh at all, and at full throttle it really hits...like to the point that I can tell that the factory anti-wrap bars aren't doing much. In fact, I am so happy I'm going to install the same pieces into my F150. Overall, the results are better than I expected with trans as old as this.
