Auto Mods

[bugster70]

I know quite a few people on this forum have had their autos modified to handle increased power, and that this can also increase the 'firmness' of the shift (apologies if I haven't used the correct terminology there! ).

Now I don't know if anybody else shares my frustration, but I find that all too often the auto takes waaaaay too long to kick down a gear or two. In particular, when I spot a gap I want to go for I'll hit the loud pedal (hard) and then have to wait a good second or so while the damn box decides what gear it should select (even if I'm in 'Performance' mode). By the time the power comes on the opportunity has often passed. I'm assuming that this is perferctly normal?

So, my question relates to speeding this process up a little. Are there any (cheap!) mods that can be done to increase the speed of these shifts? I guess I'm used to my bike - when I hit the throttle the power delivery is pretty much instantaneous. It's a little disconcerting to have to wait so long for the bloody car to change gear and then come on the power.

Any views/suggestions please? And yes, I know a manual would go a good way to curing my woes but the wife just won't have it...

[Cro]

Simple solution:

Get a new wife

[Space Ace]

  Cro said:

Simple solution:

Get a new wife

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

and a manual.... or both....

[FR33DY]

  bugster70 said:

I know quite a few people on this forum have had their autos modified to handle increased power, and that this can also increase the 'firmness' of the shift (apologies if I haven't used the correct terminology there!    ).

Now I don't know if anybody else shares my frustration, but I find that all too often the auto takes waaaaay too long to kick down a gear or two.  In particular, when I spot a gap I want to go for I'll hit the loud pedal (hard) and then have to wait a good second or so while the damn box decides what gear it should select (even if I'm in 'Performance' mode).  By the time the power comes on the opportunity has often passed.  I'm assuming that this is perferctly normal? 

So, my question relates to speeding this process up a little.  Are there any (cheap!) mods that can be done to increase the speed of these shifts?  I guess I'm used to my bike - when I hit the throttle the power delivery is pretty much instantaneous.  It's a little disconcerting to have to wait so long for the bloody car to change gear and then come on the power. 

Any views/suggestions please?  And yes, I know a manual would go a good way to curing my woes but the wife just won't have it... 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I added a shiftkit to my auto. Go to http://www.shiftkits.com.au and have a bit of a read, basically its a little electronic box that changes the signals to the computer that controls the auto which makes the box more responsive in shifts. My car is stock except for a second CAI and it manages to chirp between 1st and 2nd in the dry and in the wet you can get the back end out. For $85 plus around $50 to install it’s a great little mod, and you can also switch it off.

[ch0pper]

Yep get the shiftkits transmodule, 80 odd bucks plus fitting and you will be chirping gear changes in no time..

[saleen]

  FR33DY said:

  bugster70 said:

I know quite a few people on this forum have had their autos modified to handle increased power, and that this can also increase the 'firmness' of the shift (apologies if I haven't used the correct terminology there!    ).

Now I don't know if anybody else shares my frustration, but I find that all too often the auto takes waaaaay too long to kick down a gear or two.  In particular, when I spot a gap I want to go for I'll hit the loud pedal (hard) and then have to wait a good second or so while the damn box decides what gear it should select (even if I'm in 'Performance' mode).  By the time the power comes on the opportunity has often passed.  I'm assuming that this is perferctly normal? 

So, my question relates to speeding this process up a little.  Are there any (cheap!) mods that can be done to increase the speed of these shifts?  I guess I'm used to my bike - when I hit the throttle the power delivery is pretty much instantaneous.  It's a little disconcerting to have to wait so long for the bloody car to change gear and then come on the power. 

Any views/suggestions please?  And yes, I know a manual would go a good way to curing my woes but the wife just won't have it... 

I added a shiftkit to my auto. Go to http://www.shiftkits.com.au and have a bit of a read, basically its a little electronic box that changes the signals to the computer that controls the auto which makes the box more responsive in shifts. My car is stock except for a second CAI and it manages to chirp between 1st and 2nd in the dry and in the wet you can get the back end out. For $85 plus around $50 to install it’s a great little mod, and you can also switch it off.

I've got a shift kit also and I'll say this. Chirpies are a myth(are you talking about upshift?) unless you got bald tyres or 400kw. As for the shift time, it's a harder more sudden shift, but there is still the delay between planting your foot and the actual kickdown.

[FR33DY]

  saleen said:

  FR33DY said:

  bugster70 said:

I know quite a few people on this forum have had their autos modified to handle increased power, and that this can also increase the 'firmness' of the shift (apologies if I haven't used the correct terminology there!    ).

Now I don't know if anybody else shares my frustration, but I find that all too often the auto takes waaaaay too long to kick down a gear or two.  In particular, when I spot a gap I want to go for I'll hit the loud pedal (hard) and then have to wait a good second or so while the damn box decides what gear it should select (even if I'm in 'Performance' mode).  By the time the power comes on the opportunity has often passed.  I'm assuming that this is perferctly normal? 

So, my question relates to speeding this process up a little.  Are there any (cheap!) mods that can be done to increase the speed of these shifts?  I guess I'm used to my bike - when I hit the throttle the power delivery is pretty much instantaneous.  It's a little disconcerting to have to wait so long for the bloody car to change gear and then come on the power. 

Any views/suggestions please?  And yes, I know a manual would go a good way to curing my woes but the wife just won't have it... 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I added a shiftkit to my auto. Go to http://www.shiftkits.com.au and have a bit of a read, basically its a little electronic box that changes the signals to the computer that controls the auto which makes the box more responsive in shifts. My car is stock except for a second CAI and it manages to chirp between 1st and 2nd in the dry and in the wet you can get the back end out. For $85 plus around $50 to install it’s a great little mod, and you can also switch it off.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've got a shift kit also and I'll say this. Chirpies are a myth(are you talking about upshift?) unless you got bald tyres or 400kw. As for the shift time, it's a harder more sudden shift, but there is still the delay between planting your foot and the actual kickdown.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Under hard acceleration from a standing start or a slow rolling start I manage to get a chirp when changing from 1st to 2nd, it does not happen all the time it depends on the road surface, I should have made that point clear, its more of a thump when changing between gears so I switch it off when I’m in traffic and switch it on when I’m having a play around. I think the delayed reaction in the auto is also made more obvious with the turbo lag, so there is always going to be that 1-2sec delay between foot to the floor and take off

[bugster70]

  saleen said:

I've got a shift kit also and I'll say this. Chirpies are a myth(are you talking about upshift?) unless you got bald tyres or 400kw. As for the shift time, it's a harder more sudden shift, but there is still the delay between planting your foot and the actual kickdown.

Well, this is what I need to know, thanks Saleen. Maybe I wasn't too clear in my initial explanation, but I was trying to make a differentiation between shift 'speed' and shift 'firmness', for want of better terms. I'm trying to get rid of that delay between throttle input and actual kickdown, if that's even possible (and it sounds like it isn't), not looking for a firmer/snappier/harder shift or even to chirp my tyres between changes.

Sigh, looks like it's something I'll have to live with then. I'm already finding myself trying to time my throttle inputs in advance in anticipation of this bloody delay.

[bugster70]

  Cro said:

Simple solution:

Get a new wife

Nah, she ain't all bad. Besides, she earns far too much for me to be able to afford to get rid of her just yet (makes my salary look meagre in comparison)!!

[Lawsy]

  bugster70 said:

  saleen said:

I've got a shift kit also and I'll say this. Chirpies are a myth(are you talking about upshift?) unless you got bald tyres or 400kw. As for the shift time, it's a harder more sudden shift, but there is still the delay between planting your foot and the actual kickdown.

Well, this is what I need to know, thanks Saleen. Maybe I wasn't too clear in my initial explanation, but I was trying to make a differentiation between shift 'speed' and shift 'firmness', for want of better terms. I'm trying to get rid of that delay between throttle input and actual kickdown, if that's even possible (and it sounds like it isn't), not looking for a firmer/snappier/harder shift or even to chirp my tyres between changes.

Sigh, looks like it's something I'll have to live with then. I'm already finding myself trying to time my throttle inputs in advance in anticipation of this bloody delay.

When driving the ghia around I find that when I know there is a situation coming up where I might need to pick a small gap, I'll put the thing in manual mode and hold second gear (for those <60km/h merging situations) and so rather than waiting for it to kick into 1st, I just let the thing thunder along in 2nd...

Now this is a ghia, not a turbo. If I have never once had an issue in sydney traffic in the ghia using this method, it should be many times easier to do the same in the turbo.

Especially considering that (regardless of turbo lag, or lack thereof) the XR6T will quickly build up allot more torque anywhere in the rev range over the standard NA I6...

Sometimes its the simplest solutions that give the best results....