I have a 1972 Cutlass S with a 350 & original 3 speed tranny. The engine is going to be rebuilt over this winter, & I remember reading a post somewhere about putting a "re-programming" kit in the trans as opposed to a shift kit but I can't find it. Can anyone shed light on this?

 

You can re-program a computer, but a Hydramatic TH350? I don't think so. There are no electronics in the TH350, and the TH400 only has an electric kick down switch. Unless someone invented something I am unaware of, you are going to have to put a shift kit in it.

Shift kits are easy to install, especially if you have the tranny out and on a stand. I used the Trans-go in my current transmission. I installed it in 1999 and it has been holding up ever since. I love it!

 

As in making it a full manual where you have to shift every gear?

 

"Shift Kit" is a trademarked name iirc. Generic is reprogramming kit. Depending on trans & kit they will modify shift timing (along w/ governor mods), firmness, quickness of shifts, line pressures, etc. Soft shifts in auto trans mean slippage & heat, the two main killers. Quick, firm shifts are necessary for reliability & performance, the more power, the more important. Good comparison for those of us old enough would be to compare shift characteristics of OW TH400 vs TH400 that would have been used in a 98.

Different kits or mod options within a single kit can be selected by the installer to suit the needs of the application.

 

I found the links I was looking for. It explains about the "re-programming"

http://www.txchange.com/transgo.htm

and this one is for the manuacturer...

http://transgoonline.com/index.html

 

it's a shift kit...

 

X2...

15 years ago the trans go kit I got was called a shift kit. Now it's called the "Reprogramming kit - 400 Pro". Marketing

 

Ok. They seem to word it as they have 2 different products, shift kits & reprogramming kits. So are Transgo kits fairly reliable? Anyone else used them?

 

The Trans-Go kits are a little more civilized, they keep the accumulators functional for comfort. If a high stall converter is in the car or is in the future I would use the B&M kits. They are more aggressive. The Trans-Go kits are pretty conservative with a a high performance converter. Some people will disagree, just my opinion.

 

This will be a daily driver in the summer with a few visits to the strip. I'm thinking of putting no more than a 2500 stall converter in so which would be better, B&M or Transgo?

 

2500 is just a little looser than stock, I would use the Trans-go. The B&M kit severely restricts the accumulator function and has you drill the holes larger. Thats great if you want it to knock the dash out of the car when it shifts, gets annoying on the street day in and day out.

 

Second on TransGo. I've run both and vastly prefer the TransGo for a driver.

 

Ok Transgo it is. Now on their site they list a few for the 350 tranny...

http://transgoonline.com/products.ph...3&parent_id=93

Not sure which one I need. I'm guessing their 350 1-2 kit is like a Stage1 or Stage2 kit & the 350 3 is Stage3?

 

The -3 is a full manual valve body mod.
The 1-2 can be installed two different ways (with different mods) to change the shift feel. I think I went with the "stage 2" setup in mine, but it's been well over a decade.

 

TransGo is my choice. Used one in my 2000 Z71 and it helps greatly and isn't too hard. Just bewared their directions are not the greatest so just take your time.