This thread is far from a complaint, but just a question out of curiosity.

My 97 GLT has always had a hard shift. Not like a bad transmission hard, but a good positive torquey shift coming out of 1st. I did the wastegate mod and did a total of 2.5 turns, (Already had it at 1.5, went to 2.5) and ever since then, the transmission still has the nice thrust going into 2nd, but it's very smooth almost like an oldsmobile.

My question is just out of curiosity; why? What would one have to do with the other?

The only thing I have observed is my idle vacuum according to my boost gauge is 22lbs cold and warm. Since the adjustment, my idle vacuum is now 20lbs cold, and 22 warm. But I can't think of what could possibly affect the transmission in a beneficial way coming from a turbo adjustment. Anyone familiar with this wonderful side effect?

 

Up to a point, adjusting that rod is supposed to allow you to build boost sooner. At some point it's detrimental and I think 2.5 is the most I've seen recommended. I did mine too but not that far.

You could always back it off and see how it shifts. If it firms back up you know it's the adjustment that's causing it you just are still in the dark as to why. It isn't that hard to pull the shields and rod clip to take a turn and a half out so ...... maybe ??

You know your hot and cold vacuum, any chance you noticed any difference in the RPM it's shifting at ??

 

I found out about the trick on matthewsvolvosite (I think that's the name,) and I read a thread where some of these guys were doing it up to 4! I won't go any farther than 2.5 cause I can't imagine what 4 would do to the rods under low rpm so I won't try it. I'll tweak it on my lunch break today after the car cools off, and let you know.

As far as I can tell, it still shifts in the same range. When I had my WG setting at stock, it seemed to be a smoother shift doing the 1-2 around 3,300Rpm, and it was a more pushy/snappy shift around 2,300. Now it has a nice cushy gear change all over the board, but no power loss. If I race it and let it run up to 5,200 + then it's still a strong shift and the tires will chirp into 2nd regardless of the WG rod.

More soon post adjustment,

 

PS.. just saw your sig, 292? DAYUM! How's that thing running? Mine is yet another broken odometer but it had 73K in 2004 according to service records.

 

SO.. I turned the rod back to 1.5, then back to stock, and sure enough; the tranny shifts a little firmer each time but no change in RPM. Vacuum went back to stock settings as well. I turned it back to 2.5 afterward and my 1-2 shift smoothed out again. This is weird, ain't it?

 

I was curious if it might make a difference but since the transmission doesn't have a vacuum controlled shift or pressure modulator I don't know how the transmission knows how soon you're adding boost.
My understanding of that "trick" of shortening the rod is it allows you to build boost sooner.

But why the shift feel would get softer ... don't know, sorry.
Someone ? Anyone ??

 

Haha that's why I'm stumped too, cause I coulda swore it has an electric transmission. Dunno if I said this before or not, but on stock, boost hits 0psi at 3,800, 1.5 turns is 3,500 and 2.5 turns is 3,200RPM if that helps any. I really am stumped though.