The automatic transmissions coming off the assembly lines in Detroit are truly masterpieces of engineering. But engineers have been asked to program the shifting thus compromising long life for smoothness and comfort. Once a person has gone through the process of a rebuilt transmission, shift softness loses it’s appaeal.
For comfort purposes, Detroit designers have had to subtract a considerable amount of smoothness out, affecting durability. They have achieved comfort by extending the time duration of every shift. Not only does power slip away during this extended shift, but all friction surfaces receive excessive wear because they are asked to work overtime.
The stock automatic takes longer to complete each shift. During this period only a partial power condition exists because the friction elements are slipping.
This extended slipping time prevents the internal energy from being efficiently utilized. It is lost in the form of heat on the clutches and bands, due to slippage, instead of being utilized for forward motion. Continually operating a stock automatic at full throttle will burn the fluid and cause early friction element failure.
To get the proper performance and improved durability in an automatic, we must improve the way it executes every shift.
Are you willing to accept a faster shift? Most folks who are considering a rebuilt transmission, the cost will sober you up right away. In 99% of the cases the excellent performance, (which it never had from the factory) gives the customer a reason to call back and speak of the new virtues of their transmission performance and durability. This is exactly what a Trans-Go Re-Programming Kit does for you. It makes each shift faster and more efficient. As a result, durability of the transmission is immediately doubled.
This is exactly what all shift kits are supposed to do, although Trans-Go has accomplished this better than anybody else. Probably due to standing the test of time (conceived in the ’50s) and producing kits that really work. Trans-Go upgrade kits cut slipping time by more than 70% and at the same time improve the quality of the shifting action itself.
The automatic transmission with a re-programming kit installed now shifts fast enough to take advantage of the energy from rotating mass, including the internal energy from the transmission itself. In driving this conversion at full throttle a solid shift feel can be felt when it shift
As the elapsed time of shifting is decreased, the life of the transmission friction materials and bands are increased. Installing a Re-Programming kit will at least double the life of the friction materials in the transmission. In many heavy duty applications, an upgrade kit and auxiliary cooler have made the difference between a few months service without repair and several years.
Slipping converts useful energy to heat on the surface of the clutches and bands. This heat transforms the friction material to charcoal which polishes its mating element, causing further slipping, heat and deterioration of the friction elements. We already know heat is the enemy of tyour transmission.
Are quicker shifts all that matters?
Not by a long way. We have seen what can be gained in durability and performance with quicker
shifts. Overlap is also extremely important. Overlap is a condition caused by applying a one gear before
the previous gear has been released.
