eBay Auto Shifter - Install/Review

[emitsu97]

You have one? Are you up for the challenge of making a video for us? But if your busy that's cool to...someone on here has got to make one though.

I do have one but it won't be installed until late March. I have a few more items to pick up before this goes in. The maiden voyage will more than likely be on a dyno.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Ok, I just installed this manumatic kit and all I've got to say is...WOW!! I'm ranking this mod up there with DSMlink and meth injection for us AT guys. When the manumatic is activated the shifts come instantly with almost zero detectable hesitation -- firm and smooth into gear, either up or down, as soon as you make the shift. You thought you were chirping the tires before? Ha! With this you'll think you were actually driving a 5 speed!

The weird thing is, even with the manumatic turned off, the tranny is shifting a little smoother than before with less lag. Seriously, this makes an auto a pleasure to own and a step up from a 5 speed. The only remaining thing we give up is a bit more drivetrain loss, but other than that the advantage is auto when manumatic.

I'll be installing my new 50 trim setup tomorrow and I'll take pics and a video then.

 

[emitsu97]

Stop being lazy and install the 50 and shoot the vid NOW! Pronto!
How are the downshifts into 1st? Or downshifts in general? Not too harsh? Wondering if I could use quasi-daily when the feeling arises.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Yeah beauty of this mod is it seems to be usable during regular driving since even if you aren't manually shifting the gears, when the TCU does the work it also benefits from instant gear transitions. The only way I can describe how it shifts is just like if it were a 5 speed, so when you downshift it feels the same way. However, I do have a really great fully built tranny that even Garry Marsh said he thought was one of the smoothest he's driven. But, that doesn't mean I'd be comfortable using the manumatic all the time, as I still don't think it's healthy to be hard on any tranny more than you need. But it IS tempting!

Adding buttons to shift would be neat, however I'm not sure I see how much that can improve performance over this now that I've experienced it.

 

[emitsu97]

I don't intend to use it all the time, just wasn't sure if it was practical to downshift when it happens to be in use. But enough with words, we want vid!

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

The instructions Shawn sent me seems to answer your questions...

When in use, it is not recommended to manually down shift into 1st due to the increased line pressure. In order to manually downshift into 1st, the driver must apply throttle to keep the downshift harshness to a minimum. It must be noted that even when the transmission is in stock mod, the TCU rarely down shifts to 1st unless you are at a complete stop so use caution. When normal driving is desired simply turn the module off or leave the shifter in DRIVE until vehicle is at a complete stop, if left in drive when stopping it is necessary to either manually shift back to 1st gear or turn it off. If left in drive when accelerating with the shift kit turned on, the transmission will quickly shift into final gear which will cause the engine to bog down....although this causes no damage, it will result in a very slow take off.

 

[emitsu97]

Yeah, I got the instructions too but was wondering if there was anything you could share from your personal experience. Like you should never, ever downshift to 1st unless you're at a complete stop, or if you've found a particular RPM to be suitable to downshift into 1st. I'm kinda thinking about those slow rolls to already red lights that you know are turning green any second.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Well even when I had a 5 speed GSX I used to just put it in neutral and use my brakes instead of downshifting. It's cheaper to replace your brakes than your tranny is how I looked at it. I avoid downshifting into 1st just because its so harsh even without the manumatic.

What's strange is according to his instructions, the TCU is constantly seeking a higher gear and retaining valve pressure, however when I shift down it is also very sharp and responsive. That part I don't get.

 

[mini zilo]

But enough with words, we want vid!

I concur.

 

[emitsu97]

Yeah I was kinda confused about that too. The ability to shift up or down at will but the box is constantly in upshift mode? As long as I don't grenade anything from normal usage I'll be happy.

 

[clipise]

you guys are jerks. you all are now making me consider this product. ahhhhh....the cross over.

so, if say i do get this. i have bc 280's w/ springs and retainers( the rest of my mods are in my profile.) i would be able to shift this at 7500-8000rpm and still get the same fast shifts the A/T's are known for?

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

The only way to make an auto shift outside of the TCU's range for each gear is to do it manually. This mod is the only way you can do that without the delay that causes you to miss your desired rpm point by 500 rpm or so by waiting for the valves to change pressure. That's why I did this mod, so I can rev to 8000 on 272s. You should be able to rev to 8500 on 280s and a 50 trim I'd imagine.

 

[mini zilo]

Rice Over Wheat, is that video and pics still coming today?

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

I wish...we were installing my setup today and not only did my install kit not fit AT ALL (don't try a PTE kit on a Bullseye turbo...cacksuckers didn't tell me the fittings were diff), but the goddamn O2 housing was for a Galant VR4, making my tial short on the alternator. I am one pissed off dude today. So now the vendor is overnighting me the right o2 on monday, meaning my car is stuck at a friend's house until wed. It'll be several days until I can get any vids up.

 

[mini zilo]

expect some vids from me soon showcasing my transmission abuse.

any videos showcasing your transmission abuse yet?

WE WANT VIDEOS!

 

[Dorifto]

My car gets put together tomorrow afternoon and all day Friday. I'll be driving this thing Friday afternoon. Then good times roll.

 

[mini zilo]

Excellent...

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Speaking of abuse...I recommend being very careful using this mod. If you shift the manumatic too quickly, such as skip a gear, it can catch quite violently. Especially if you shift all the way up and allow it to downshift before turning off the manumatic. I did this and it almost felt like I broke something. But I didn't, however I did get a good warning to use this mod carefully and only when needed, and allowing it to progress through each gear fully before shifting up...never shifting down with it on.

As for vids, I need someone to film it, that's what's holding that up. Works great with a 50 trim though.

 

[mini zilo]

Sweet, we can't wait for the videos. I say you just duct tape your camera to the hear hatch cover facing the driver's seat and shifter

 

[Rob10_99]

i would rather stick w/ IPT's push button or make my own push button style for cheaper. less mistakes for throwing it in reverse. and how many of u guys are putting this in a stock trans? i only read of one or two guys who actually have a shift kit, end clutches and possibly a stall.

I have a fully built tranny, 3500 stall on it, but due to recent thievery its not running now,
I will post a few tech articles when I get home and get this all sorted out!

 

[emitsu97]

Speaking of abuse...I recommend being very careful using this mod. If you shift the manumatic too quickly, such as skip a gear, it can catch quite violently. Especially if you shift all the way up and allow it to downshift before turning off the manumatic. I did this and it almost felt like I broke something. But I didn't, however I did get a good warning to use this mod carefully and only when needed, and allowing it to progress through each gear fully before shifting up...never shifting down with it on.

As for vids, I need someone to film it, that's what's holding that up. Works great with a 50 trim though.

So downshifting at all is a no-no? Doh.
What rpm shift would allow for proper progression through the gears?

 

[mini zilo]

Rice over wheat or dorifto....any idea when the video will be ready?

 

[Dorifto]

Mine won't be up for a bit. My car has been running for two days, and in that span of 48 hours [maybe a total of two of those hours actual run-time], I've obliterated a head gasket, blown a lower coolant hose, and fouled a new set of spark plugs. Apparently, my head's warped.

It'll be a while.

 

[emitsu97]

We want videos! We want videos!

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

I'm not sure I'll be using this mod much for drag racing. I was doing some pulls for logs on my new turbo and revved near 8k...at the top of 2nd I heard and felt something metal clank maybe through my dp and down the bottom of the car. I don't know what it was, a bolt, or what...but I was thinking I broke something. Car drives perfectly fine still and tranny still shifts great but until I figure out what that was, I'm leary on using this much.