I finally have some money free and im about to get a VB mod which ive always wanted. Anyway I have a few questions. My car has 130k miles and the tranny shifts hard but it is not slipping. Basically is it worth it for me to use the VBmod? If my tranny blows will i be able to take it out and put it in another one? Basically all i wanna hear is my investment will help extend the life of my current tranny while being able to be used in a new one if something were to happen. Thanks Also how much is the stage 2 from jeff. He hasnt answered my email yet and im anxious to spend.

 

You are able to switch it out if your current tranny blows. It shouldnt be too hard either.

But why are you getting it? It's really only necessary if you plan to boost your Max. If your tranny is in good condition....just make sure you flush the fluid and you should be alright.

 

So are you saying the VB mod isn't really all that great for performance?

~THT

 

the VB mod will help increase the life of the tranny... minimal to no slippage.

 

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?...ionValveBodies Yes you can put it in your new tranny http://www.mobiletek.net/vbinstruct.html or http://www.vqpower.com/v2/modules.ph...howpage&pid=60

 

i have to disagree with the statement that it doesnt help unless you are running boost. ive had mine now for about two months (mobiletek) and i must say this thing is awesome. shifts are so fast the car feels a lot sportier now. im very satisfied with it. and best of all, it supposedly makes your tranny last a lot longer. the shifts are noticeably stiffer but not uncomfortable. (not even noticeable at regular driving). id say go for it.

btw, before i had this mod, i was neck and neck with my girls 99 solara (stick) and now i can take her by about a 1/4 car length. to me its worth it!

 

i should also add that i contacted jeff and never got a response from him so i went to mobiletek. a lot of people complain about mobilteks service, but i was quite pleased.

 

Did you install it yourself using their directions?

~THT

 

the VB mod rocks, Todd and I got us a great deal from Mobiletek!! I recommened it for any auto.5spd's think I'm 5spd,when I'm a automatic. anyquestions you might have, email or pm me.

 

I agree 100% with what "MaximaTodd" said. I too have a VB mod and I love it. Got it from Jeff about a year ago. Its an excellent mod for your auto. So I say, go for it!

 

any chance it could already shorten the life of a dying tranny?

 

already shorten the life? not sure what you mean. but on mobileteks website, they claim that they invented this mod when their tranny was on its way to the grave. they built the VB on the basis of durability and they claim that this mod brought new life to their dying tranny. i highly doubt it will hurt your tranny.

also THT, me and my dad installed it ourselves with the mobiletek instructions. took a good half a day. if i had the extra money i would have had a mechanic do it. but it really wasnt that hard, just time consuming. not to mention the tranny cooler took a while to install but its all worth it in the end!

 

i already have a cooler so thats a start....basically an easier way to put it is after doing this mod i just dont want my tranny to end up being worse off by having it start slipping sooner

 

I ordered one through Mobiltek, should be here any day(great quick service, slow shipping). The first thing my mechanic (former stock car racer) said is that most people don't realize that harder, quicker shifts are actually better for an auto tranny, clutches have less slippage/wear. Basically stock is geared for comfort, so your grandparents wouldn't be offended by the "rough shifts".

 

I have drove to Jeff's shop in Long Island even though I live in Milwaukee. Went there, got the VB done, installed and off I go the next day. It's been two years ago, and I did come to Jeff last year for some other mods......no problems.

Jeff is an excellent mechanic but he is very busy. It's better to give him a call. If he does not respond your e-mail, it's simply because he does not have the time.

VB mod is supposed to prolong your tranny. I got it when my car was at 122k. It's 148k now and no tranny issues. While you are down there, you might want to replace the solenoids as well....

 

Well i called jeff today and made my appt to get the vb and soleniods done on sat.....he said he would take the car out for a ride first to make sure the tranny is in good working order. I will also let you guys know how the new version of his VB mod is. Hopefully all goes well.

 

what was the condition of your tranny when you brought it in for the vb mod?....sorry for all the questions but im nervous since ive never played around with tranny work before. i actually have 128k and the shifts are somewhat rough so if i can get another year or two out of the tranny i will be pleased

 

97MaximaSE,

This is along reply.

My tranny was in good shape then, and more importantly, it still is now. When Jeff drained the oil (was drained and refilled at 90k when I bought the car by Nissan dealer) it was still pink, with no metals coming down from the drain hole.
Even Matt (the tranny guy) even said that my screen was in excellent shape, he just needed to clean it by spraying carburator cleaner on it. The magnets were full of metal shavings (this is normal), but not excessive and there were no rough edges on the shavings.

I usually drive my car about 90% highway and 10% city. Long trips are common (50 plus miles). At that time, Jeff also installed new solenoids and a B&M tranny cooler (I bought it before I went in there) and everything is still good to this day. I remember Jeff was filling my tranny with about 13 quart of ATF.

About 6 months afterwards, I did my first drain and refill with Amsoil, and a second drain and refill 2 months later. I am about to do a drain and refill with Amsoil again shortly. One thing I notice from going with no VB to VB (stage 2) is 1-2 shift is definitely hard (jerky if you will) while 2-3 shift is smoother but not as "lazy" as the stock one. The jerkyness/hardness depends on the fluid temperature..... and it will shift hardest at near redline with warm fluid (180F).

However, for your information, my tranny will take a longer time to reach operating temp. due to Amsoil ATF and the cooler during winter time.

If you like the way your car shifts right now (smooth), ask Jeff to do a stage one. This will prolong your tranny a bit while preserving that "luxury" feeling. If you don't mind a little bit hardness during 1-2, go with stage 2. BTW, with stage 2, it really sucks if you are doing stop and go driving since the tranny keeps on slamming back and forth between 1 and 2 gear. It's not that the passenger would feel it, but you, as a driver will feel the "jerkyness" somewhat. I know that most people don't know I have a VB mod (even an .org member said that he can't feel my stage 2 when he was riding in my car at driving around a parking lot), until you leash that baby up after a toll both and the tire chirps at 35-40mph, when the shift occurs.

I hope this helps, let me know if you need more info and so forth. Honestly, I will check your tranny fluid first. If it's dark brown, well..... it could probably can use some drain and refill treatment over a somewhat long period of time (don't do a flush at your tranny at this time since it might ruin the tranny completely). If it's still pinkish, check your fluid level. Sometimes autos will shift rough when there it not enough fluid.

I would not hesitate to take a VB mod if your tranny is still in good shape. Otherwise, ask Jeff....he would know better than me.

Last but not least, I also got this mod since it prolongs my tranny (crispier shift is an added benefit).

 

i have been changing my fluid religiously since i got the car....and ive had a cooler on it for over a year now. I know the fluid is in good shape. The tranny im more worried about since it shifts somewhat hard but only under light throttle....once i get about half way the tranny feels great. I was just more worried about putting the vb mod in a dying tranny i already know im gonna love the way it shifts. Even now the shift between 1 and 2 is annoying so its not gonna bother me too much if it bangs

 

well i had it done on sat...1-2 is harsh at times depending on what RPM is shifts at. 2-3 is great...couldnt ask for me. I was under the impression the the 3-4 was unchanged but at times i feel it going in somewhat hard. Is that normal? Feels almost like the line pressure was increased through all the shifts. Maybe its the new soleniods. Either way the more i drive it the less i notice it. Otherwise i love this mod....tranny shifts nice and fast. Also feels like it downshifts faster.

 

wich is best?

 

well dons only really increases the 1-2 shift where as jeffs does the 1-2 2-3 shift. Although unless something is wrong with my tranny i also feel 3-4. But anyway jeffs speeds up more shifts and is 100 bucks cheaper. I cant say which shifts better cause ive only been in jeffs buy from feature set and price wise its obvious.

 

what are the prices for these??? Jeffs and Mobiltek...

 

Sounds like a good mod how does this compare to resistor mod @ WOT ??

 

make sure you flush your tranny.
replacing the solinoids isn't a bad idea btw.
it is the best mod out there for an auto. better then a y pipe.

 

i paid 550 with solenoids which i think is a good deal. and its less harsh than the drop resistor. hard to explain unless you feel it. Let me just say the higher gears shift with no hesitation at all and your car almost feels like a 5 speed when it shifts(except the 1-2)

p.s. does anyone with the VB mod have a somewhat hard 3-4 shift...it only happens every once in a while. i was just wondering if it was normal. thanks

 

my 3/4 is quick, never harsh though. i have a stage 2. i wouldn't want 3 or stage 1. 2 is perfect imo. i can chirp second all day long. =]

 

i guess i cant say harsh but if im over 2 grand i barely notice it going into OD but if im under 2 it is VERY noticeable. Almost like its just dropping. Im probably just being paranoid since the thought of replacing the tranny gives me nightmares. Today was the first day i got to drive it in the rain and every 1-2 shift i was spinning no matter how light i was on the throttle....i love this thing.