Shift Kit

[heyrey]

Hey you Explorer experts,

This is my first post, I'm so excited! I am at the point where I have bought enough music gear this year that I want to relive my youth and start tinkering with my car!

What are your thoughts on installing a shift kit in my '96 XLT?

Is it worth it for the price vs. performance gains?
Can a 'weekend' mechanic tackle this sort of job?
Are there better kit manufacturers than others?

Thanks in advance for your replys

Adam

 

[ExplorerSportNu]

Welcome to the site, not sure on the shift kit but I'm sure someone that does will chime in

 

[IN2FORD]

I have the Transgo kit in my 95. Huge improvement. It shifts firm, but not neck snapping. It seems to shift the way it should have from the factory. Highly recommended. It will take some time because the instructions are not that good, but it is do-able. I say go for it!!

 

[96ExplorerXLT]

I have the Transgo kit in my 95. Huge improvement. It shifts firm, but not neck snapping. It seems to shift the way it should have from the factory. Highly recommended. It will take some time because the instructions are not that good, but it is do-able. I say go for it!!

how much are those shift kits, and how long did it take to get it put in?

 

[Buckshot]

I'd like to know too...probably should do a search....but its late and I'm feeling lazy....

 

[IN2FORD]

The kit cost me about $30 and it took me a couple of hours to put it in. While you have it apart, go to Autozone and get you a B&M drain plug kit to put in your transmission pan. It makes fluid changes much easier. I think I found mine on Ebay...imagine that I found something on Ebay.

 

[BeauJ]

I haven't heard many people that have a Trans-go kit, but a few on the board have the Baumann one. It runs a little over a $100 and from what I've heard it's well worth it. The instructions are very clear and detailed. A weekend mechanic should be able to do this in a couple of hours. Make sure to get about 10 quarts of tranny fluid also.

 

[96ExplorerXLT]

whats the difference on the kits?

 

[off-road97Xplor]

The B&M one is a good choice too

 

[BeauJ]

The B&M is an electronic and the Baumann and Transgo are mechanical. So on the B&M you hook up a few wires and it's done and the others you have to drop the pan. Also, you'd get better results from the Baumann IMO. Better quality and the kit doesn't send you nonsense parts that you won't need.

 

[boominXplorer]

what motor do you have?

 

[off-road97Xplor]

I guess it all matters whether or not he wants a mechinical or electronic....If you wanna put alittle work into it and like Chopin said youd get better quality with the mechinical. Of course if you dont feel like putting it right into the tranny then go external.

 

[96ExplorerXLT]

Alright, im retarded and dont know what tranny code i have. Its the 96 XLT with the 4.0 ohv...

 

[BeauJ]

They don't make a mechanical kit for the 4.0's, so you'd have to go with the B&M Electrical one. Runs about $40, and if you're still not happy with the shifts, get an Apten chip and request them to firm up the shifts as much as possible.

 

[off-road97Xplor]

Thats why i said about the B&M. I assummed it was the 4.0 but i couldve been wrong
And definetly get the chip, it will help your shifts alot , i also suggest exhaust and Intake. But go at your own pace
Goodluck

 

[Brain]

The '96 is a 4R55E.

Transgo makes the Junior Shift Kit (SK 44-55E) which is the same kit for the 4R44E,4R55E, and 5R55E.

Superior also makes one called the K4R/5R55E.

Hope that helps. If you really want to dig into your tranny and make some pretty big improvements, check out my hybrid tranny project:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117793

 

[DirtyDog]

I got my Superior one off of e-bay. I don't know how it works cause I haven't got it yet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&tc=photo&item=7937092626&category=33727