Read the thread (from last March?) over at lxforums. How come we haven't heard more about this? This sounds like something EVERYBODY would want and not just for those guys with the monster motors :grin:. Prices I saw were (with core exchange) $400 - stage I (mellow) $600 - stage II (customizeable from mellow? to kidney belt required) And shift firmness is proportional to throttle applied? (just keeps sounding better and better). how much does it vary in response to throttle applied? So this would be completely independent of the tune and it's not going to soften up from driving to work and back during the week (adaptives)? Crisp and clean everytime you put your foot into it? What's the install? Can I do this in my driveway? Could Aamco screw it up? what would they be likely to charge? How about a description of the difference from stock to stage I to stage II? Maybe a video of a large breasted girl sitting in the passenger seat as you run through the gears with each option :grin: I may have to start negotiating with the kids... "do you think you could wait a little while for those new bicycles I promised if I gave you lots of rides in the race car?" Give us the overview.
I have the stage II valve body in my Jeep from BuilderBill and yes it firms the shift considerably and will help prolong the life of the transmission.
when you can rip the 2-3 loose on the shift I don't think you need much more of an overview. Here.....this is pre big cam...... http://s726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/Sublime130/?action=view¤t=LXNATS-2009175.flv
Naturally none of YOU guys tried the stage I right? and went straight for the stage II? What's the tradeoff? like maybe a bit more wear and tear on the u joints and stuff?
How exactly can this be good for the transmission? I think my car downshifts a little too hard as-is w/ the canned predator tune while in autostick mode.
long, gradual shifts equal clutch/converter slip, slip equals friction, friction equals heat, heat equals lower life. Increased line pressure equals tooth loss.
i'de like to know criteria...if you are beating the snot out of it, tranny temps are going to climb regardless.
My tranny temps sit at 160* all day.At the track they will be 180* after the run.Stalling the car is what makes them go up.
Yeah, balanced the downshifts a touch. Actually, I can push the shifting either way....I have one in mine that will chip the tires at part throttle! Just a tad overboard I'd say, LOL! Bill I monitor my tranny temps constantly and do not see an increase with the Valve Body. I did see a slight increase when I installed that big ass after cooler in front of the tranny cooler. Drag racing does not typically raise the temps much above 200F. I played with my tranny brake early on and saw the tranny temps jump to 260 pretty quickly. I pulled that tranny apart after a month of HEAVY abuse and saw NO damage to the tranny and the fluid (ATF +4) looked great. Bill
Dave I cant say anything about the tranny temps as the Dashhawk on the 2008's freaks the Canbus out and screws everything up but as far as drivabilty it is night and day with the stage II valve body, I love the way the NAG1 now shifts with it, I do need a converter though.
I noticed firmer upshifting and can RIP the tires loose on shifts even more than before. The biggest thing I noticed was the downshifting...I used to have to almost concentrate to notice the car downshift as I slowed...now I can definitely feel it.
So if you were to pick ONLY ONE, which would you choose....a BB valve body or a BB converter? For 99% street car.
99% street car? I'd take the valve body hands down. The shifts would FEEL wonderful. A converter is pretty much for launching and WOT. Get an aggressive one, and cruising around it's just annoying. Personally (from what it sounds like) I'd go for the stage II customized for moderate upshift and all the way soft on downshift.
If your converter matches your cam, it will be behave more like a stock car than a car with a big cam in it. Stock cam=stock converter. My 3600 stall works perfectly with my 224/232 115 cam.
My tranny temps are the same as yours with a 3600 stall. What stall are you running? I assume you have the valve body right?