I have a B&M shift plus on my 99 Z24 with the 4 speed 4t40E automatic. It WORKS GREAT, and has been on for YEARS.

 

I put one in the 96 4L60E I had in my truck. Personally I wish I had not. For the main reason, I did not like that fact you have to splice into the factory harness to install it. That is just begging for issues down the road.

Plus it wasn't that great of a "shift kit".

 

Harder shifts == burned bands, broken TCCs, fried clutch packs

These kits/tunes are a bad idea for stock transmission builds if you want the slushbox to last more than 60,000 miles.

 

I have had one for several months now with no problems. More line pressure on the clutches means less slip, so less wear. I have ran manual shift kits for years and never blown a transmission. This electric one is doing fine as well.

 

The harder shifts are because the shift is quicker, leaving less time for both clutch packs to be engaged, as well as less time for bands to be engaged. I would think that would lead to longer life on these components.

Smooth shifts are enabled by gradually changing from one clutch pack to the other, leaving both engaged longer than needed.

Small engines would be better off with Constant Variable Transmissions.... no shifts, smooth power through a greater ratio range.

 

Hey, Ezeerider, what happened with the shift kit? I am curious to know. I have my car tuned, but once it is done, there is no way to adjust it. So I would also be interested in the kit. (Plus I love the idea of being able to add a B&M decal to my collection )

 

NO... My Z24 has 123,500 miles on it. It has had the shiftplus on it for 60,000+ miles, and has BEEN BEAT TO HELL! Been down the 1/4 mile more than 2000 times easy. I also have a trans temp gauge to watch the trans temps. The trans temp during 1/4 runs are lower with it ON than when its off. The B&M shiftplus ups the trans pressure, which prolongs clutch packs life, and my Torque converter is STILL fine. This is due to the fact that the packs are slipping "less" from the quicker shifts.

 

All the B&M shift plus does is "fool" the throttle position to the computers.

That will raise the pressures. Not a bad idea, but still not as good as the full tuning capabilites that HP Tuners offers.

 

So is there a shift kit made specifically for the 2.4 HHR? How does it install?

 

I've had my shift plus installed for three months now and it's great! Makes the transmission hold gears longer and shift quicker, it's been a great mod for me and you can't beat the price.