Tranny tech said "don't do VB upgrade"

Speedy · 09-08-2007, 07:49 PM

I found a local transmission shop in my area that frequently does VB work on the A340 tranny. They do this frequently on the mail trucks, off road jeeps, etc, that share this same transmission.

I talked to these guys about doing a VB upgrade on Project SportRunner a while back and they told me to bring it in once the SC was installed and they'd see how it felt. I went in the other day and took a test ride with their master tech driving. He did some checking of the fluid, some parking lot testing forward and reverse, then out on the highway for a road test.

He started off just normal driving to about 70 MPH. Then we turned on a side street and he stopped and said he needed to give it some throttle. I nodded and he launched it pretty good holding the throttle up to about 60 MPH watching the RPMs during shifts and listening.

When done he said the shifts felt very firm and that I did not need to worry about tranny issues and that these transmissions are very tough.

I trust this guy as they're a very reputable shop and this would have been an easy $300 for them (the price they charge for VB jobs on the A340) as he said it was only about a 2 hour job.

I'm not a drag race kind of guy and drive pretty mildly for the most part. I do like to give it some go pedal every now and again though. I've got a tranny cooler installed and run about 160* F cruising with the highest temp I've seen thus far being 187* F.

I'm SC'd with a 2.2" pulley and URD 7th injector kit and tuned.

The tech told me VB upgrades are an on or off proposition. He said once done the shifts would be abrupt and that most people didn't like that. That's something I'd like to avoid as I drive this thing every day.

What do you guys think?

Chris D. · 09-08-2007, 07:56 PM

if it ain't broke, don't fix it..
and if it does break, upgrade while your at it..

Taco_Kid · 09-08-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D.

if it ain't broke, don't fix it..
and if it does break, upgrade while your at it..

what he said.

3.4v6 · 09-08-2007, 09:30 PM

if your running an s/c and have an auto tranny ... DO THE VB UPGRADE!!! learn from me, i did the VB upgrade after my tranny started slipping and now im gonna have to get it rebuilt in the near future. the VB upgrade really should have been done right away when i slapped the charger on. the clutches get worn out fast.

Speedy · 09-08-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3.4v6

if your running an s/c and have an auto tranny ... DO THE VB UPGRADE!!! learn from me, i did the VB upgrade after my tranny started slipping and now im gonna have to get it rebuilt in the near future. the VB upgrade really should have been done right away when i slapped the charger on. the clutches get worn out fast.

How many miles do you have on your SC'd auto tranny?

Are your shifts rough after the VB upgrade?

dyotat100 · 09-08-2007, 10:33 PM

I have the VB upgrade and have 181,000 miles on trans. Almost 140,000 with supercharger. I don't think it would have lasted as long as it has with out it. The shifts are firm and quick and are not bad at all. It use to bark 2nd gear if you mashed it to the floor in first and hit second. New tires I think put a end to that. If I remember right, if you put a supercharger on 2000 ish Nissan Maxima you had to do the valve body mod before you drove it. I guess the first full throtle 1st to 2nd would ruin the trans. I think the turbo is going to be the killer for my trans and will do the full IPT build.

Chris D. · 09-08-2007, 10:35 PM

I put a B&M kit on my dads 79 Chevy and that thing was churping 3rd..

Forget about accelerating in the rain..
even at part throttle it would churp 2nd without trying..

Beefed Taco · 09-08-2007, 10:36 PM

One thing I know about autos...the firmer the shift, the better. Nothing like chirping off second when you need too. I hate the sloppy, long shifts of most stock autos, that's what kills them.

DOUBLETACO · 09-08-2007, 10:51 PM

I had the IPT vbu done right after the TRD 7th went in. First couple of days it did shift very abruptly and had me wondering what did I get myself into, but it did smooth out and I am very pleased. Drive soft and it shifts softer, more pedal and it hits the gears harder. Reminds me of my high school buddy's
72' Monte Carlo with a shift kit. Reason I had it done was reading these forums and Gadget's site convinced me it is necessary with the increased power. The shifts from first to second, and second to third are way better than without vbu, no more long slow shifts. I always got a cringing feeling before when I floored it and it was doing the 'comfort' shift. I would imagine I could smell the clutch plates burning. One of the better upgrades I did.

Chris D. · 09-08-2007, 10:54 PM

can these automatics be modified with heavy duty shift packs or a few extra?