Jorday - you are one of the few people I have seen give such excellent advice on setting up a TransGo shiftkit. I agree FULLY. The best all-around setup is Stage-1, but with no washers in the 1-2 accumulator, as you said. I arrived at this conclusion through my own experience. A harsh-shifting trans is fun for about 3 days, then it's annoying, not to mntion hell on hard parts.

 

I also have a stall converter to cushion the firmness a little bit. (TCI 3000).

Under normal driving conditions, you can definately feel the shift kit on the 1-2 shift. Sometimes on a slick road surface it'll chirp when it shifts.
If you are a street/strip kinda person. I recommend this setup. It's not neck snapping under normal driving, but it does jerk a little bit during shifts, as the tranny gets warmer, its gets a tad softer. But its not THAT bad.

At WOT it barks 2nd gear all the time, and thrusts the truck forward.

Keep in mind I have 285/60/17 tires in the rear, so theres plenty of meat.

Some people say it may be too much, and some people agree with me. I haven't hurt anything yet, and even spray my 125 shot through the shifts. Some people call me lucky. But so far, so good.

And another thing,
choose what you want to do. some people may tell you to do it one way, yet never tried it the other way. just sort out what you think will fit your needs and driving habits.

But with a 3000+ stall, I'd personally go 2. With a stock converter, 1 washer.

Goodluck.

 

So do you all agree on drilling the holes to the biggest recommended size?

And for the washers: 1, for a quick shift and possible tire bark?

Or 2 washers for insane shift, tire bark and possible tire spin?

Deckhand, are you using a servo too? I've put off doing this mod, because I want to know more, but I think with the TCI3000, 2 washers and a vette servo should suffice.

Also if you don't dig the way it shifts, can't you just take the washers out as needed?

Sorry I'm a post ***** but I feel this is totaly related and very insightful.

edit: Ok, I see you have billet servos.

 

Here's some additional feedback. I talked with my friend tonight with the 5.3 truck with the trans go, and I asked him about his setuip. The truck is his daily driver, and sees the strip once in a while. He did, in fact, drill the holes to the largest recommended size. He has a 3200 stall converter in his truck. He has the vette servo and 0 washers installed. He also has the line pressure edited with LS1 edit and chose not to install the trans go boost valve, which was probably a good choice. His feeling with this setup is that he wishes that the shifts were a bit less harsh because the 1-2 shift is awfully abusive at times Good luck with your setup.

 

well that is close to the same if the the same set up I will be running, I will try it with out washers and go from there

 

I think you will be happy with that set up

 

I have been reading a lot here and I am getting ready to install a transgo shift kit, vette servo, and hughes performance street master 2500 stall tc in my truck also. I think I am going to go with the smallest drill and no washers at least to start out with. I do have one question though. Everyone is saying that with a torque converter it is wise to use a transmission supercooler like the b&m unit. My truck is a 2004 Sierra and came stock with the HD towing package which includes the transmission cooler in the package. Is this trans cooler suffecient or do I still need to install a B&M unit?

 

I have the same package on my Yukon. Get the B&M unit as well. Stocker is a bit on the small side, B&M unit is cheap insurance (as per EVERYTHING I have read and EVERYONE I have talked with, its a recommended upgrade to be used in conjunction with the stocker.)

 

I did the Transgo +vette servo and B&M supercooler about 6 months ago on my 03' ECSB 4.8 daily driver. I went with 1 spacer and I love it. If I get on the throttle 3/4 or more It will bark(im just guessing 3/4 + it could be more) 2nd. Normal driving it feels nice and strong. I loved these mods they made it even more fun to drive everyday on the street and strip. Also at the same time(i put the new tune in before I dropped my truck off) I went from 60% TM removed to 100% TM removed and had my line pressure put back to stock(as recommended) and with the new mods and the rest fo the TM removed it felt a shitload better and stronger!

 

maybe I will like mine as much as you like yours. Maybe if I don't like the no spacer I will go with one. what size holes did you drill?