I am getting the vortech and I have a 2005 AT....bone stock. Everyone says to get the VB, torque converter and maybe a tranny cooler. Here is the deal...these mods cost like 2K to install. A built tranny goes for like $4K itself.

From what I have learned by using the search function ...the valve body gives the best benefit of firmer shifting and the converter helps with the low end launching. Question is....is it worth the $2,000 to get it? I have heard the stillen VB one doesn't even improve thaaaaat much.

So, for those who have done it or know about it...on a scale of 1 to 10...how important are these considering their cost to buy and install:

Valve Body (SGP Racing for $750 + install)
Torque Converter (Protorque or Edge Racing $500 + install)

Sorry for all these questions recently but I'm pulling the trigger on Friday and need to figure this out....TIA

Jason

 

Had FI without it and now with both and I give it a 10

 

Wow...pretty direct. Thanks. May I ask which VB and TC you went with? Thanks again

 

Definitely need the vb upgrade and cooler IMHO. TC stall can be raised but it will decrease mpg and daily drivability.

I spoke to SGP bout their built tranny and even with that tranny, I would still put a cooler on it.

 

Are the advantages minimal?

 

Quicker & better launches from low rpms can drastically improve your performance at the drag strip.

 

Ive been told by Aundre from Edge racing converters . That if your motor isnt running hot ...you dont need a tranny cooler . And running tranny fluid to cool can hurt performance . A valve body would be the best bet . You get faster and firmer shifts which will also helps keep the tranny from over heating

 

I agree no need if your not running hot. So no dragging from light to light., LOL

g8tor20: both from level10

 

Subscribing....

 

I am not running FI and definately recommend the VB upgrade as I could tell a big difference with just my NA mods. The TC isn't necessary and too much stall can really screw with our ECUs so I would stay fairly low on the stall 2400rpms or less. The tranny cooler really should be put in place with FI. Watching the water temp is kind of a sign, but unless you are actually monitoring tranny fluid temp you don't really know where it is at and it is a really cheap mod that can increase the life of the tranny.

 

I went with a 2200 stall

 

You definitely do want to do this upgrade with higher horsepower because it increases transmission longevity. What a VB upgrade does exactly is increase line pressure so that that your transmission shifts faster. However there are downsides to upped line pressure, a) you lose your luxurious slow-smooth shifting which is replaced by quick firm clunky shifting. Most of you with VB upgrades probably think that the firm clunky shifting actually hurts your transmission when in reality it doesen't. Higher line pressure also keeps your transmission temperatures down.

 

You obviously recommend the VB....but what about the TC? Is the stock one sufficient?

 

g8tor20, can you please update us on the results?
After reading maybe 5-6 threads on this issuen and a ton of outside info, I am still confused about the some key issues with TQ, namely:
- what effect TQ upgrade will have on MPG?
- what real world effect it will have on 0-60 and 1/4?
- which TQ to go with?
- finnally, which mod (TQ or VB) is more important if going FI?

 

what they r saying is get a vb and if FI get a tranny cooler the TC will hurt milage and mess up the ECU thats what they r saying.

 

High stall won't be an issue. Do you know what the stall speed is on the factory unit? 03-04 is ~2400 rpm and 04.5+ I know is rated for 2300-2600 rpm. So if you go with a higher stall with an aftermarket unit, there won't be an issue.

Overall, with FI, this is worth a 10. Heat is the biggest contributor to the death of an automatic transmission. Additional torque from the engine generates more slippage and heat. Both of those mods improve the efficiency of your transmission, reducing heat and helping to more effectively transfer the power through the transmission. Lower heat = longer life.

 

I think that Q45Tech posted somewhere that the optimal temp for the tranny fluid was 176 degrees FWIW.

 

Ever notice that Q45Tech's comments are usually very informative? Seems like he knows what he's talking about.

Does anybody make a high quality tranny cooler kit with a thermostat so that it doesn't cool until the fluid temp gets too high?

 

B&M makes ones that work at only higher temp (viscosity dependent cooling). There is a current post at G35driver.com under forced induction about this.

 

10 if you are planning to beat the crap out of your car and still keep it reliable.

Just depends on your $$$ situation, I would recomend the Valve body and torque converter, to be safe and take care of your investment