Servos Or Shift Kit? Or Both

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Just discovered this idea of using the corvetter servo for the 1-2 shift and sonnex 4th gear servo. This should tighten up the tranny right? What about the 2-3 shift? will it be tightned up by installing these or is there more work that needs done?!

The other option, which would be basicallly the same price, is the Transgo stage 2 shift kit, its $100.00 so not much at all.

I am trying to preserve my tranny because I am putting on 35" tires, and even though I am going to re-gear it I still want to protect the tranny from slipping. (i MIGHT run the 35's with the 3.73 gearing temporarily f I can keep the tranny cool)

Which would be a more effective setup? money is not the issue here, should I do both? Or is that over kill? I dont race the truck, I dont beat the truck, I just want to keep the shifts tight because of the higher gearing and heavier weight of the tires.

VMax2007 · March 3, 2009

I don't have either and my shifts are quick and firm. Justin got my shift pressures right where I want them with the tune.

DofD · March 3, 2009

Well, doing the servo's and the shift kit. Or you could due the servos and a TCM tune to tighten up the 2-3 shift. Or you could just do a TCM tune to increase the shift pressures throughout all the gears as to your custom liking.

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

VMax2007 · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Justin (Black Bear Performance) did my street tune.

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

any long term problems or wear associated with running higher pressures??

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Justin (Black Bear Performance) did my street tune.

Somehow I missed that whole "Justin" part first time around.. reading too fast.

DofD · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Won't help. If they look in the right place they can still tell that you had a custom tune.

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Won't help. If they look in the right place they can still tell that you had a custom tune.

oh damn didn't know that...

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Won't help. If they look in the right place they can still tell that you had a custom tune.

oh damn didn't know that...

VMax2007 · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Won't help. If they look in the right place they can still tell that you had a custom tune.

oh damn didn't know that...

If you keep your stock modules and tune a 2nd set, you will be fine. Regardless of a few rumors that are floating around.

stlavsa · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Won't help. If they look in the right place they can still tell that you had a custom tune.

oh damn didn't know that...

If you keep your stock modules and tune a 2nd set, you will be fine. Regardless of a few rumors that are floating around.

Thats what I like to hear I was just about to abandon the idea, if I go with servos i can always take them back out if I blow the tranny. Seems like servos and a tune is my approach at the moment... I def wana be sure on this tune deal before I buy it.. if not I will wait until my warranties out.

VMax2007 · March 3, 2009

Did you DIY or have it done? I am currently lookin into the hp tuner setup. I am under the impression that you can get away with less line pressure with the servos or shift kit... The only thing with installing those is void transmission warranty.. (not that its probably already not going to be shot with big tires)

With the tune I could flash back to stock for service...

Won't help. If they look in the right place they can still tell that you had a custom tune.

oh damn didn't know that...

If you keep your stock modules and tune a 2nd set, you will be fine. Regardless of a few rumors that are floating around.

Thats what I like to hear I was just about to abandon the idea, if I go with servos i can always take them back out if I blow the tranny. Seems like servos and a tune is my approach at the moment... I def wana be sure on this tune deal before I buy it.. if not I will wait until my warranties out.

Start by calling/e-mailing Justin at www.blackbearperformance.com or Charlie Wheatley (see sidebar, both are site sponsors) and they can answer ALL of your questions and wil be happy to do so.

As for the warranty paranoia....the dealers typically do not give a shit and GM does not mandate looking for tunes unless you own a Vette or a Diesel truck. But getting a spare set of modules tuned and keeping your stockers virgin is a good idea...just in case. There is a rumor that the ECM logs runtime data, but I have not heard or read any confirmation of that and GM would still have to prove that you had a non-OEM calibration, which they cannot do without finding it. You could very easily just say you have never removed the stock ECM and they would have no way of proving otherwise. I seriously doubt it would ever come to that unless the damage to your truck was obviously tune-related or abused.

Custom Tuning is by far the best mod for the money and the warranty risk is minimal.

Edit: I would also like to add that GM is starting to seal the harness connector to show evidence of tampering on the new Vettes and Diesel trucks. If GM had the ability to see runtime data on the ECM, why would they need to do this? This tells me that the runtime data logging is BS.