how hard is it to install a shift kit vs turbo w/support.

[ryu]

well january im going to be doing alot of mods to my car basicly all at once. i wanted to know how hard is it to install the ipt shift kit/torque converter vs new turbo,frontmount and supporting mods? im thinking about just having ipt do the install for me. but i WILL have to learn to install a new turbo w/support so if its not much harder, ill just do it my self.so what do you guys think?

 

[98TalonTSi]

http://www2.atdsm.com:88/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=310&start=15
I personally wouldn't touch the internals of a trans....
Take a look at the pics on that page....maybe that'll scare ya into leaving transmission work to transmission guys.....
If you look at the VFAQs and have some type of manual for the other stuff, as long as you're cautious, there should be no problems. I think they are moderate, but is so much better when you have someone around that's done it before.
I'll tell ya one thing...with a 91....be prepared to have lots of WD40 and propane.
Mike

 

[StyleElements]

well i installed my shift kit myself, its really not a big deal. but you have to be very very carefull. very. it really is like surgery on a person. it can get contaminated/infected easy. there are going to be very small ball bearings and springs you have to be very careful with. when i installed mine, my first test drive i mixed up a bearing or something, and when i took off, 1st gear alright ............ second gear fine ............ and instead of hitting 3rd it would slam back into 1st crusing pretty good. it felt like i hit a brick wall. i hit the stearing wheel, smashed my knee in the dash, it was very violant and not good. it took me 2 or 3 times pulling it off trying to trace down the problem and testing with the car doing the same thing. but like i posted in my other post to you, i really didnt even feel a differance with a shift kit. well the only diff i feel is crusing, 1st to 2nd hits ok, then 2nd to 3rd is ok, then it glides into forth. but when your balls to the wall it shifts no differant then stock. its really not all that hard to intall, i mean sure you have to have car experience, but its not bad. IMO

 

[Jehu]

I took my time installing my shiftkit. It was slightly panic inducing looking at the valvebody all apart with all the springs and balls and thinking..."Man, I hope I don't mess this up!" but the vfaqs are quite detailed. I took my time with everything, make sure all the bolts were marked in the correct position, and had no problems. I'd say it's a little more involved than a turbo install, but as long as you are meticulous and follow the instructions carefully, you shouldn't run into a problem. It's not something I'd recommend to a novice.

You should feel a pretty big difference with the kit. Oh, and use the BSOD aka black spring of death. It's really not THAT bad .

 

[StyleElements]

It was slightly panic inducing looking at the valvebody all apart with all the springs and balls and thinking..."Man, I hope I don't mess this up!"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA YES! i knew that feeling all to well. honestly i started getting really panicked, pacing around and almost started crying. all i could think was i just screwed myself sideways ... i mean you are getting yourself into something you really know nothing about, its nerve-Wracking. its like intalling your turbo is rough carpentry work, and installing a shift kit is designing your own turbo on catia. but dont let all this scare you to bad, just study it, try to understand it, and TAKE YOUR TIME, and draw pictures and mark everything. if you have a digital camera, everytime you remove something click a picture of it

 

[ryu]

hum....maybe i can do it myself. i might just set aside a few days of down time, take the trans into my room and triple check everything i do, as i do it...... i dont know if i can gather the balls...i did look at those pics and i must say it looks fawkin complicated. how many hours did it take you guys?

 

[KingTonberry]

I did it with my brother in a shop he worked in at the time, it took us ~4 hrs to get everything done, and the VFAQ was a huge help, just make sure you follow the last step or you will break a part of the valve body.

 

[ryu]

just make sure you follow the last step or you will break a part of the valve body.

comments like this scare me to not do it man!!! but yeah. im wont be screwing around when i do something like this. ill really take my time.ill take a few days. .i dont know...im leaning toward having ipt just rebuild the whole freakin thing for me...